Poppin' Bands

Royalty had been up for about an hour. His daily morning routine consisted of normal hygienic activities. This included the brushing of his teeth, a shower, and washing his hair. It felt weird being in the same house where his uncle had his dying breath but a lot of positive memories overshadowed the bad. Well that wasn't entirely true but lying to himself was his coping mechanism. Dwelling on past trauma just leaves you with PTSD and Roy couldn't have that. He had plans.

Walking down the stairs, each step would begin to get slower. It was really just him. Of course he had Kyson, he was also family. But is this what Kyson had felt all of his life? His situation was worse. Kyson didn't necessarily grow up with them at all. To think you can actually grow up and not know the people that created you had to be heavy on your heart. One could argue that having parents and losing them later could equate to the same or even more sadness but it wasn't the time for debates.

A calendar was on the wall. While constant emotions ravaged through the man's head, he peered over to it. It's the day; a week since he had seen Zyxis. Being a man of his word, he had went back upstairs to put on outerwear. While getting dressed, a tear fell down his right eye. Sadness was in his heart. But no, shinobi are supposed to be strong-willed. Why was this happening? Royalty wiped away the tear as he finished putting his footwear on. Not worrying about anything else, he exited the building and began making his way to the training grounds.

Royalty did what he always did. He walked with his hands deep inside of his pockets and kept his head down. Due to the feelings that he could not control, he decided not to look up at anybody. Every single person on this earth had their own coping activities. Whether it be crying, killing, eating. Something made everyone feel better. Royalty's coping was hiding his pain through sarcasm and jokes. Yeah, that definitely helped him. Look at this mess. He puts on this charade... but loses every time.

When arriving to the same place he had met the genin, he noticed he was the only one there. There had been people training a good distance from him but the section he had chosen once before was dead. It was a perfect setting. While reflecting on his old students, he wondered to himself. Will helping out the youth become his new coping mechanism?

Like every other day, Zyxis jumped out of bed and did his morning activities. He'd brush his teeth, take a shower, and then hope that the taste of mint disappeared by the time breakfast was ready. 

This time his mother was there to greet him and his father had gone for a run. Sometimes Zyxis wondered what he had done to get such strange parents. One was a hopeless romantic and said things about his mother that he wish he could un-hear. The other was, let's say strange.

She hummed to herself while cooking breakfast, "Do you want more eggs, honey?"

He nervously sweats. He already had about four eggs. "Mom, I think I've had enough-"

Zyxis was interrupted by the sound of more eggs hitting his plate. He didn't dare look up at his mother as he began to devour the food in front of him.

"Thanks, honey," She said in a sweet voice, "I love you!"

His mother had straight snow-white hair, just like his, that went all the way to her lower black. She had two ruby-red earrings. She was well endowed in the chest and caboose and was also well-fit like his father and of course himself. 

Speaking of the devil, his father came through the kitchen with sweat dripping from head-to-toe from his morning, "Come on, honey. Stop scaring our child."

Her demeanor instantly changed, "Hey Orion." She purred.

He grinned, and winked at Zyxis' mother, "Carilyn."

The Genin jumped out of his seat, "That's my signal to leave. When I come back, you two better not tell me I have a baby brother or sister on the way. Bye!"

He ran through the streets, digesting his breakfast and trying to forget the looks on their faces. He came to the training ground just in time to see Royalty arrive.

"Good morning. As you can see, I became a Genin," He pointed to the headband around his throat. "Does that mean you'll teach me, sir?"

Once Zyxis arrived, his headband was one of the first things he noticed. The boy was dedicated to the training and that's all he needed to see. Considering he had not known much about him though, he had no plan or curriculum of sort for him. Their first order of business was getting to know one another. A quick survey would have to suffice for now.

"So, tell me a little about yourself. What jutsu do you want to learn? I have no idea about what fighting capabilities you have. Do you have a specific bloodline? Trait? Anything I should know about?" Roy was leaning against a brick wall as he asked. Hopefully the kid would have something in mind because Royalty sure didn't. Coming here after a week of waiting would be a waste if he couldn't teach him anything.

He nodded as he questioned him, "I'm actually clanless. Don't worry, these red eyes aren't Sharingan," He joked before getting more serious, "I'm actually looking to learn how to control Water and Wind elements. Also, I'm a Taijutsu specialist of right now. I want to get into weapons and either medical jutsu or Fuinjutsu, kind of leaning towards Fuinjutsu though. By any chance do you know those?"

He then scratched his chin thinking some more, "Also, do you know any lightning jutsu, taijutsu, or Genjutsu? Those are things that interest me right now. I really need to learn how to release Genjutsu though. Without hand seals, if I might add."

He would wait to see how the Jounin responded.

Hearing what interested Zyxis had to say about his interests, he noticed that his style was slightly similar to his. Taijutsu was his main offensive category. We're not even going to speak about his medical capacities. He clearly excels in that field. He then heard that he wanted to learn the Genjutsu Release. This was a pretty basic jutsu. Roy recalled when he had learned it. It had been nearly a decade. He removed himself off of the wall and walked towards Zyxis slowly.


"Lightning just so happens to be my main elemental affinity. Taijutsu also happens to be my main specialty. My bloodline has to do with my eyes." Roy paused briefly to activate his Shining Medical Eye. His eyes started to give off a bright glow covering the iris. It would only be active for about 3 seconds until he released it.

"We'll worry about that another time. It's not important at the moment. But anyway, I'll be able to teach you Lightning and Taijutsu techs. Along with water and even medical if you decide to go into that field. The other stuff, I could probably assist you but I won't be much help. As for Genjutsu Release, it's a pretty basic technique. I'm sure since you've grasped the concept of clone and substitution so fast, you'll be able to get this down quickly. When you know you are under the influence of a genjustu, simply just perform this hand seal." Royalty paused for another brief moment as he did the tiger seal. "Flow your chakra at an exponential rate and it should break the hold on your chakra. Give it a try. Tell me if you feel your chakra surging."

He was glad to hear that the Jounin's main affinity was Lightning. That had to mean that he knew lots of useful jutsu, correct?  It was just by chance that he made the joke about his eyes. When Royalty activated his Dōjutsu, Zyxis' own eyes widened.

The eye technique was amazing. The familiar sensation of envy coursed through his body, but the expression on his face stayed the same. He always wished he was born into a clan or had a bloodline of some sort. 

It would have given him a good chance at becoming a strong ninja. No matter how you look at it, being a part of a clan would make you stronger. He gently shook his head, he was getting off track. 

So he was able to teach him most of what he wanted. He didn't know how much they'd get done today, but he could worry about it after he finished learning Genjutsu Release.

So the jutsu was similar to the Clone and Substitution Technique. If Zyxis had to classify which jutsu would make sure that someone survived the best he would have a tough time deciding between the Substitution and Genjutsu Release.

See, if you got caught in a Genjutsu, then it was basically over for you. If threw a kunai straight through at your eye you would be incapable of making sure it didn't land in your brain. Just a simple Genjutsu and you were out for the count.

He listened to his temporary-sensei's words and lifted his hand into a tiger seal. He began to direct his chakra all around his body and force it out. It wasn't too hard, he was getting used to manipulating his chakra by now.

"I feel my chakra surging, Royalty," Zyxis would say, continuing to hold up the hand seal. "Have you mastered the jutsu to where you don't need to use hand seals?"

Still getting used to teaching, Roy watched the boy try and attempt the jutsu. It wouldn't be too hard unless you're just incompetent. The time he had tried to learn it over a decade ago wasn't a problem at all. Zyxis had been sure he'd gotten it on the first try. This wasn't a great way to test his capabilities but it was a start. The genin had basic knowledge about chakra control. Let's see what else the boy could do.


"Good, good. It seems like you have an understanding of the technique. Remember if you're in a Genjutsu, increasing your chakra will increase the likelihood of you releasing it. But that's a lesson for later. Now what should we start with? We can go with some Tai techs or Ninjutsu. If you decide to learn Tai first, there is higher ranking stuff to learn. That's if you don't already have something in mind."

Roy was unsure if the boy had a full-fledged plan before the two got there. Roy was just going to wing it/ He had no apparent curriculum for him.

The boy scratched his chin, "It depends on how much time you want to invest in today's session.  I'm looking for a hard work out where I'll have to push myself past my limits. If I could, I would learn A-Rank techniques. This is one of the best chances I have to learn from a Jounin."

"Since I'm not strong enough to learn any advanced A-Rank techniques, I think I'm strong enough to learn B-Rank and C-Rank. Can we start with that?"

Zyxis' blood pumped at the idea of learning an A-Rank technique. Once he became strong enough, he would definitely have to reach out to Royalty again. Next time he would promise himself to be able to teach him something as well.

He had lots of ideas on what he could learn, but for now, he would leave it at just Taijutsu moves.

The confidence in the boy wasn't all too high. Zyxis had the idea that he was unable to perform A Rank techniques. As a genin, this was not true at all. It was actually the opposite, limited although. Genin had the potential to use a few different A Rank techniques. It was up to him if he wanted to learn them or not. But it could wait for now. 

"Hm, we could start with some basics." Upon saying this, he rubbed his chin for a bit while he thought about it. It then dawned on him. He knew what would be a great technique to start out with. The wind blew vigorously for a minimal interval of about 3 seconds. He decided to pause and use it to build up the suspense. 

Standing about 3 meters from Zyxis, he dashed at him at a speed of 60. Once approaching his maximum limb distance, he did part of a round off to flip his body from standing on his feet to his hands. Once upside down, he would kick at Zyxis at a speed of 75. The first two kicks would aim at his chin while Royalty spun in a 360 on his hands. After the high kicks, he would attempt to spin his body back around until his kicks targeted Zyxis' calf muscles. Of course, he just wanted to give him the impression that he was going to hit him. Royalty deliberately missed every kick whether Zyxis would dodge them or not.

After completing the demonstration, Royalty stood back up and adjusted his fit. His clothing had been distorted do to him being upside down and moving in a fast motion. He leaped backwards until he had been the original 3 meter distance away from the genin. Once adjusted he spoke. "That was the Leaf Whirlwind. Do you think you can manage that? It's pretty basic."

In less than a blink of an eye, the Jounin before him practically disappeared. Before his eyes could even scan the training field, Royalty had appeared in front of him. He flinched as two high kicks swept right past him, and one low-kick deliberately missed. 

Even though he hadn't got hit, the force of the kicks had sent a gust of wind towards him that ruffled his hair and clothing. He blinked, surprised when he looked back up to see Royalty in the same place he had been in before the attack.

Royalty asked Zyxis if he would be able to do it. The boy nodded, still a little shocked, but at the same time excited to try it himself. Before the Genin performed the move, he would first try to understand it. During their Genin exam, they would have to think of ways a jutsu could be used; ways that it was useful.

The basis of the jutsu was two kicks. The high kick was a distraction so that the low kick would connect. Anyone would be able to do it without the knowledge of this jutsu, but the thing that made it special was the added momentum, force, and speed accompanied with it.

Even though it was a D-Rank Taijutsu, the user's strength determines the damage done. That's why it was a beginner move but at the same time an attack that everyone should know. Now, for the actual demonstration of the attack.

He took a second to consider if he should try the move on Royalty, but since the man was one, a Jounin, and two, a very strong Jounin, he would be fine with a Genin attacking him. Zyxis took a step and took one once again, and then another one and before he knew it, he was rushing forward.

Chakra rushed through him strengthing his muscles and hardening his bones. He felt stronger and faster, rushing towards Royalty with a speed of 35. His body was lifted off the ground as he spun sideways, bringing his leg all the way to his head level as his other leg remained on the ground.

He would then place his other leg down and spin sideways, and slam his leg into the man's bicep. He would then jump back three meters, right where he had begun.

Zyxis knew that his attack wasn't the best attack. There were many faults in his stance when he performed Leaf Whirlwind. In a real fight, he would have to make sure that he was faster than his opponent or else his move would be easily blocked or deflected.

Other than that, he believed that he had done pretty well. He didn't understand the technique of the actual attack before he had done it, the evasion margin being restrained by the high kick, causing the low kick to have a better chance of hitting. He just used the strength and speed boost to perform one high-kick and one low-kick.

Next time, he would do it right. But since he just attacked Royalty without any warning, he wouldn't do it again so soon until he understood how Royalty thought his performance was. 

The best thing that could happen now was that he would get high scores for his use of flexibility and variation. The worst thing that could happen was that his pseudo-sensei didn't think he did it right and he would have to do it over again.

Looking at his "approval" and "disapproval" that Royalty would give him, he didn't consider either one horrible. So, he would, figuratively, sit back and wait for Royalty to judge his showing of Leaf Whirlwind.

He was already excited about learning the next jutsu, taijutsu, ninjutsu, you name it. Before he knew it, he would be a Chuunin and be one more step closer to his goal of becoming someone strong and respected; either an ANBU or Raikage.