Harder, Probably Faster and maybe Stronger.

Hinoki was hard at work training his Gentle Fist, focused entirely on the Tenketsu Needle; The winning move that had secured him a definite win in the Genin exams. Marking a single point with an X on the training dummy, he began jabbing with his index and middle finger, with every strike focusing his chakra to a more pinpoint tip. Even though his ability with the Tenketsu Needle could plug a Tenketsu point but not completely and not for long; but if he the chakra that was used to hit the Tenketsu is refined more; in a shape of thinner needle, that would close the chakra flow even more and for longer. This made the Technique more viable to be used against stronger foes. He knew that he couldn’t base his skill on the performance he had in the Genin Exam; His opponent was pitiful and untrained. The wood was bitten in by the constant strikes and his arm where getting tired, so he thought it would be a good idea to take a break.

There were other genin training in the grounds but he was far too lost in his thoughts to even care. There was a long list on Jutsu he needed to improve and his overall body was still a disaster by shinobi standards. He went to the vending machine, put in some ryo and grabbed a chilled coke. He sat down to catch his breath. “Hmmm, A quick nap would be a good thing right now. Just quick one, a few minutes then back to training.” He told himself as he slowly drifted to sleep.

[270]

Haru entered the academy training area under silent protest. He had wanted to train in his usual spot. he had wanted to train alone but his mother had other ideas. She had decided that as a Genin he should take the time to make friends (or rivals) as he would soon be working with them on missions and when haru brought up the topic of the blood games she simply brushed him off with a smile and a kiss on the forehead before physically pushing him out the door and locking it. Haru could get back in easily enough but decided it was a dangerous risk, though his mother had not served as a ninja for many years she was still scarier than Haru's father when angry.

As he reluctantly entered the grounds he spotted Hinoki sleeping on one of the benches and noticed several other unknown Genin that were hard at work. Not for the first time, Haru wondered whether Hinoki actually took being a ninja seriously. Haru chastised himself inwardly. Even if Hinoki was somehow  miraculously talented he could not have learned the gentle fist technique Haru witnessed before without a good measure of hard work. the instruction papers he carried around did not escape Haru's notice either and they must have been used very often to reach their state of wear. Haru was close to finishing his latest technique and decided that now was a good a time as ever to practice the final applications. haru threw a few of the kunai in quick succession, hitting the target dead center with each kunai's point touching each other to form a very tight circle. Haru threw the remaining kunai high and used his last one to intercept the fall and launch it towards the target. As the first kunai hit the target a little off center but haru had leaped forward, caught the second kunai and had struck the target from above a few moments after the initial impact. He wiggled the kunai a little to loosen them before moving back to his earlier position.

This time the kunai appeared to flash blue for a movement as he threw them at the target he threw and though it may have been a trick of the light, they appeared to stick a tiny bit deeper. As he repeated the maneuver of throwing redirecting and striking with the rebounded kunai, the ninja tool was visibly glowing blue as he held it in his hand and it split the wood a tiny bit at the top before the kunai returned to normal. The balance and steady output of his chakra had definitely improved though he had discovered that though he could infuse projectiles with chakra it would quickly dissipate after losing contact with his body. He was unwilling to demonstrate his other applications of the technique he had been studying but he felt quietly confident that he had mastered the basics of the technique and was ready to begin training the next level once he had spare time away form prying eyes of his potential opponents.

Haru smiled for a moment before quickly darting his gaze around and his usual neutral expression returned. he cast a slightly annoyed look toward the still sleeping Hinoki and cast a kunai so that it landed a 10 inches above the sleeping Genins head with a loud thwack.

[569]
[Claiming: Chakra infusion 2000/2000 (400 words this post) ]
[Claiming:Flicker movement 80/1000 words]

The Thwack caused by the kunai was enough to wake Hinoki; Mumbling to himself he got up and noticed the kunai that was inches from where he was sitting. “Some guy must have botched a shot; I guess” he mumbled as he pulled it out of the wooden bench.  Looking around, he noticed that Haru was standing in front of him and assumed that the kunai was his. He slowly made his way to him and handed it to him “Guess you missed a shot.” He told Haru lazily. “Better yet, use Shuriken for throwing; They are made for that.” he added. “Well, I have this new trick I wanted to try out; See if you like it” Stepping back from the target, Hinoki pulled two shuriken from his weapon pouch and placed them over each other, giving the impression he only had one. Pausing only to aim, he threw the shuriken pretty fast and both embedded deeply; one going more to the right than the other. Giving a cocky grin at Haru “See? Can’t really do that with a Kunai.” He said as he moved the target and retrieved the shuriken.

He was impressed how well it worked. “This technique has potential, it worth refining a bit more” he thought to himself. Moving back to his original position, he did the same thing albeit he made sure to let go of the shuriken at the same. They both landed with a strong thud, this time one landing a bit more left than the other. He went over once again to retrieve the shuriken. “I see you have made it to genin, congratulations; Was the fight any challenge to you?” he inquired as he turned back to face Haru, only now noticing his headband. He didn’t know much about him and he did not recall him pestering him that much except that one time before the genin exam; he might be a good guy after all. Well, better the others at least.

[270 + 335] = [605]

Haru accepted the kunai with a nod before speaking quietly. "Thanks, must have caught the angle wrong on the last technique." Haru watched with an unmoving expression as Hinoki threw the shuriken which appeared to split into two as it hit its mark. It was an interesting move and he could hear his mothers voice in his head. "Try and be polite to the others and for god sake try and meet people your own age! It isnt healthy spending all that time alone in the woods.". Haru forced a fairly obvious grin but he didnt sound insincere when he spoke. "that technique could have some interesting applications especially if you could use it from simultaneous directions hmm." Haru became lost in thought for amount as he ran theoretical applications before realizing that he probably looked confused. "Names Torikabuto Haru, but Haru is fine. I like that technique, at first i thought it might have been a clone before it struck." haru smiled a little when Hinoki mentioned not doing it with a kunai. "if there is a way to replicate it with a kunai I will find, not great at  much but i know my weapons. Thanks I took a hit to the shoulder but the gamble paid off and its healed up alright, my opponent didn't get off so lightly. I uh... watched your match with Azure and it was certainly interesting. You appear lazy and a waste of space most the time but you obviously work hard in your own way." Haru's tone was very blunt but not particularly unkind, he spoke as though stating a known fact just as he did when he spoke out against Shi during the class.

Haru stepped up next to Hinoki and drew two shuriken and attempted to mimic the technique displayed by Hinoki. the first attempt did not go too well as he applied too much force to the lower shuriken and it hit the target a second before to top made contact. Haru's second and third attempt had better timing but lacked the speed and power to penetrate the wood and simply bounced off. The fourth attempt was much better though the impact points had a good gap but he was able to make them hit at nearly the same time. "It's a little tricky but shouldn't be too difficult to learn with some practice."

[569+406=975]
[claiming 118/1000 Shadow Shuriken Jutsu]

Hinoki was pretty impressed with how effective such a technique could be. “My fight was with Azure. He was not prepared at all. I nearly killed but I took pity on him. Hopefully he learns and drops the path of the shinobi. This is no game for kids anymore. We are Genin now. We must learn how to kill and torture or we become on the receiving end of the latter”. He then would lean against the wall “Still, you seem like you have talent that’s pretty good. You seem to know your Weapons and how to handle them.” It felt strange to actually hold a conversation with someone he did not know that well. Hinoki would flash a cocky grin. “But I think I already squared off your weakness.” Hinoki would say. “I know, you probably think I’m just trying to demoralize you and you don’t believe me. But I don’t work like that.” He would say while he pushes his glasses back up “So let’s give it a go. Here, watch this.” He said as he made the Boar – > Rat hand signs.

Suddenly, from the training dummy and out of the ground, pale copies of Hinoki crawl out; all brandishing Kunai start coming out, slowly start shambling towards Hino. They look like they are based on Hinoki at least, as their clothes and skin is hugely discolored, ranging from blue to green and their body size is extremely dissertational. Hinoki was satisfied with the result, being the first time he had ever made a Genjutsu. Still grinning at Hino, he would say “While you deal with them, I’m going to keep refining that shuriken trick. After that, what would you say for a little friendly spar?” giving him a wink and turning to refine the new trick he came up with, this time trying to put a spin on one of the shuriken to make it go the opposite direction of the other.

If the discolored copies of Hinoki are attacked, they will split into two. If they come into range of hitting Haru, they will strike but deal no damage as the kunai stabs into his body.


[605 + 360] = [960]

Haru closed his eyes and for the first time revealed a genuine smile that dissapeared an instant later. A Genjutu of this level  could trick his eyes but not his other senses, the clones had no heartbeats, nor breath and their footfalls held no weight as they touched the ground. Haru also noticed that they had no smell. All the same he played along. Haru opened his eyes and swiftly drew a kunai darting forward striking the clones whilst dodging, he used big movements and made sloppy dodges that barely avoided the encroaching genjutsu clones. After one of them passed through him he acted surprised. "So it's just genjutsu! well i can't dispell it the easy way so...". Haru pieced his arm sharply with the kunai yet barely flinched as the pain jolted through his nervous system and the genjutsu clones faded away from his sight. Haru returned the kunai to his pouch and made the signs of Boar->Rat->Snake and his right hand created a pale green glow that he placed over the cut.

He had obviously not mastered the technique as the boy kept his hand held over the cut in his arm whilst he spoke. "Thanks for the informative lesson, i never really considered how effective genjutsu could be against me i will have to work on that. Sorry but i wouldn't be able to beat someone of your level unless i put my life on the line and i don't make a habit of fighting losing battles for the sake of training." In truth Haru itched to fight the other genin, too test his strength against a prestigious clan like the Hyuuga would be educational and enjoyable but now was not the time. Though he exaggerated a little about putting his life on the line Haru wasn't arrogant to think he could win without getting too serious, it was bad enough that he held himself back in the exam and he didn't enjoy pretending to be weak but it was the best option for now. "As i said i saw you fight and there isn't much i can do against a released byakugan at my level but i would be happy to spar with you in the future once i have gotten strong enough to give you a good fight." Haru stared directly into Hinoki's eyes and despite his light hearted words and embarrassed smile the look in his eyes was piecing and utterly serious. the greenish chakra around Haru's hand began to fade and he quickly repeated the seals and covered the wound again, focusing on allowing the chakra to explore every inch of the wound and willing the blood to clot and the skin to scab over and heal quicker. haru could feel the medical ninjutsu begin to take affect as the kin around the edges of the cut began to itch and the blood flow slowed down considerably.

Haru focused more chakra into the technique and after a few moments more a scab had formed along the cut. haru prodded it lightly to make sure it would not simply fall off, apparently satisfied he looked back up at Hinoki in a curious way. The effects of the medical ninjutsu was a lot more effective than it had been since his genin examination and he reflected that clearly the time spent practicing wasn't wasted after all, he might never be a medical nin but at least he could heal a few cuts and bruises now and he was never short of them to practice on."Are you unhappy about something in your life? your eyes look kinda, don't know empty maybe, like there's no fire in them or something."
[975+637=1612]
[Claiming 500/500 Basic Medical Ninjutsu level 1]

After seeing that Haru successfully escaped the Genjutsu, “Still need to work on that Jutsu tough but hey its better than nothing” he said, as He sat down once again.  “Nah mate, people make me to be this great unstoppable force. All I did was beat up a guy who thinks that being a shinobi is all fun and games. Just look at me.” Hinoki says, getting up “I’m shorter than people who are nearly 2 years younger than me and I don’t have any bulging biceps either.” He said and sat down once again. “If we going to spar, we do it with no gentle fist. Don’t let its name fool you, it can fuck up your internals really quick." He then paused to take out some wasabi seeds and crushed down on them with his teeth.  “You know, some one on one kunai fighting or something like that. Still, I’m not going to force you do anything. But you better get used to fighting. It's what we are being trained for. It isn’t going to get easier from now on.”

He paused, pushing his rose tinted glasses up once again. “One wrong step, one split second too late and bam. You join the others. It does not matter if you are Hyūga, Uchiha, Uzumaki; Yea, I can see and act faster than all of you thanks to my byakugan. But I am not Lord Xyxer or some prodigy. I'm just a guy who likes a good nap” This time looking straight in Haru’s eyes through his glasses. There was no grinning or smiles. “I’m just a disappointment. Failure” he muttered in a low voice. It felt good to let it out. But not too much. He was a Shinobi of the Mist village, whilst he reached up to touch his headband as if to remind himself.

Haru’s question took him off balance. “What do you mean?” Hinoki said, surprised. Has he said too much? “I mean, what’s the point of all of this? Let’s say I excel at being a Shinobi and I make it to Jounin. Hell, ANBU even. What then? Who am I proving my worth to? My Clan?” he said. He knew that keeping these concerns inside won’t do any good. Haru probably knows even less then him but hell, why not share the burden. “This path can only be built on the bodies of friends and enemies. All this just so I can avoid dying a lonely death and get a death of an honored shinobi? Maybe it just so we can prove our worth to ourselves. I don’t know man. I just don't fucking know why bother waking up" Hinoki said with a sigh. He had never so open and frank with someone. “Here goes nothing, I guess.” Hinoki thought as he awaited Haru’s reaction.

[960+470]=[1430]

Haru considered the others Genins words carefully before attempting a reply. his words had obviously struck a cord with Hinoki and Haru found it strange to see a side of Hinoki that was completely devoid of arrogance and showmanship. It was chilling to see someone who by many is considered to be strong and carefree become so serious and downhearted. haru tried to avoid such confrontations as this and he groaned a little inwardly yet he could not deny that his question had caused this odd reaction. "Well i don't really know much about feelings or destiny and such but i was taught that life is simply a great hunt. we are born searching for tracks and once we have a scent we pursue the prey with certainty and patience, safe in the knowledge that it will never escape us no matter how long we must hunt or how far it runs. Every time we glimpse it we must make a choice, retreat and wait or pursue it twice as hard and guide its path through force. each obstacle makes the hunt more worthwhile. ultimately the only thing that matters is the end of the hunt the moment where the lines blur and there is no hunter or hunted just a moment of peace and tranquility, understanding and acceptance. I find the hunt is more enjoyable than the kill, killing is easy, a moment of satisfaction that dissapears as fast it arrives. i know it probably doesnt make much sense, but i think you should focus less on what you are hunting and more on the hunt itself. Why worry about trying to catch something that may not yet exist when you can enjoy searching for it instead?"

Haru felt a little awkward trying to consul the older genin but he said his piece and he stood by every word, though they were slightly bitter to speak. he had never questioned those teachings until his father left. in some ways telling the story helped reaffirm his faith in it a little more and he smiled. "You should try hunting in the forest, i find it always calms me down and lets me forget my troubles and when the hunt ends and i shoulder my worries again i usually see them in a slightly different perspective." Haru's expression became serious as he stared at the symbol of kirigakure stamped on Hinoki's headband, as though he was looking onto a distant horizon for a moment before he looked back at Hinoki's eyes. "I know how bloody the path im walking will be and im prepared to kill and die to travel upon it, though it will be paved with bones and washed with blood i just don't see the point in making it any more bloody than it needs to be." Haru flashed a confident and knowing grin and held out an open hand. "Sometimes it is better to be weak than strong Hyuuga Hinoki. We all die alone, but that doesn't mean we must live alone."  

[1612+519=2131]

Hinoki listed with a blank face to what Haru was saying. “Bah. Another empty ideology. Didn’t except anything else from you” he said with a sigh. He didn’t have high hopes for this. "Tranquility and Peace are not earned so simply. These things are just a carrot on the stick, making believe there is something worthwhile at the end of the path.” Hinoki said, not breaking eye contact through his glasses “No kin, No legacy, nothing. That’s what at the end of the path. Have you thought that maybe Your hunt will probably end up with you ending in the pitfall, forever trapped as your prey runs free? Are we destined to keep becoming better just so we can feel the thrill of battle, to live on the edge? Just one push a down in the abyss we go. Then there goes all this” he said spreading his arms to signal the training grounds around him. “All this training and the most important foe of all we can never defeat. Death. No matter how fast, how strong, how intelligent we become, no matter how many strong Jutsu we learn; He will always be a step in front to take it all from us. But what happens when you end up with nothing to lose? Must one always await the release of death just to get it over with?

“Everyone trains for a reason. To protect their family and friends, to become a powerful shinobi, to impress some girl. But all that does not matter. The only thing that matters is leaving a legacy. To leave a mark, an impact on the world that will be felt for years to come after our imminent demise. And the easiest way to do that is to build it on the dead bodies of others.” As He said this words, he reached into another pocket and pulled a small iron box. Opening, he took out a small piece of what looked like paper; then he took what looked to be some kind of tobacco and started arranging it in a parallel line onto the paper. He the licked on end and rolled it up. Putting it into the edge of his lips, he struck out and match from his box and lit it. Snubbing the match on the wooden bench, he then put everything back in the box and stuffed it into his pocket once again; turning back to stare ahead at the training dummy in front of him.

“You see, taking life is no simple processes. To even put yourself into a position where you would be ready to take a life, usually specific circumstances need to be met. But to kill many, you transcend those limits and that is why people like Mizukage Xyxer’s name will echo through history for eons to come.” He said as he took a deep buff and closed his eyes. His wanted to stop this vice, yet it was one of his last resorts when he found himself too stressed with something. “The shell of a boy Azure was at my mercy, I could have easily not limited my chakra and put him permanently in a bed or worse. Yet, even though I didn’t want to do that, I knew I hadn’t the guts even If I wanted. I knew that I would be doing a lot of people, including himself a disservice by leaving him to die another day. Anyways,” he said, taking another deep puff “Enough about legacy and death. I am sure you have other things to get to; So if you are currently too indisposed to spar; I’ll take my leave.” He said as Haru extended his hand in friendship. Hinoki kept looking straight ahead, taking the occasional puff “Know one thing though, If we come to blows at the Blood games, I’ll genuinely try not to maim or kill you. Our village needs good shinobi.” Hinoki said, rising up and turning to head off.

[1430+660] = [2090]

As the genin rose to leave Haru quickly said one final piece. "You confused the point slightly yet understand the underlying lesson. The aim of the great hunt is death itself, hunters and shinobi seeks it out as you said when times get tough you can let perosnal fears hold you down and simply wait for it to find you or you can seek it out and face it with a smile. Also if you want a legacy of your own like the Mizukage, then their are worse things you could aim for. You didn't see my Genin exam did you? My opponent was confident,made logical and tactically correct decisions but i won because i wanted it more than she did, was willing to sacrifice more for the victory. I spent my whole life being taught to kill and to die, i didn't flinch in the exams and i won't flinch when my time in the blood games come. If we have to fight I will try not to kill you too but if i am placed in a a position where i must to succeed..... just dont think it is personal. it was nice to talk to another person other than my mum for once... thanks."

Haru returned to the training post and began practicing the technique that Hinoki had showed him once more, the repetitive thudding of shuriken echoes in his ears and it was clear to hi m that his timing was off, the technique did not require a simultaneous strike but that was Haru's goal none the less. He spent the next few hours practicing the technique and made a little progress though he was still having trouble with the accuracy of the second shuriken. He found that if he curved the throw a little it was possible to hide the shuriken from a greater distance at the cost of accuracy. A direct throw in a straight line was faster and may be effective if the opponent preferred blocking over dodging but otherwise it  was a small distraction at best.  Haru decided to call it a day and headed home.

[Exit]
[2131+362=2493]
[Claiming 268/1000 Shadow Shuriken technique]
[claiming 12 stat points]