Enveloped in my faded red sash, once I had retrieved the purple rod all the stone guardians crumbled to dust. It was quite odd really but no one said a word of complaint. We headed out of the temple in silence, Hinata and Tenten marvelled at the opaque rod I carried but no one dared touch it with their bare hands. While traversing through the network of tunnels, a few stone door ways of the temple, that we hadn't noticed before, crumbled away revealing a treasure trove of ancient weapons and scrolls. We weren't assigned to bring anything back from our mission, but I felt compelled to carry this purple rod out from the centre of the temple and with me back to the decommission desk.
Leaping over roof tops, it was the middle of the night, we arrived at the mission desk to report our mission a success. Somehow the purple rod was linked to both the guardians and traps of the temple, with it removed all the traps we were assigned to decommission either crumbled to dust or were rendered inactive. Disregarding Mura's tired lizard eyes, and likewise everyone was pretty fatigued, we were forced to fill out and hand in our mission reports before being sent home. I don't know why they assigned our duties so late in the day but I suppose it was good for the Village that these things got done as soon as possible.
Feeling my hands come away from the purple rod, I sensed an intrinsic wrong on letting go, my sash handed back to me almost as if in condolence. Perhaps I felt I was betraying my word to the man of stone to whom I promised to safe guard the knowledge that he protected. The knowledge that was the rod, I still don't quite get why the being of stone was left to guard it, but... It was out of my hands, I wouldn't have been allowed to keep it anyway, it is the property of the Leaf's now.
Heading home I felt my mind grow tired… this mission did put quite a strain on me. Maybe two hours extra sleep isn't a bad idea. I wonder how Amoroto and Hakari did on their missions?
…
Within the confines of my warm bed, the blankets curled up to nestle me in a comforting embrace, the world suddenly turned ice hot! My eyes piercing through the bright light as the curtains on my room were force open with a loud bang of volume, reverberating from my Mother's voice.
"Hakari I've given you plenty of chances, now you better get up!" My Mother held another ice cold cup of water, threatening to splash it on my face yet again.
"Mom! It is a Saturday!" This is a cruel and unusual punishment, and for what! I swear I didn't prank anyone this time. I'm not taking any chances, I wouldn't want to incurring her wrath. I tossed aside the wet blanket and stepped one foot out just in case I needed to run.
"Ninja wake up bright an early, and you have an Argies Ages here to see you." Oh Argies, no wonder I'm being punished. "Ninja wake early, I only hope you will follow your captains example." Pointing her hand to my adjoining bathroom, away from the boys shared unit, Mom ordered me to get dressed for a ninja day out. "Now get ready before I have to invite him in, you know how the boys get." I didn't want another fight on our hands but I thought it unlikely that they would fight with Argies while she's here…
Walking off I grumbled "…Captain" Argies isn't our captain, his rank might say so but he is as much a Genin as Amoroto and I. I hope he has a good reason for waking me up so early, there will be consequences!
…
In a hurry Hakari stepped out the front door to join her teammate Argies, her mother waving goodbye standing under the door way to whisper a blessing of luck. Argies said nothing, his face red and his feet quick to fall into step, anything to get away from her brothers that were sure to be close by. Hakari caught on to where they were going, keeping in step with Argies to their training grounds.
Once quite a distance had been reached from them and Hakari's home Argies opened by asking. "So…. How was your assignment?" Tsunada had assigned every ninja in the Village to a task, going mission crazed in order to fill the gap in time that was left by her predecessor.
Hakari puckered her lips. Looking at Argies anxiety sideways "Boss lady sent me on an errant run, gathering ingredients for the hospital."
Regaining a casual demeanour Argies hummed "hmm that is quite strange." He paused "I wonder why I get sent on such life threatening missions while you and Amoroto are sent on… light duty" He stroked his chin in a thought provoking manner which only acted to irate Hakari more.
With an air of superiority to match Argies assumptions, Hakari lifted her nose. "I have a feeling it has less to do with the mission and more to do with the ninja." Toying with Argies, that maybe he was just death prone. "What makes you think Amoroto's and my assignment was any less dangerous?"
"Well I went by Amoroto's this morning, his Granny Shizukana said he was out picking herbs for his black eye and pulled groin" Argies hissed, being that Amoroto's groin wasn't meant to be shared… not to the girl in their unit. "Apparently Amoroto was assigned the special honour of hanging injury preventative homemade song style seals in all the Dojo's around the Leaf. I guess that could be considered life threatening, given that his song style does take a lot out of him and there are a lot of Dojo's in Konohagakure… but still."
"Pulled groin, that sounds like it hurt" Argies grunted a winced in pain to Hakari's words, noting that she had picked up on his slip of the tongue. "…'But still' nothing Argies. What was your mission anyway, flower picking!"
Feeling high and mighty the Chunin pressed a hand against himself and his ninja vest. "I was assigned a trap decommission operation of an ancient and secret temple. Flower picking HA!" He added hearing the sound of his own voice, mocking both his ego and Hakari's presumptions.
"Oh sure, use your fancy words but to me it just sounds like you were assigned an easy-peezee mission to clean up some old dusty traps of a temple no one uses anymore."
Gulping Argies conceded "Ok… point taken, so how was your assignment?"
"We were tasked with tracking and tackling to the ground Sabre tooth tigers and all sorts of giant sized creatures in varies sectors of the forest. The worst was the Giant green and red speckled leech, reminded me of that slug." Hakari shivered with the willies for a second before continuing. "Thanks to my unit there are a bunch of tigers roaming around without eyes, but our Chunin mission lead said it was ok because they can hunt by scent alone."
Jumping to the next point of interest, Argies queried "Sabre eyes!? I wonder what they are used for? …and you are right! That does sound dangerous." He pressed a hand around his bandaged shoulder, the thought of claws running through his flesh bringing back old memories.
"Believe me tigers don't give up those babies without a fight and it wasn't very safe hunting in the dark either, but the low light made it easier to see those eyes." The long Haired Konoichi shifted the crystal on her back so that Argies could see the large claw marks in the chakra blue rock. "We took some claws too. The herbal hunter guide on our team claimed the eyes are used to recuperate recovering ninja, a kind of wake me up drug when smelling salts don't work, though the nin also said they are at times used to repair eye injuries… so somewhere out there there are ninja with cat eyes that glow in the dark"
Not boasting but instead this time with an honest conduct Argies exclaimed with excitement "Oh my Team Captain had lizard eyes! It was strange… and a forked tongue too, maybe you will meet her one day. Though I suppose she isn't really the friendly type." Argies thought back to her reprimand. She wanted him to trust her, Hinata and Tenten, but also the Hokage. 'Trust us to trust you'. The words echoed in his head. 'Does the Hokage trust me' he thought, after all Tsunada did assign him the mission, trusting that he would complete it faithfully? To a degree that meant something to Argies, but he hadn't made up his mind just yet.
Just then, the unlikeliest of events occurred. Whilst in the process of turning into the forest, leading down to their far off training grounds, Argies eyes met with the Slit pupils of a lizard.
On her way home, to feed her many pet lizard spies, Mura stood still in confrontation with the Chunin's disbelief. She had just come back from shopping, her paper grocery bag held tight in her folded arms, she looked very casual without her Jounin vest on.
Swallowing down the frog in his throat Argies was the first to greet. "Captain Mura" He held out his arm like he was introducing her to an audience, which made both ninja feel very awkward while Hakari stood speechless in wait for an explanation.
Flicking out her tongue with indifference Mura narrowed her eyes. "I'm not your captain anymore"
Smiling, ignoring Mura Mitokado's foul mood, Argies came closer. Saving face he whispered "Trust us to trust you" throwing the taller Ninja's own words back at her. "This is my teammate Hakari Kessho, Hakari come over here I want to introduce you to that Captain I was telling you about." With Hakari stepping forward, looking around at the slowly gathering crowd and shrinking to embarrassment, Argies introduced the Jounin to her. "This is Mura Mitokado, who knows maybe we will work with her in future?"
"Hello" Hakari faked a smile then with gritted teeth she grunted to Argies. "What are you doing!"
"Getting answers" Argies whispered back, but a whisper was not enough to conceal his words from the hearing aid ninja.
"I heard that, and if it is answers you seek I'll tell you exactly what you want to know." Grapping hold of Argies, yet still remaining inconspicuous to the few who gathered thinking it another of Argies plays, Mura pulled him closer and spoke just below what could be over heard. "As a ninja you must prepare to be both paranoid and trusting, you cannot guard yourself against the helping hand of an ally while you expose your weaknesses to an enemy. Do not think I don't understand your grief. In this shinobi world it is hard to tell the two apart. This is the life we lead, and while I respect your duty to the Leaf you cannot show your distrust of our honourable Lady Hokage. It is only to the value of your own self-preservation that you keep your paranoia to yourself even in battle and duty, and hold your friendships with both hands because they are so easily broken."
To this Argies asked in bewilderment "How can you be both paranoid and trusting?" equally shocked by her answer so readily given and his unasked question so easily divulged.
Mura let go and stepped apart from their path, walking past she managed. "Be friendly, be polite, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet. That is how a ninja can be both trusting and paranoid" …and then… she was gone.
In her words, Hakari and Argies eyes both reflected alarm. In a way it was a threat, but more than this, it reminded them just how harsh the life of a Shinobi is. In their minds they began to contradict this fact, that maybe their shinobi world would not be as cruel, that it was just the tragedy experienced of the older generation ninja, but they hearts knew this was fated to them too. There was no lie in Mura's eyes, and her words clamped permanently on to the their heart strings, fastening them with the grim reality.
"Hakari… I've been thinking" Argies began
…
Alone Hakari made it to their training grounds. Argies left word to granny Shizukana that Amoroto should meet them both there for training, but now Argies couldn't hold true to his promise. On their walk there, passing the many signs that Tensue's hung up warning intruders of his medical ninja to be, Argies explained what he thought was best for the team.
With her mind still flashing back to their journey there, the crystal user Hakari couldn't help feel concern enter her mind to Argies words. Waiting for Amoroto to arrive she sat down on a felled tree's stump. "Oh Argies, you knuckle head, what trouble are you getting us into now." Like dust storms of the still recent past, Argies words whispered in her head.
'Hakari, we can't keep taking on these missions' He had paused, and she knew it was to let those words soak in as they had. 'Missions that we almost die in the undertaking of, it's not ok. I think as a team we need a break from everything, a ninja holiday, a vacation away from the Village.' She could hear the respite in his breath, she realised now that though she had only experience two or three missions risking her life Argies had experienced more… as well as attacks from the Hokage and council. He was tired… tired of the ninja life and the threats it involved. 'On our next call to the mission desk, I will demand training time for our team. I don't want anything to happen to you, to us… but until then there are things we need to do as a unit.'
He sighed before distributing the undertaking of his plan "I'm assigning you the task of meeting with our Sensei, force him to start training us. If I fail to convince the Hokage to grant us time off, we will most likely be detained for refusing a mission. Our sensei will have more authority than I to demand such a thing of Tsunada… but even he can't force her. Meet up with Amoroto in our training grounds, he might have more to suggest and anything you can come up with in my absence will be appreciated. I've… got another matter to attend to. I know you can do this' and like that he was gone in a chakra burst, she could follow after and demand answers but Hakari new that the greater weight of Argies orders were on him.
Hearing the leaves rustle from a nearby tree, Hakari greeted the ninja who drop down with a light footsteps from above. "Amoroto, how is the groin doing?" She lightened her mood before the coming storm. "Listen, we have to talk"
Amoroto shielded his privates and cried "About what?!" not ready for the coming storm.
…
Despite what Mura said, I can't trust the Hokage to take our best interests to heart. She is the commanding head of a killing force, if a few lives must be risked any commander would be willing to sacrifice those odds for the better of the whole. I however have a responsibility to my team first. "Research don't fail me now" I pulled out the small book I researched last, making space in my back pocket and added a few ninja law manuscripts. "Now off to the Forest of death I go"
…
Kinjo didn't waste any time, when the demon cat recognised the place Argies struck his summoning to the white cat flew into the air instantly jumping to Argies and reaching a paw out the young Ages was soft footed into a new dimension.
Surrounded to a world of tall straw fields, sunlight and butterflies, Argies found himself in another Cat summons world. Like mentioned before, this was only one of the many pocket dimensions the cat summons use for their pleasure or play.
Kinjo did not like it, but there was little choice but to invite the human into the summons realm. Argies secrets weren't safe in the hand of the Leaf and the boy had yet to find a safe means of reading the Ages scroll. Simply travelling past the boarder of the Forest of Death, a restricted area, was not enough to safe guard the scroll of Ages.
Demon cat eyes looked up at Argies, settling paws to print the ground the cat held up its head in wait for an answer to the question it had yet to ask. "Why have you summoned me once again, within the limits of the Forest you call Death?" The Forest of Death which Argies along with Kinjo, battled and counselled within.
Argies layered his tongue with respect for the Cat summons. "Kinjo, I am sorry to burden you once again. I have need to read the scroll and have yet to secure a place of refuge within the Leaf" He bowed before continuing. "In order to grow myself, in strength and wisdom, I must read more and learn more. Perhaps the scroll might even show me a way to build a refuge within Konohagakure."
Hissing with distaste the summons looked around with warning once again "It is not safe to be summoned within these worlds, by forcing my hand to lend you this space you put my wellbeing at risk as well. I am not immune to the laws of my world, just as you are weak to the rulings of your Hokage"
Bowing Argies continued to implore "I understand, please lend me this time… I'll never ask again" Argies was in a hurry too, but he took his time to ask this favour for the cat could by all means refuse to help.
"I will grant you this request, one final visit to the realms of Cat" Turning to face the pouch strapped to the Cats side, the demon cat offered the Ages scroll sealed within.
Kneeling down, Argies walker beads struck his left shoulder in hurt, reminding him to be ever vigilant in his clan's quest to harden themselves against the greater blow. He took the scroll in palm with both hands for he knew how precious the scroll was to him, especially so now. "Tell me scroll. First before I ask you for more. How will I secure a safe haven for myself, and any trusted Ally, within the place I call home." Opening the scroll in that moment, Argies held his eyes shut to reveal to him the answer on their opening.
Within the scroll was a complex layout of a seal Argies had never seen before. Quickly, using the insight Tenten had set, Argies let slip a pencil and paper from his ninja pouch. Instead of copying the seal pattern for pattern, Argies took down the hand seals he would require in order to recreate it. He could not allow for any misinterpretation, and so he did not encode what he wrote in any encrypted language. Instead he would have to learn this seal and then when he returned to the land of Fire, he would have to burn what the scroll had provided.
Smiling satisfaction Argies now asked whatever knowledge he might seek, to his heart's content "Why are odd and even number seals so dangerous to use?"
…
Looking over the Ages scroll, I saw many figures and sums which below were explained in detail. Prominently were three interlocking golden triangles that stuck out above all other inscriptions.
The Three Golden Triangles of Sealing:
Power equals Influx multiplied by Supply
Supply equals Capacity multiplied by Requirement
Requirement equals Mass multiplied by Standard-Charka-Equivalent
Below beside the detail of explanations which I ghosted over, were examples I couldn't resist looking at first. The numbers and definitions all very intimidating on paper, I wondered how well it would play out in reality considering the disaster of the last time I tried seals.
One of the seal examples I recognised was the paper bomb, in its raw un-exception seal form. Without the 'exception' constituent that allowed paper bombs to be blown up in various ways, with wind fire and other non-chakra based solutions, the paper bomb was merely a unity of earth and lightning. Using 'the fundamental principles of reality', it was clearly explained as; the container of still earth opposes the container of moving Lightning. Which with all things can only lead to a crash or in this case and explosion. Now for the hard math!
The Supply needed to execute the seal of earth and lightning, is equal to the multiple of Requirement and Capacity. What this meant was that the chakra supply needed to power the seal is equal to the Requirement of the Earth and lightning multiplied by the Capacity of each container. Though I knew the meaning it still wasn't totally making sense to me yet. "Time to look over those definitions."
Requirement; The requirement of the seal is the addition of every conversion of chakra. Meaning that each time chakra changes from one element to another, your requirement is increase by a factor of one. Example; If chakra is converted to the element of fire in one container and the element of water in another, the adjoining element of steam means that chakra has been converted two times before forming a new element. Your requirement in order to power the element of steam is therefore a consumption of two units.
Capacity; Capacity is measured by the number of containers available and used by the executing seal. This includes Binder, Capacitor and Seal constituents which all use containers granted in a different form. The Capacity measured of exception seals is directly equal to the requirement of the element used to power the seal. Example; If you have a seal that uses six constituents but only four of those constituents are containers, then you have only a capacity of four. However if one of those constituents is an exception container, accepting a number of elements, then your capacity for this seal is directly related to the requirement plus the remaining three units of capacity. Therefore meaning that all seals in theory require at least one container constituent in order for the seal to have a capacity to hold chakra.
Supply; Supply is the total chakra required to execute a seal. Factoring in both the total capacity multiplied by the total requirement; A multiple of the two. Example; If you have a seal with four constituents and no exceptions and only two conversions of chakra before the final adjoining element (binder). Then you will have a supply requirement of eight units of chakra, meaning a total of only eight units are needed and no more.
Ok this was beginning to blow my mind. There was actually a mathematical way to create seals… safely!? This meant that I could actually work out my seals before making them, giving me absolute freedom from the fear that they might blow up inappropriately!
Ok… ok, I mustn't get excited too quickly. I need to test it first after all. Well, let's see.
I looked to the example, which asked me to work out the solution before looking for the answer in print. Writing it down on the paper I had available I gave myself a rough idea of what was what.
Supply equals Capacity multiplied by Requirement
S = C x R…
Since I do not know what the supply required for this seal is, I will have to look to the definition of capacity and requirement. According to the scroll, requirement is the total number of conversions my chakra needs to make before forming the final element. Starting from my body the seal converts my chakra in to earth and lightning before forming the binder of explosion. Meaning two conversions before becoming the element explosion. I wrote down my solution
R = 2
Now Capacity. Capacity is the total number of containers. Since earth and lightning form explosion, that equals three containers needed to hold each element including the binder explosion. Allowing me to complete the equation in full.
C = 3
R = 2
Therefore
Supply=Capacity x Requirement
S = 3 x 2
S = 6
This meant that in order to power a paper bomb of this type I need to supply six units of chakra, but now what about time. I looked to the other triangle, which included Influx which read to be a measure of time.
Influx; Influx is a measure of how much chakra enters the seal every second. Each second equalled to a division of how much power the seal produces in comparison to how much supply is needed to run the jutsu. We can therefore say that a seal in essence only requires a fraction of chakra supplied in comparison to power used to execute, but that the supply requirement is needed in order to convert the chakra for proper seal execution. Example; With a total output of four units of power, and a required Supply of two units of Chakra, the influx of chakra into the seal per a second is equal to two. Meaning that one units of chakra is used to power the seal and one unit is used to convert chakra into a new element, requiring a total of two seconds before execution.
Power; Power is the multiple of influx and supply. Influx being the time required before a seal can execute and Supply the total measure of chakra required to power a seal. Thus the name power, for power is a measure of how many units of chakra are used over the duration that a seal is charged. Example; If you have a seal that requires a total of six units of chakra over the duration of four seconds, then you will have a requirement of twenty four units of power.
Hmm ok so this triangle includes supply which we already have the definition of, giving me a new formula to work on with less definitions needed.
Power= Influx x Supply
Now we already have the supply from the above equation, which is six units of chakra. Hmm I would have thought six units of chakra was the total chakra needed, but with the addition of time it seems that power is really the total needed. Power is the amount of Supply needed over how long. Meaning…
Power equals to Influx multiplied by Supply
P= I x S
P= I x 6
…But hang on. How am I supposed to calculate this equation when I don't know the value of Power or Influx! Just then before I could open my mouth, a fourth triangle appeared over influx.
Influx equals Supply divided by Capacity
"What!" Kinjo jumped to my sudden outburst. "The book just made a mistake" I explained.
Kinjo patted the ground with a perturbed tail, unimpressed with my accusation. "The Ages scroll never makes mistakes, your human mind is the only factor at hand with the capacity for fault"
Kinjo was right of course. Turning back to the Ages scroll I realised that Influx was described as a derivative of Supply divided by Capacity. If anything the scroll was just being lenient by providing me the extra triangle to explain. Of course Capacity would mean the units of chakra allowed in per a second, being that the word itself meant 'total volume'. Looking back at my notes I added in.
Influx = Supply / Capacity
I = S / C
I= 6/ 3
I=2
Factoring in the Requirement of two conversions of Chakra every time the total capacity is reached, i.e. every second, I therefore can say that four units of chakra are lost before the total execution of the jutsu. Meaning that…
Power equals to Influx multiplied by Supply
P= I x S
P= I x 6
P=2 x 6
P=12 total units of chakra
Meaning that Four units of chakra are lost to convert the two elements into the new element of Explosion. Six units of chakra must be supplied over a period of two seconds. Meaning that in total twelve units of chakra are used to power the jutsu and eight units are used to form the new element Explosion.
Scrolling down I saw the answer, a match to mine! I stifled the coming cheer and instead giggled internally for fear of incurring Kinjo to kick me out of the summons realm. YES! I understand it, but wait. Hmm, units of chakra… what is a unit of Chakra. Almost as if hearing my voice the third and final triangle lit up, drawing my attention to it.
Requirement equals Mass multiplied by Standard-Charka-Equivalent
Ok mass is the mass of the chakra producing being, i.e. me in this instance, and Standard Chakra Equivalent is….
Huh ok no definition this time. I guess the scroll is getting tired. Standard chakra equivalent was just written as 6.4, meaning…
Requirement = Mass x Standard Chakra Equivalent
R=M x SCE
R= 40kgs x 6.4
Being that I weigh about 40kgs, let's work out how much chakra I possess.
Strange, now in this instance requirement seems to be not the requirement of a seal but the chakra needed to sustain my very existence! Life in other words… shocking, I wonder how they found out this formula, probably with a few dead bodies.
R= …. 256 units of chakra
Wow, pretty hard math just to find out that small level of chakra. Though I guess it is only measuring my physical aspect of chakra… I suppose not even the scroll could tell me how much will power I have, spiritual energy not really being a constant factor after all. Varying with mood, I've seen Naruto stubborn heart his way out many situations… though than again he is basically immortal with no consequences to having his face smashed in.
Hmm interesting, I could actually use this equation to measure the mass required to create an explosion of 8 units of chakra. In a way that would allow me to gather a magnitude to the level of explosion that would create, as well as using that same information for other seals. I began writing it out
R= M x SCE
If Requirement = 8
M= R / SCE
M=8/6.4
M=1.25kg
Just then Kinjo jumped up, the demon cat's ears perked to something in the distance.
"I'm afraid Argies your time is up, place the Ages scroll in my carrier and then you must be gone." Kinjo ran over and flipped the leather pouch open with menacing cat teeth.
I followed through with the command, yet objected regardless "But I still have so much to ask… What about the dreams!" I whispered, realising my stay was over bound and they were getting nearer.
Before anything more could happen, the world of sunlight and grass fields vanished and I was back in the noon light of the Leaf's dark Forest of Death. I hope Kinjo is Alright. The grasses we hid in hopefully shielded us from view, but now with this seal I might never have to go to that wonderful place again.
Sigh…
Hey seal!
Taking out my notes I looked to the execution of hand seals required to form the sanctuary seal the Ages scroll provided. Twenty-one hand signs consisting of six containers, two capacitors, two barriers and the remainder a set of elemental hand seals and fundamental principles. This time I wouldn't have to guess how long I needed to add chakra, and end up burning my house down to Neji's sudden visit, this time I have math on my side!
…
Though it was the first Time Argies had ever used a Barrier and capacitor seal, after practising the seal a few times and fully understanding the equations behind it, he formed his hands across all Twenty-one hand signs and struck his palm to the large rock his guardians trained him on. The stone he first learnt his gentle breeze on suddenly shimmered in black ink, forming to depict the image of a map. Through the surface of the boulder it was hard to see, Argies could still recognise the curves of a detailed map showing the rise and fall of land mass. Next time he came here he promised himself to bring a large sheet of paper to act as his sanctuary seal map.
Declaring aloud to himself, no longer afraid of any intrusion because of the confidence he held in the scroll that taught him so much, Argies yelled "Off To Kosuke!" Which would be his next stop.
…
"Bow to me!" A flash of light caught off Tensue's glasses as he leered at the short girl.
Hakari did not falter, Argies had warned her that their sensei was weird but she didn't know he was this weird! Still she didn't budge a millimetre, with her hands on her hips and eye brows arched in buzzing infuriation she monotone-d "What have you been smoking" Calling over her shoulder to the door, she ordered. "Amoroto, get in here!"
With the younger ninja's entry, Tensue commanded again. "I am your sensei, you have to bow to me!"
Just as Amoroto was about to comply, more so to apologise then to listen to Tensue's command, the crystal hunter nin warned. "Don't you dare!" The young Genin stiffened, his pray seals swaying at his hip with the sudden stop of his actions. "If Tensue wants to be treated with respect, he has to earn it. I don't care what qualifications he has here in the shinobi hospital, but so far as our sensei I haven't seen him do squat!"
"How dare you!" Tall and imposing, Tensue spoke down to the girl that dare defy him, striking his hands to the surface of his desk. "I have many responsibilities within the hospital. I am the lead physician of ground breaking medical research. I do not need to answer to you, child!" He near spat his words but Hakari was unmoving, though Amoroto stood speechless staring between the two locking eyes…
…Hakari wasn't afraid to use her words "Ha well I suppose when they look you up in the history books they will mark your name in bold" Tensue took two steps back, fully expecting an attack the complement caught him off balance, but Hakari wasn't finished yet. Her voice dark and foreboding the small Konoichi continued "'A great medic but a weak sensei'. People will pass us in the street and whisper, 'Are those Tensue's students? I guess he isn't as great a medical ninja as they say, after all look at what pathetic medics nin they make'." Hakari looked up at him from under her brow, her words very flat and yet cut deep into the man's pride. "Come on you fart horse, don't claim to be the greatest medical researcher to ever have lived, and then fail to give us an equal measure of training. After all you came to us, we didn't ask for this pathetic excuse of a sensei." Hakari turned, ready to walk out the door but paused with the whip of her hair to a voice calling out.
"Wait!" falling back into his seat behind his desk, never had he been so insulted and rightly attack, Tensue reached out a hand to catch the air. "I suppose I could teach you a few lessons, after all I am a great medical ninja" His hurt pride hitting back to reinforce a wall of arrogance around his damaged self-worth.
…
Mumbling to himself, crossing down streets and alleyways, Argies took the route that a civilian might take. In his thoughts he was in no hurry to make it to Kosuke Maruboshi, though he realised he still needed to read up on Ninja law he was also quite glad his council with Kinjo didn't take up so much of his time. Now he was free to enjoy and absorb what he learnt from the Ages scroll, though he wished there was more.
"There's … much… golden triangles, and … read…scroll whenever... example… basic…lot of ways… formula." He babbled an incoherent sentence because most of the conversation was happening in his head. Still, though those he passed probably thought him mad, an epiphany began to form.
'Oh! That's why odd and even numbered seals don't mix!' He jumped and fist pumped the sky "Yes!" before casting his gaze around himself and catching the stare of many quizzical eyes, ninja and civilian both. Smiling to himself he continued to walk, and in thought his mind rushed with the revelation.
'It is because of influx that odd and even numbers do not mix. Influx being a measure of how much of a given element is generated over a period, meaning that if you have a binder seal you want any bridging containers to be in symmetry with each other. Binders generate a new element by joining two elemental halves together so... If you have an odd number and even numbered seal, one taking seven seconds to fill the binder and the another four… then at no point in time would the two containers fill the binder at the same time. Leading to a whole host of possible complications… I assume. Huh this actually has a lot of meaning. Even if you have an odd number that fits into an even, three and six for example, then you would still end up with more of one element than the other. The same goes for two even numbers of different values. Meaning that the two elements will not form a balanced new element, rather it would have a remainder of which ever element was supplied in excess… Hmm I wonder if that has some use?'
"After all" 'that seal Tenten and I' "saw" 'was an odd and even numbered' "seal"
'I assume, that while it is possible there is most probably very few benefits to being able to layer odd to even or vice versa. It is most likely more simple to layer even to even or odd to odd because the math would be easier. The possibility of failure is lower, while the results could theoretically be the same.'
Resting his hand against the earth wall Argies broadened his half smile. "Huh I wonder if Kosuke is home, would be a shame to have walked all this way for nothing" He smiled remembering the old man blocking his path the last time he made it to the narrow stone face just before Kosuke's camp.
"Walking is never for nothing" Kosuke jumped down off the top of the earth wall. "When you have journeyed down a road, even if there is nothing to be found, the journey alone has strengthened your footsteps"
Taking his hand off from the wall to turn to face the animal skin suited Genin, Argies laughed "Ha! I knew you were there" The Chunin looked up at the old man's wrinkled smile, how warm and inviting his Wandering Winds sensei was.
"Agh Argies, it is good to see you again. Come, I have a warm meal prepared." The eternal Genin put an arm around the young Ages before casting eyes over his shoulder. "I hope that you were not followed, my fire pit is not large enough to be shared"
Argies gulped… realising his journey there wasn't exactly as stealthy as his last visit.
"I hope so"
…
There were no intrusions, though I suppose I do need to make a habit of always traveling in stealth. I guess it is different this time. The last time I visited Kosuke I didn't know him, trust him, now I felt safe and because of that safety I didn't take into consideration the Leaf. Kosuke placed his silencing seal as before, though it didn't prevent someone from intruding it kept our conversations private.
"Kosuke, I hope you don't mind but I've learnt a new technique I would like to show you?" Maruboshi nodded his head but I had more to ask. "Do you have a large piece of paper?" I could feel my face redden, it being obvious that I wasn't exactly prepared to use the Sanctuary seal but instead needed it.
"Would a white log do?" He supplied the off cutting and placed it before me, to my agreement, before sitting back down beside his fire.
Forming my hands into the Twenty-one seals, I said out loud the elements and fundamentals needed to perform the technique. "Three prong Barrier seal, Container of fire clings, Container of metal withdraws, container of wood stills. Capacitor of wind releases..." With the last seal formed on the log I struck my hand to it. Instantly there was a push of wind as the last constituent, wind, signalled that its capacity had been reached.
"Very impressive" Kosuke commended.
"Huh, that wasn't supposed to happen" I hunched over to inspect the log with a little bit of worry beating in my heart. "The capacitor is only supposed to activate if someone is within the barrier… and intruder!?"
"Do not worry young Ages." Maruboshi walked over to me. "I know of this seal, I'm sure your guardians have used it on occasion" He pointed at the map in all its detail. "You see that?" He tapped a black dot, marking the centre of the map. "That is where you are, the caster of this jutsu" veering my attention to the green dot next to the black he asked. "What do you suppose that is?" He smiled warmly at me and all my concern fell away.
"Well if it isn't an intruder it must be… oh I get it! That's you, Shippuden that is pretty amazing" I began bouncing around, looking at the map to see if it tracked my location… "Ha, so much fun"
"Now Argies, I am sure this is not the only reason you are here" Maruboshi stroked his grey stubbed chin, making an accurate assumption. "I suspect you are here about your Chakra Kyuin Jutsu"
"My what?" I twisted my face "Oh my blood ability" I remembered faintly the word Kyuin meaning absorb, in this case absorb Chakra. That's another thing I should add to my back pocket, I'm sure there are books about it. "You are right sensei.. ergh. Recently I absorbed the chakra from a very powerful opponent, but this time instead of a physical or spiritual imbalance I began to feel their… emotions." Kazumi was very troubled, I can only hope she is better now… though she is in some secret organisation now probably doing unspeakable deeds for the Leaf. I gulped loosing track, my eyes watering slightly to the thought of my old inter-village friend.
"Agh I had a feeling this would happen" I widened my eyes to my sensei's revelation, how could he know? "You see Argies, when absorbing the chakra from an opponent your 'blood' normally takes in only resting chakra. However in this powerful opponent you speak of, your blood absorbed their concentrated spiritual energy. Which is why you have experienced a glimpse of how they feel and think, their soul"
"You mean I can absorb people's souls?" I tilted my head to the side and rested a hand on my hip, Maruboshi was beginning to sound Zen again, I didn't totally believe his word.
"No, do not let us confuse Spiritual energy with soul." He walked over to his fire, taking a seat over a felled tree and so I did the same. "That is an entirely different energy. Spiritual energy is mind not soul, just as physical is body not life" I frowned, Kosuke was definitely beginning to sound like an out of touch with reality monk. "Listen now Argies. Resting chakra was taught to you in the academy, yes?" I confirmed. "What they did not teach you is that there are five forms chakra can take."
"Ergh… ok?"
"What you absorbed in your opponent is concentrated chakra, making it much harder for your chakra flow to process." He rested a finger on my sternum before continuing. "Confusing your ability to absorb chakra, because in reality there are five states of chakra and your blood can only process one."
"What are the five states… and why wouldn't I be able to absorb them like resting, without the complications?" I sat back, relaxing myself, ready for Kosuke to impart his wisdom.
"The five states of chakra are the five forms chakra can be stored in;
Chakra can either be:
Fluid – Unfocused
Yang – Physical
Yin – mental
Solid – Concentrated
Natural – Respired, an energy given off by all living things." Kosuke warmed his hands up by the fire before continuing, the sun was already falling away from the horizon.
"When chakra isn't being concentrated into a point it is in a fluid state, this is what we call resting chakra and it is what is naturally found inside all living beings. It is what you absorbs from the blood of your victims." I gulped, 'victims'… that doesn't exactly cast a halo around my head. "However when you absorbed from this powerful foe there was only concentrated chakra to take in. Yang is physical energy and Yin is spiritual energy, which we have already explained is the body and mind, exercising the body affects Yang as focusing the mind improves Yin. Solid state chakra is what we call chakra when it is focused in order to execute a jutsu or to store within our bodies to either hide from the enemy or allow for greater capacity. Finally we have Natural chakra which is giving off by all living things, it is very hard to capture once lost and very difficult to hold once captured.
"Does this have anything to do with the five elements theory?" I held my hand half raised but I didn't know exactly why… class lesson?
"Yes that is true" He pointed again using my body as the living example. "Heart holds unfocused chakra in the blood. Spleen produces physical energy through movement. Lungs take in breath and brings concentration to your mind. Kidneys filter out your blood, condenses your chakra" My eyes bulged a bit offended and off put to where he was pointing, but he continued. "Liver is where natural energy presides"
"Well I certainly will never forget that" I brushed away at my pants and sash feeling a little embarrassed. "but how will I control or prevent the absorption of concentrated solid state chakra?"
"You may never truly be able to absorb the power of others without repercussions."
I sighed… "That was what I was afraid of"
…
Kosuke continued on to uplift his student's mood. "This is why most Chakra Kyuin Jutsu users store the chakra they absorb in another medium beside themselves, a weapon a seal a shield. Preventing such disruptions as you are experiencing now." Continuing anew, the old man smiled to Argies happiness returned. 'A seal' ringing as solution in Argies ears. "You must find your own way of sealing away this extra chakra until a time where you are better able to adapt and use it without ill effect"
Finding a new point of interest, Argies straightened. "How would I be able to adapt?"
"By storing in excess a supply of Physical and Spiritual energy to be release when your chakra flow is out of balance." To Argies frown and confused stare away, the grey haired man explained. "In order to store up physical energy you need to accumulate physical mass either in the density of your body or girth"
"You mean Like Chouji? I don't want to be, fat!" The Chunin whispered the word 'fat', on the off chance precaution the big boned Genin was somehow about.
"Spiritually you must form in your mind a vision of self that is stronger than the will of any other" Forming a fist Kosuke let the crunching of knuckles tip into his words. "I cannot teach you how but to describe it I would tell you. Form a fist with your mind and punch any doubt infiltration ninja or genjutsu might cast over your self-perception."
"Self-perception" Argies let his voice arch up in familiarity. "I've heard a few intelligence ninja talk about that. It is how they get enemy ninja to confess or drop their guard… I believe" He thought back to Hatari assaulting Kabuto's nuts…. "It is very effective… ergh so you say I need to resist that technique by being mentally stubborn"
"A ninja of strong will can even resist poison and sleeping gas, by forming a fist within their mind and fighting against the compulsion of death and sleep" Kosuke still held his fist in a tight grip but then his face softened and his eyes rested from their serious focus. "This is very hard to do, I have never mastered it. The Ino-Shika-Cho formation employs all three of these principles, mind heart and body."
"Huh, you mean Ino is mind and Chouji is body?" Frowning with a hand collapsing to his knee in disbelief, Argies concluded. "That would mean that Shikamaru is heart, no way!"
"True, though it may not seem it, the Nara shadow technique focuses on the user's ability to harness the power of their hearts." Argies lips began to twist again, his kin sensei's words sounding more like philosophy than reality. "This is why so many of their clan suffer depression, to look within one's self and to be honest with one's own emotions is sometimes very hard. It is in seeing yourself as other see you, to know from their emotions what they think and how they will react. This is how they master their strategies. How they see what is ahead of their opponents every step, and why to some life is predictable and tedious"
With another thought forming in Argies mind he pulled his sensei's attention "Kosuke?"
"Yes?"
"How safe is the Sanctuary seal I used earlier?" He pointed off to the log that sat in front of them in the near distance.
"I am sure you have seen your guardians use it. When they taught you our clans secrets. I would not know what to call it, but this 'Sanctuary seal' activates a genjutsu to those not within the immediate area it is cast. Then as you have seen, it shows a lay of the land signalling if any pass its boundary."
"Would you say it is safe for me to use, would any be able to detect that it is there or be able to dissolve the spell and discover me the caster?"
"In all things Argies, there is always a risk that there is a ninja who knows more. I cannot say for certain. Byakugan can see through genjutsu and sensory ninja can see chakra. What I will say is that the seal is one your guardians trusted, one my guardians too used, and being that our clan is known for their safe guard of knowledge. I doubt it would be used if it could so easily be dissolved. I will however warn, never rely on one tool too often, always be prepared before trouble can start. You may very well be the Drifter in Mist and Wander in Winds who is first to discover the ninja who can dispel our ancient ways."
"Great…"
…