Mokuzai Senju Training

The sun was so hot beaming down onto Moku’s neck, good thing his arms were covered by his sleeves, or he could get burned. Mokuzai scurried down the streets of sungakure. As he scurried the wind was blowing the opposite direction of him, and his jacket was giving off resistance to his speed. So, Moku pulled his jacket off, and tied the arms around his waist hoping to decrease the resistance and strain it was putting on him. He could not get tired he was on his way to train after all. Hoping the academy would still be open at this time of the day, since school had been let out. Mokuzai was not the one to really be training too much to begin with, but Moku knew if he was not going to train, there was a chance he would not rank up, and Moku’s goal was to be a young shinobi admired even by his elders. He knew he was a little young to be chasing after the genin exams, but that did not really seem to stop his ambitious drive, persistent little tike. He knew it would be hard work, and Moku of all kid, hates to work hard, especially if he was not in the spot light. Therefore, he was hoping his sensei would be there to watch him train, and realize he was trying hard. After making such an embarrassing first impression with him last time, he knew he needed to show, that he was not a normal shinobi, a future pillar of support, a man not to be messed around with. Mokuzai was all ready, he did not really like to train, but he loved to show off, and be praised. These traits would allow Moku to be endlessly motivated like never before

Mokuzai was so happy to show off all of his skills, he started to daydream on his walk to the academy. Dreaming of all that he could do or might do. He dreamt of an older version of himself, at jounin status, and his sensei as of now, praising him for all his efforts. Through his big hardheadedness, he realized he was standing still, and forgot to keep walking. Mokuzai started again, and finally within minutes reached the academy. He grabbed the handles of the door, and struggled to pull it open. It was a heavy door, he was used to small ones at home. However, this being a large institution, catered to the old-style decor. He headed to the training room, and was finally ready to start his own shinobi road. As he passed the class, realizing what a fool he had been earlier with Xuro, he realized he would have to man-up.  He entered the training ground with full concentration, and was excited. He walked in, and to his dismay, no one was around. This saddened, Moku, as he really wanted to show off his efforts. Whatever he expected, it was going to be different now, as he was all alone, question is, can Moku really give 110% to himself? Mokuzai shrugged his shoulders, as he sat down on the floor and crossed his legs in a meditative state. He sat for awhile concentrating his mind. When Moku realized he would start with his body, before taking a stress toll on his mind.

Moku started to itch his head wondering what body trait to work on first. Supposing Moku was weak compared to his stamina, then strength training would be the best idea at this point. Moku thought to first build the body from the core out, as he read in the book. He laid down on the floor, with his knees bent, and hands on his temples. Sit-ups were going to be his first workout of the day. With his ambitious attitude he began, with the balls of his feet firmly planted on the floor, he dropped his hands from his temples to his opposing shoulders. He tightened his abdominal muscles, by pulling his stomach towards his spine. Holding his toes to the ground, and his heels as well he began to lift his head towards his knees. Making sure to bend at his midsection as to not strain his neck. All the while keeping focus on his knees, he bent up till he was at a 90 degree angle, to which he let out a hard breath of air at the top. He took in another breath, held the position for a moment and slowly arched back down to the floor. That was not the hardest thing he had done thought Moku, and when his back finally reached the floor, with a soft grin he whispered. “One.” Moku kept repeating the motion until eventually he reached thirty. With a happy face on, he thought alright, set one complete. Before going into set 2, he thought to give his full abdominal muscles a better workout as to not reach a plateau. Moku rolled over onto his stomach, and was ready for a large workout day. He was slightly fatigued from the sit-ups, but being the easiest exercise one could do was ready for a little more. 

Laying on his stomach, he rested his body on his forearms with his palms laying flat on the floor. He looked at his posture re-assuring his shoulders were aligned with his elbows, and his legs were behind him with his ankles, knees, and thighs all touching. Who knew the book’s instructions actually came in handy? Moku with his extreme efforts got into a pushup position of his forearms, and began to hold the position as he counted. By the time Moku counted to 15, he was starting to sweat straight out of his core, and he knew that these exercises were nothing to play with. He reached 30 seconds and dropped down out of fatigue. Laying on the floor, heavily breathing. he switched around to his other side, and re-assumed the sit-up position. 

Mokuzai laid there with his eyes closed, happy that his workouts were truly working. He started to envision himself doing multiple sets with hundreds of reps. He could not wait to pass the genin exams. Being at such a young age, this was truly a real goal for him, and knew it would certainly grab the fellow villager’s attentions. He looked out the window, and the sun was still gleaming brightly, so he knew it was not even close to the time to go home yet. He placed his hands on his shoulders and began his sit-ups once more. This time he struggled to get to thirty, but that goes without saying considering he had already planked the same muscles in the exercise before. With his abdominal muscles quivering, Moku realized, this was going to be a hard day, but what drove him most is for the first time, Moku was doing something. Not just any something though, but something for himself, without having been asked to do it, or showing off to anyone. Mokuzai was quite enjoying his workout, and he started to chuckle as he thought to himself. I know a few villagers who could use some exercises like these. Laughing hysterically, Moku sat-up literally laughing so hard he could feel his abs tensing. As he suddenly stopped he placed his hands over his stomach, and just said, “OW!” He laid down, realizing his workout was getting altogether finished. He completed his situps, with a bit of a try-hard attitude, and felt completely done with his core.

However this could not be, as Mokuzai promised himself this goal, and it was time to give himself what he promised. This was some new thing with him, a goal inspired boy, who would do some things just because he was determined to. That and he knew he could show all this off to the girls in his class later on. Just another set, he thought as he went back into his planking position. He placed himself into a plank, but unfortunately stuck his legs out a bit to far causing his toes to slip on the sandy ground. He slipped and landed face first in the sand. So not cool, he thought to himself as he laid face first in the dirt. He got back into his plank, readied for the challenge, and went full out into his plank. “Come on Moku, you can do this, just thirty seconds, one...two...three” He counted all the way to thirty, and he collapsed on the floor. He got up and felt a burning sensation in his abdominals, definitely enough core workout today he thought to himself, feeling slightly fatigued he was hoping he would get some strength out of this. 

Moku got up, and walked over to the water fountain, to take a sip of water before starting his next training. He drank a small amount just to get refreshed, and some into his hands as he splashed it onto his face. Moku sat down on the bench, relaxing for about ten minutes just to give his muscles a time to rest. Feeling slightly refreshed he was ready to continue. He stood up, and began walking toward his training spot again, wondering what exercise he could do now. Feeling the strength of his body fatiguing, he knew he would have to do a slow workout, that would not isolate his muscles too much. He still wanted to work on his abs, but he knew if he proceeded to do so, he would probably puke. Moku opened his book up to the core exercises section and read the following passage. 

“Core stability relates to the bodily region bounded by the abdominal wall, the pelvis, the lower back and the diaphragm and its ability to stabilize the body during movement. The main muscles involved include the abdominis, the internal and external obliques, the quadratus lumborum and the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the main muscle of breathing in the human and so breathing is important in providing the necessary core stability for moving and lifting. In addition, it is lumbar spine that is primarily responsible for posture and stability providing the strength needed for stability especially utilized in dynamic sports” 

Mokuzai found this information very helpful, as he knew that he was doing something right. It was going to benefit him to produce his shinobi strength from the inside out. Mokuzai turned the page, and kept on reading about all the different workouts that were possible. Since he was tired of sit-ups he was looking for different workouts to do in order to better himself. Understanding strenth in the lumbar spine is required for strenuous activity he thought it be best to workout that area. Moku grabbed the tab for lumbar spine, and flipped his book to that section. The lumbar spine vertebrae help support the weight of the body and permit movement. Moku doubted any student would go through such great length to get ahead as himself, so he knew he’d get an edge here. When Moku turned to the exercises, he was surprised to see that they required little to no effort at all they were just small stretches.
Two out of six of his workouts were already done for the lumbar spine, so he figured since they were mostly just stretching he would do the other four. He grabbed some sand off the floor and looked for a tiny chalk-like pebble. No such luck, but luckily there was a dirt like pebble, and he figured it would use that. Using the small pebble lightly, he put a check mark near the two workouts he had done. One for abdominal crunches, and one for Bridging. That left four more that had to be done. “So skipping these two the next one is leg lifts.” Moku laid down lifting his right leg and crossing it over his left, which was bent at 45 degree angle. Then he repeated with his other leg, holding each for 30 seconds. After repeating with each leg, he felt it wasn’t much challenge, so he went to move on to the next exercise. Mokuzai looked in the book realizing next was reverse leg lifts. This did not seem to be too hard, and he felt he could probably do it with ease. in fact, Moku almost hurried into his reverse leg lift stance, ready to do the exercise.
He turned over laying down on his stomach, he pointed his arms straight out, and his legs as straight as they could be. He lifted his legs toward the ceiling, and the moment his legs were lifted, felt a burn in his abs. Mokuzai could not believe that in this short time he developed this small pain. His core feeling tightened like a washboard, held his legs in the air for 10 seconds. The book said thirty seconds, but Mokuzai was so tired of his core he had to put them down. He was not going to give up though, he did 2 more sets of 15 second reverse leg lists just to balance it out.
At this point, Mokuzai was so tired he was sweating all along his small torso. Feeling very tired, Mokuzai decided he was done for the day. He got up, and sat on the small bench. His heart rate racing, Mokuzai was starting to feel a little sick. He got up to grab some water, and as soon as he got up, had to sit back down from the dizziness. He sat there with his head in his palms. He possibly overdid his exercising today, but at least he benefitted his body with his strength training, strenuous as it may be. Moku stood up once more, a little wobbly in his body, but at least he was not going to vomit this time. He walked over to his coat still laying on the floor, and grabbed it. As he picked it up from the floor, he felt a shudder in his abs. Nonetheless, he threw the coat over his shoulder, and  proceeded to walk home.Before leaving the training grounds, he got one last gulp of water from the fountain.
As Mokuzai was walking out the door he noticed the training dummy. He walked over to the dummy kind of curious at exactly what he was capable of. He looked at the dummy close up, and then he placed his hand on the wooden dummy. Noticing that the material the dummy was made of was a little rough he wondered if he should punch it. Moku tired from the training took one swing at the dummy, and hurt his hand. “Ow, ow, ow, why am I so weak.” He said to himself out loud. He then looked at the dummy and thought to himself maybe a kick. Moku pulled his leg back, and with all his force kicked the dummy. Thinking it was going to hurt he braced full force, only that is not exactly what happened. Mokuzai swung his leg towards the dummy, but in his inexperience of this exercise missed. Mokuzai missed the dummy, and due to the weakness of his core, had no control. Moku swung his leg too hard causing his body to fall back and go along with the full momentum swinging his body into the air, turning upside down and falling on his back. Mokuzai lying down staring at the ceiling, had the wind run through his hair. It gave him a small chill in the sweat running down his brow. He could not believe hitting a dummy could be truly that hard. He was tired of it all, he got up, and looked at the dummy, he pointed at it, and spoke. “I’ll be back for you, wooden dummy, I will get you.” Mokuzai opened the door nearest him, and proceeded down the hallway towards the exit. Just as he was ready to leaved Moku realized he left his book on the floor. He ran back and grabbed it and once again reached the door. As Mokuzai pushed the door open, he could feel its resistance as he was so exhausted. Nevertheless, he pushed with a small groan, as he walked outside, and down the steps. His training day was done, and he was finally going home. Mokuzai proceeded down the dirt roads, and started kicking rocks, and whistling as he shuffled his feet to a random beat. 
Mokuzai walked all the way home kicking rocks on the dirt roads, and whistling tunes, and placing his coat over his head to hide from the boiling sun, which was now setting. He finally reached his stay, he pushed his sandals off his feet and walked in the building. He talked to the caretaker, telling her of today’s training and how hard it truly was. She rubbed his head, and smiled at Moku, understanding the trials it takes to become a shinobi. She looked at him in the eyes, and said, “Just remember, when you are a famous shinobi, and everyone looks up to you...remember to think of everyone you looked up to on the way there.” Mokuzai nodded and smiled before running into the caretaker, “I will, old lady.” He hugged her, and thanked her for all he had been through with her.She stared at Mokuzai, and began to tear of all the time she had watched him grow up so fast, and knew he was one day going to make something great of himself. Soon she would have to tell him just how important his name was, but for now let him enjoy himself, she thought to herself. This was truly a good day. Mokuzai walked upstairs, and grabbed his paqua mirrors from the night stand. He placed them on the window sill three in a line, to ward off evil spirits. He laid down in bed, picturing himself wearing his country’s great headband. I’ll do anything it takes to pass this test, anything...Mokuzai thought as he started dozing off. Soon, I will practice everything this book has to offer. This just might be a great shinobi one day.

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3025 words

Approved for 30JP & 15 Stats

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