Training Earth spikes

Maku awoke in the morning and began making his breakfast.  A letter in the mail told him that his mother had met someone, and was staying with her in Yukigakure for the foreseeable future.  Because of this she had went ahead and left the house to Maku, since she no longer needed it and was in a good financial state.  Maku was considering selling the place and just getting a small apartment since his needs weren’t very great at the moment.

After finishing his morning breakfast and rituals Maku left his house, and walked out to the jungle.  It was here in a clearing that he had discovered previously while training.  It was in this clearing that Maku would begin his daily duties of getting stronger.  Maku had previously learned his first offensive jutsu.  An earth technique that created spikes from the ground that could pierce targets or could be used defensively depending on the situation.  Standing in the clearing he began summoning forth the spikes.  At the moment he could summon up between 1 and 10 spikes at a time.  Maku could only get a range of about 10 meters at the moment, but was hoping in time to spread forth that distance.  Maku wasn’t a ninjutsu specialist, so these techniques didn’t come as easy and of course weren’t as powerful as others who used them.  However, should he ensnare someone in a genjutsu it wouldn’t much matter. 
The first part of training was a simple target practice style.  By taking large leaves from the large trees around him, Maku would hand them at varying distances in the 10 meter range and at varying heights ranging up to 3 meters high.  By practicing the goal of the exercise was to create the spikes of varying heights and distances while remaining accurate.  Instead of attempting to cut the leaves, the goal was instead to just nudge the leaf with the point.  This didn’t start out to well, as leaves that where close to him where pierced right through, and ones farther away were a couple inches off from even touching it.  Attempting this several more times, helped a bit but no significant breakthroughs.  Maku did notice however that he had begun to create an 11^th spike, well more of a nub but it was something.  This training went on until the 11^th spike was fully crafted, and Maku had to grab an additional leaf to continue the training.

After a couple more attempts, it was clear that the control was getting better.  Any spike within 3 meters of Maku was perfect, but beyond this spot the accuracy began to wane.  Persistent as always Maku had to keep working at it.  As his only offensive jutsu it needed a bit more power and range.  If maku could subdue a foe he had to make sure he could finish the job, and ideally while being a fair few meters away.  Going back to his jutsu, he gave it a strong force and push, after three seconds 12 spikes simply erupted in a 5 meter circle around Maku all being three meters tall.  Giving a sigh, Maku realized that in this short amount of time his power was growing before his eyes.

Walking back to town Maku would create earth spikes at random intervals to keep practicing.  The spikes weren’t as sharp as he might have hoped but they were diffidently a start, and a way to at the very least distract opponents.  Perhaps a better strategy would be to create the spikes, and then when the opponent was in the process of moving he would cast his genjutsu.  A simple strategy but those often worked the best.

Waking in the morning Maku set out to once again get some training done.  In the jungle where he started, Maku began practicing with the 12 spikes he could now create.  A new way to train was to make a mark on a tree, and send all twelve spikes at it.  This was tricky since, they would have to be longer depending on how far back they were in the row.  Sending them at the tree, and then having them release, he attempted this several times.  The slices in the bark weren’t particularly deep, but the slice marks proved that it would be more than effective.  Thinking that it would be important to get another opinion, Maku pulled one of the spikes from the ground.  Taking the point he made a tiny cut on his fore finger.  Squeezing to get a good drop, Maku slammed his hand down and rushed chakra to the ground to fulfill his summoning jutsu.  In a second the Rock Lobster appeared, standing 15 feet tall, and looked down at Maku.  “Little ninja why have you summoned me, I see no enemies around here?” The crustacean rumbled.

“I need help working on a new jutsu, and with a scarcity of ninja I figured I would give you a call, if you up for it of course.” Maku answered calmly.  Though the summon could be intimidating, Maku felt comfortable talking with him.  “Very well Maku, I will assist you.”  The Lobster said.  Not wasting any time, they began training.  It was fairly simple, in that Maku would attempt to send spikes at the Lobster.  Maku was able to do this at full speed since the spikes were sharp enough to do any real damage to the summon.  This continued for awhile, The lobster not being truly fast, was fast enough to dodge the spikes if he heard them the moment they began to be summoned.  At this point Maku could now summon 13 spikes.  Maku was getting better, and thanks to all his speed training he was now able to move around and throw up spikes while dodging the Lobsters retaliatory strikes.

After this had gone on for a little while they took a slight breather.  The next step was to begin a full on sparring match, no longer half speed so Maku could practice, but instead a decent fight.  Maku pulled out his harmonica, so he would be able to activate his sound genjutsu and squared off against his opponent.  The Lobster in a way squared off, as best Maku could tell.  In an instant they clashed, The lobster rushed at him at a decent speed and tried to bring his claws down.  However while he was running Maku prepared his two handsigns, and melted underground just underneath the swing.  Popping up around 10 meters behind his opponent, Maku cast his demonic illusion: chains of fantasia ability.  The ability seemed to his and chained the lobster where he stood.  However right before the chains took effect the lobster hardened his shell.

Because Maku hadn’t noticed this he had already sent 14 spikes at his opponent.  Each one crunched and shattered as they came into contact with the carapace.  Rushing forward, Maku attempted to slice with his wakizashi, but he merely bounced off.  It seemed the Rock Lobster was waiting for this moment, because he released his hardened shell, and slammed a claw down at Maku.

An instant before being smashed, Maku was able to sign tiger and body flicker away.  It was a close call, a trick hed nearly been killed in because he forgot to stay away.  This was the reason that Maku had developed the spikes in the first place, so that he could fight from a distance.  Reading himself Maku prepared for his next strike.  The abilities he had used so far weren’t very stressful, so it would seem he would need to do something a bit more drastic.  Preparing himself, Maku sent 4 spikes to hit the lobster, one on each side.  He then set another set of 4 covering the gaps of the first 4 2 meters back from the first.  Maku continued to set up this pattern until all his spikes were used hopefully ensnaring the creature.

Rock Lobster attempted to dodge, but was unable however the spikes could barely really make a scratch on his coat.  Though this was not Maku’s true plan, summoning his chakra he caused white feathers to decend from the sky.  Under the guise of the sound and distraction of the spikes, the feathers went unnoticed.  As soon as the first feather hit the beast it was clear that the fight was over.  The Rock Lobster began to stumble, and as each feather hit, he grew more sluggish.  After the 4^th the great lobster collapsed, about a foot away from where Maku himself stood.

While the beast slept Maku noticed he had an extra spike from his attack, so he was now up to 15, not bad he thought to himself.  Once the Lobster had awoken, Maku dismissed him so that he would be able to rest and regain his strength.  Maku had completed a fair amount in a short time, adding 5 spikes to his arsenal.  No doubt this would be useful in a fight, plus it wasn’t bad chakra control training.  After taking a break, Maku would cut his finger once again and summon the lobster, the goal this time was the use in defensive maneuvers.  Maku would create several spike walls to make a defense, so that it would interrupt the path of the lobster trying to tag him. This worked fairly well, though the three second lag to get a spike created took some intelligence.  Because of this lag, one had to predict or lead the opponent to make the ability both offensive and defensive.  After running this drill several times, Maku decided it was time to practice his ultimate defensive measure combo. 
This was a combo that Maku had thought of and would ideally give him a steady defense.  The idea was pretty simple.  The combo would become necessary if whatever attack Maku had used missed, and it looked as if he was about to take some damage.  The first measure was to dismiss his summon so he could be called upon later.  Once he was gone in a puff of smoke Maku prepared himself.  Now with the ability to use 16 spikes at once Maku would plant his feet and wait.  Upon noticing an incoming attack Maku would immeditly bite his thumb and summon the Rock Lobster who would then appear.  Having discussed this previously the Rock Lobster would appear in a defensive stance by default covering most of Maku’s body.  Depending on the attack, Maku would signal for the great crustacean to either shield, or activate his defense ability.  Once this is set, Maku would then summon spikes in a circle around himself each extending three meters, and pointing at a 45 degree angle from the ground.  This would deter any head on attacks as well as hopefully offset any jutsu coming at him.  This abuility only took a few seconds to activate.  Counting the time it takes to summon the lobster and then the 3 for the spikes to appear the whole defense combo could take about 5 to 6 seconds. 
Deciding to practice the full skill 3 more times, Maku was confident that in 5 seconds the entire combo could be worked.  Exhausted Maku had to dismiss his lobster friend and take a breather.  This defensive combo would be useful but tiring.  Most of Maku’s abilities were either weak or powerful with not a lot in-between.  Maku knew that his abilities would be greatest should he fight in a team, however with the lack of Taki nin this would be difficult, yet all the same he had to practice.  That’s why he had the Lobster as well.  But even this wasn’t enough.  A true team was something he lacked and needed.

After resting again, the next day started the same.  Maku continued to practice with his spikes and even practice the defensive combo that he nicknamed the spiked lobster defense.  Everything worked well, and Maku felt that soon he will have mastered the spike jutsu to the best of his abilities.  His next training exercise was trapping opponents with the spike in a way to snag them in a genjutsu. This was also a fairly easy thing to do.  He would simply create spikes all around his opponent to get them in a small area, and then use a genjutsu.

By creating spikes approximately 3 feet all around his opponent in a ring, with another ring around that he would create a pseudo prison.  Though the opponent would be able to escape fairly easy if they were quick enough with a decent jump, this wasn’t the point.  In forcing them to be acrobatic, Maku hoped he could cast his temple of nirvana jutsu uninterrupted and unnoticed.  Continuing with defensive actions, Maku started using the technique to create spikes directly in front of him popping up at angels, so Maku would be able to break them off and use them as weapons.  His wakazashi not quite obsolete due to it being much sharper, was still getting used less and less as Maku developed as a nin.  O well he thought, it would still be better to have some reliable steel on his person at all times.

This trap technique was very decent, Maku felt like against a nin of equal standings this skill would successfully ensnare and trap his opponent.  Even maybe against a stronger ninja, he would be able to get him trapped in a technique.  His skills in the spikes were becoming more and more accurate.  Maku could now perform his original target practice skill with ease.  Able to hit the mark exact with all spikes from all distances.  The more the spikes came through the greater his defense also became.  Maku was proud of these accomplishments.  Only a couple days had gone by, and his proficiency was coming in nicely.  Maku continued to do much the same.  Practce sending out spikes at specific targets.  For every time Maku performed an offensive maneuver he would also perform a defensive maneuver.  Maku knew that he could use this skill in creative ways based on the terrain.  Blocking a narrow mountain pass, was just one of the ideas that popped into his head.  Though surrounded by jungle these weren’t great options, it was still something to keep in mind.  Not bothering to give up yet Maku made a couple attempts to create a spike and then create more spikes off of it.  This kind of worked but the subsequent spikes were smaller than the original, as well as they counted towards the total he could create.  Because of this, that strategy would not be a very effective one.  Abandoning this, Maku went on to his next idea.
Maku’s final idea was a to create a spike wall directly infront of him.  This was good in that it made a wall right in front of him, however if a ninja got behind him, there wouldn’t be any chance to defend with this jutsu.  If he summoned his lobster friend behind him, then it would cover his flank.  Whatever the case, the defensive plan was sound, though not yet tested in battle.  This would come in time for sure.  Maku was becoming more and more upset, or maybe not upset, annoyed with the lack of responsibilities that he had.  Maku was getting ready to make some sort of change.  Either to try and look towards the future and try to achieve a new rank, or begin traveling to different villages to see whats out there.  Maybe by traveling he would be able to find someone to teach him new jutsu or use his better. 



(Word Count = 2600, 13 stat points & 26jp, also 2500 words training grants 10 additional spikes, and a 20 meter addition to its range)

Approved unless another staffer sees something wrong.