The path 2

The tale of the black brown ponytailed haired boy continues...








Sakuragi had just finished learning the snowhawk routing jutsu. It was an ice jutsu that let him exhale a stream of ice chakra taking the form of a hawk, the jutsu attacks in three directions, with the right and left wing and with the beak. It was day two of his training  and sakuragi wasn't even satisfied with his progress so far. He still regret how he slept for over seven hours yesterday. His encounter at the mountain cave was one hell of an experience. He battled a snake, it was so big that at first sight, he thought he had seen a dragon. He had never truly seen one, he read of dragons in stories, his dad had told him several fairytale that contained dragons as the antagonist. He never saw one face to face, on seeing the big snake, he thought he was dreaming, he thought he was in an illusion, he feared the dragons abilities to breath fire. The size of the snake frightened him at first , but he later regained his composure . The snake being a formidable opponent ended up been defeated by sakuragi. He did it skillfully. There was a time when he tried to cut open the belly of the snake with a kunai. The skin however was too hard and the kunai  couldn't really pierce through it,  it only gave the snake a slight scar. Sakuragi was able to kill the snake by skillfully throwing a kunai with an explosive tag into the snake's mouth. This exploded the snake from inside, blasting its head away.  He had just use the snow hawk jutsu, he was gonna use it again to see if he had really Mastered it.  He would not wanna be in a battle, then he would perform the handseals for the jutsu and it would not work. Practise makes perfect they say,  sakuragi left all the comfort at home, all the fun,  he left all his friends at home to come and get stronger here,  nothing drives him more than that.  Sakuragi would perform the hand seals for the snow hawk routing jutsu again, upon the last handseal, he exhaled a blast of ice chakra that takes the form of a hawk, attacking in three directions. The jutsu would travel several meters, it would freeze Everything and anything on it path.  The jutsu had a substitute, the fire dragon bullet, this ice jutsu was created by Yuki clan members in an attempt to find a substitute that could counter and become stronger than fire dragon flame bullet. They eventually came up with this. 
Sakuragi had spent quite some time here,  it was noon already, he had been training hard today.  The sky seem so bright as the sun smile cheerfully in its territory. The wave of the sea blew gently and sakuragi was enjoying the warm atmosphere.  The boy really have his all the time, he would soon leave for the mountain cave anyway, he doesn't wanna get the cave late this time. That was why he came here early so he can achieve something and obviously he did achieved something. He master the ice release snowhawk routing. It would be sakuragi arsenal jutsu.  Sakuragi would use this jutsu again before moving on to some other things. Quickly performed the hand seals for the jutsu, he exhaled with all his might this time. A blast of ice chakra rushed out of his mouth taking the form of a hawk. When sakuragi saw that he had mastered the jutsu,  he decided to do something else perhaps learn another jutsu. He wasn't really sure what he wanted to do this time,  he just knew that something good is gonna come out of it. He would walk down to the sea edge and try to see if he could come up with something.  He sat on his feet some inches away from the sea waves,  the waves gently overflow up and down. He clapped his palm together wanting to enhance his chakra control skills. It wouldn't be a futile attempt. His eyes were shut as he entered the realm of darkness.





With his eyes closed,  several thoughts began to flood his Mind. He began to have overlapping flashbacks. It would seem that something would show up here, perhaps he was about to discover his true power.  In discovering his true potentials he decided to stay alone from his family, friends, relatives and a lot of things. He even stayed away from food. such a vigorous training like the usually pay off. After this training , it would be like sakuragi was an entirely new person.  His abilities would have become more refined, his jutsu power and everything about him will change, he will become a very fine ninja after the training. People like uchiha mardara, hashirama, these ninjas went into periods of isolation while training hard wanting to become.  They spent so many years mastering jutsu and perfecting the ones they already and creating new ones. Madadra and hashirama were bloody RIvals. In all their fights,  hashirama showed to be more stronger than Madara, hashirama was a user of wood, an advanced element that allow one to mix water and earth chakra together to form wood. Because of the great abilities of the wood style, it would seem that only senju are able to train the wood element.  It great abilities had made a lot of people to sought for senju dna, so they would be able to use wood style. Hashirama was known to be able to control even tail beast with his woof style. All these powers came by the ninja going into their place of been alone, that's where the powers comes from. Sakuragi is at times inspired by loneliness, that may sound weird. He believes when he gets alone, his mind is able to settle and flow. New ideas would start flowing,  jutsu ideas. To him, it would seem he enjoyed being alone. Though he is not always alone, but for this period of time he is alone. This was the reason why he left all the comfort to come out here to train, all alone by himself. People don't pass this way, so basically, there would be no intruder for the next remaining days. Sakuragi was practising chakra control , the waves in the surrounding were with him, everything here was working for his good, sakuragi would fall in love with his surroundings, hoping to make the best use of it.






TWC : 1090

Sakuragi was all alone in at the sea bank, he had all the time he needed, it was almost evening. It  would be about time he  learn another jutsu. He got here  pretty early, he would perform a series of hand seals and start to focus on his chakra, the surrounding temperature would start to drop, it would start to drop so low that the trees around him began to freeze,  the trees was gradually encase in a thin layer of ice. The ground  covered in fine sand wouls start to be covered in snow. Sakuragi wasn't really sure what was happening, he performed random hand seals to see what he could come up with. Since he couldn't really understand what  was going on, he let go of the seal he had been holding, that allowed the surrounding temperature to drop. Sakuragi would  start to run another series of hand seals. When he was done, instantly, a beast like creature emerge from the sea. It was the water beast jutsu. Sakuragi had never really used it in real battle, he only learned it. It was one of his secret jutsu. Secret jutsu to sakuragi,  are jutsu that he doesn't use often, he would only use them if he was at his extreme end. The beast was very large and yellow in color. It was several meters high and some feets wide.  Sakuragi wants to master this jutsu to full potential . He would test the water beast jutsu to see all its abilities, he had put his jutsu book into his ninja bag, he felt he wasn't gonna need it . He was just doing things naturally and involuntarily, probably he would stumble upon a jutsu so powerful that it could destroy an entire village . If there was anything he wanted that would be to get stronger, to be stronger than his parent, to be stronger than even the legendary mizukage of kirigakure,  known to be the world strongest ninja, some would refer to him as world strongest pig. He still had the water beast jutsu active. The beast can not only walk on water but also on the ground.  Sakuragi controlled the beast and it leaps out of the sea and landed on the sea bank with fine sand . The beast would look really enormous and hard tremendous strength, sharp teeth and claws coupled with a strong crushing jaw and huge size. Sakuragi would feel on top of the world having learned the water beast jutsu. While the jutsu still active, sakuragi would manipulate the water beast, the beast exhaled a powerful torrent of water that travel several distance towards the forest of wind. It water torrent was huge, almost the size of the beast itself, slashing through the gigantic trees of the forest of wind. The trees in the forest of wind are not ordinary  trees, tall and enormous. It was said that spirits lived in this Trees so they can't be cut down . Reverse Was The case here, the water torrent obviously blasted and crushed the trees.  Sakuragi marvelled at the strength of the jutsu. The strength of the beast jutsu was great. The only problem he might have was maintaining the jutsu, it isn't easy controlling such a huge size of breast . The more chakra one has, the longer it would seem one could control the beast. Sakuragi had enormous chakra and he is good at chakra manipulation. He doesn't waste chakra as he would use just the exact amount needed for the jutsu. It should be quite easy for him to control the beast for long. It power was what sakuragi marvelled at, which made him more eager to master the jutsu fully well.





Sakuragi would control the water beast again, the beast would his its hand to cause a powerful wave of water to slash through everything on its path. It would seem that this was even more powerful than the earlier one. He wasn't sure which was powerful, but to him, this looks more powerful. The water beast could also breath out water, as the beast would appear to breath water immediately after it sent a slash of torrent. Sakuragi wanted to move on to other things but the sky was getting darker. Evening was near and sakuragi doesn't wanna arrive at the cave late. He would dispel the jutsu , the water beast was liquefied to the ground. The fine sand  became wet and soaked in the water that befalled it.  It was getting darker  and sakuragi realised this , he would carry his ninja bag across his back,  he looked around to see if he didn't forget anything. He saw a book lying on  the ground, it was his jutsu book. He thought he had returned into his bag but he thought wrong. He was luckily he saw it before leaving or something bad could have happen to the book, like rain falling or anything or anyone tearing the book.  Once he was set, he headed to the mountain cave. The route to the mountain cave would be through the forest of wind as usual. As he walked home, he thought about his day today. He wasn't sure if he made the best use of it, but at least he learnt something, he would continue the water beast jutsu tomorrow. He didn't leave his Comfort in vain. He hid himself from his loved ones, his parent, his teammates and so many others . He walked the mountain cave thinking about what he would do tomorrow. Then something came to his mind, he felt he needed to be  faster. So fast that an ordinary ninja wouldn't be able to see him when he moves without some special abilities. How he was gonna do that, he wasn't really sure, but he knew it was something he could do. He could do it and he knew he could it. He then had an,  he would throw a kunai, then run faster than it. That would be that he had be faster than the kunai, he wasn't sure that made sense but he was gonna do it anyways.  He sealed his mind that he would run faster than a flying kunai tomorrow, no what matter he wouldn't give up.








It was a long walk, but eventually he got to the cave. The first thing that came to his mind was the giant snake he saw yesterday, he saw it and killed it anyways. He tried to locate where he killed the snake yesterday.  He couldn't find its body. Sakuragi almost went dumb, he couldn't understand why the snake was no where to be found.  What could have probably made the body of the snake to vanish. His plan would be to eat some of the meat and dispose the rest, but it would seem that his plan was crushed. Something is really strange here. How could a body of Mortal anijmal simply had vanish?.  It was true that the snake was no ordinary snake but it shouldn't have vanish like that. He was troubled for a while. The boy lost a big meal.  Sakuragi wasn't a ninja that had much strength, taijutsu wasn't is thing, he could had somehow drag the snake into the cave. Probably he would use a jutsu or something. The size of snake was large and it would require tons of strength to move it into the cave.   Alas, his expected  meal was gone. Well, his meal wasn't really gone, he had his snacks and imperishable food  here as a life  saver. He brought out food from his bag, took his water bottle and sat inside the cave. Several thoughts flood his mind as he ate, he was wondering what could have really happened, the snake just vanish like that. Perhaps, someone or something group of people came across this way and saw the snake and carried it away, perhaps not. If such a thing like this could really happen, the giant snake vanishing, then he really need to very careful. Dangerous creatures are here and sakuragi was well aware of that.  he needed to be at alert at all times. Just when he had the last bite of his food, the branches of trees in the area started gently. Sakuragi would think that it was the wind blowing the branches, but that doesn't seem to be true. He started hearing some certain sound. It was now from two directions. He was the cave, quickly he had a drink a drink from his water bottle and dropped his bottle water. He knew something wasn't just  right, it could be an enemy, it could be anything, but whatever it was, he had to stand up to it.  He got out of the cave, looking forward to observe his environment. By this time, the sound had really gotten closer, sakuragi knew this would be a narrow escape for him, if at all he could stand up to what was coming. A serious look would appear on the boy's face. Two large creatures finally appeared. This time they were two giant snake, twice the size of the one sakuragi killed yesterday. The two snakes looked exactly like the ones he killed yesterday, only that these two are a lot bigger than the previous snake he killed. He couldn't comprehend what was going on. His eyes were wide open like a little kid that saw a ghost in the dead of the night. He was very small compared to the size of the snakes. He didn't know what to do. It would appear as if his brain went blank, stunned by the huge size of the snakes, he was even outnumbered and out powered. His eyes and mouth wide open as the snakes slowly approach him. Should he scream or run, he was sure he wouldn't even be able to outrun these snakes, screaming here is also pointless, there's  no one here to help. This place is a old cave, no one would be able to help him nor hear him...










Sakuragi managed to summon some courage, if he would die, he wouldn't die without a fight and he wouldn't die easily, he would give the snakes some tough time.  His face was so frowned that his face looked like a tiger. He had never been this serious . He had to be very focused here, this is a matter of life and death. He must find every means to escape. Sakuragi would pull out two kunais, waiting for the snakes to strike first . He wanted to know if they were really here to kill him or just passing by.  The snakes upon getting closer to the where sakuragi was bent their head with an intention to bow before  him. It was then that sakuragi realised that these snakes are old and they weren't here to get kill him. One of the snake could actually speak and it spoke explaining to sakuragi why they were here. The snake he killed yesterday was the deadliest creature snake, it was so strong that it was feared by all other snakes regardless of the size. The two snakes here were grannies. They can't  move so fast and that's  why they slither  slowly.  The other snake had been planning a way to get rid of the previously killed snake because it terrorise  the snake kingdom. Their wish came true when sakuragi killed it yesterday.  They came here to thank him. Sakuragi stood there and couldn't believe his eyes, he was just speechlesss. He was still stunned before he later regained his composure . He just had to bow his head in return, the snakes left showing  their gratitude.  It left sakuragi stunned, he sure hadn't come across a snake that could talk and he sure hadn't seen any snake as big as the ones he just saw . For a while,    the scence of the snake that just happened flash over and over again through his head. Sakuragi was someone who doesn't like its mind to be occupied with things. If there was anything he hates, that would be being bothered by events or scene that happened. He was able to shake off the shock and pleasure of what just happened, though it would appear he wouldn't be able to shake all off.  The young boy went back to the cave and sat there, replaying the picture of what just happened in his head. His memories was filled with new ones, he had experienced things he never experienced In his life time.






TWC : 3175

The eyes of young boy was wet as a result of not sleeping... He still couldn't believe what he had seen, he couldn't believe what  happened . His brain linger in what had recently happened.  He decided that he was gonna have a cool and wonderful  night sleep tonight, since obviously there seem to be no more issues with the snakes.  He would go back into the cave and lay down on his bed made of ice. He had a very stressful day and to crown it all, he saw what he never dreamt of seeing. Right before his very own eyes, the giant snakes he thought would swallow him up and crush every bone in his body befriended him. Even though sakuragi summoned courage when snakes approach, he still had a bit of fear in him.  If the snakes would attack, he knew within him, it wouldn't be quite an easy fight and he even had a slim chance of winning. Night was here and sakuragi had no sign of sleep in his eyes. Later on,  he lay down to to rest and before he knew it, he slept off. He had used his body in a very  tough way these last two days, he would sleep for a very long time. His body needed rest and the best way to get that would be to sleep. On his bed made of ice he laid,  the frost chilled his body, since his body itself was made to be cold, it had no effect. The boy enjoyed his sleep and by morning he woke up. 
It was a bright morning, the sun was yet to set  , it would appear that the day wouldn't be too chilly, the kirigakure boy was dressed in his usual attire as usual, a long blue jacket with white inner T-shirt and blue short coupled with black shinobi sandals,  his village head band was tied to his forehead, he was now set to attack the day,  he was set to go out into the field and train.  His motive for coming down here and leaving all the comfort at home was to get stronger. He would get stronger regardless of the circumstances. Right from the first day he got here, he would brush his teeth with his toothbrush and use some water from his water bottle. Today wasn't  any different , he would go outside of the cave and brush his teeth. They were sparking and bright white.  He was still a young kid, at the age of twelve, his teeth would look like they had no dirt , because they were sparkling white. When he was done, he would carry his bag across his back and would head out to the sea bank as usual. He had planned his day  since yesterday, today was his third of training alone, he would do a speed test, he felt if he could d be faster than a flying kunai, his speed would  really be at it peak.  He would walk past the forest of wind and to the sea bank that was his usual training spot most time unless for when he wanted to learn something that isn't really related to water like, earth style, wind style, fire style and lightning style. It was a long walk but he arrived at the sea bank finally. It was the same as he left it.  Covered with fine sand,  the sea waves overflow intervaly, sakuragi would drop his bag on the ground and get set to train... He would  form several handseal  and holding the last one tightly , ice would began to form from the water source at the sea bank...  The water would grow into the shape of a human, it harden and formed into two ice clones .







The clones walked into the land and stood by sakuragi. The clones would both pull a kunai each, it was time for the training to begin. He was eager to seen how fast he was, how fast he had gotten and how  he could run.   The clones themselves are eager for these,  they are curious to see how their original had gotten. It was a test of speed and stamina, how well he could be enduring the strain and the stress of the run. The kunai was held by each clones, instantly, they threw the kunai at insane speed . Sakuragi  was well aware of what the clones would do, since they have his will. He wasn't sure he was ready for this, but he's gotta give his all to this training. The instant the kunai flew into the air, sakuragi would dash after it, not just dashing after it,  but running past it. His muscles feels like it would be pulled out of his bone. It doesn't seem that he had gone through this Intense physical training, His veins would tighten so hard as the boy run, his eyes would almost turn red.  The kunai are still flying ahead of him with intense speed and it doesn't seem he would be able to catch up. The flying kunais would reach its flying limit or range and drop to the  ground. Sakuragi was tired before the kunai when dropped, he was holding his knees with his two hands with his back bent panting like a dying dog. He  didn't think it would be this difficult, Just one round of the exercise had drained his energy, it would appear he was completely exhausted. His clones would stay on a spot and watch from afar, watching as the original pant heavily. This was the reason sakuragi hated taijutsu,  he would avoid taijutsu at all cost . He hates tajutsu because it's energy consuming, hence he rather prefers distance battle. In most of his battles,  he would fight his opponent from distance, using all means to prevent his opponent from getting close to him. This gives him advantage over taijutsu user. Tho he is weak in taijutsu and prefer not to engage in taijutsu, he had shown some skills in taijutsu, an example Was when he blocked a swift kick at blind spot  from dangu an aburame clan ninja who is also a skilled taijutsu user. Sakuragi recovered enough of his breath and was determined to do this again, he wouldn't be discouraged because he lost the first time or because he failed. He would do this again and again till he could beat the kunai, sakuragi would walk back to where his clones were originally. The clones would pull out another kunai, ready for the second round. Sakuragi was ready for this, waiting for the clones to throw their kunais before he dashed, he hopes he would be able to beat the speed.







TWC: 4291

Sakuragi would get ready for the second round of the throw,  the clones had already pulled out another kunai each. They would throw it with intense speed and strength, sakuragi would dash past it. This true skill a real shinobi must have is speed, a shinobi without speed but  strength will be a weakling.  Having strength without speed will make sakuragi weak, but having  much speed and even if it  is a bit of strength will make him strong and powerful. Sakuragi knew all this, he knew the importance of strength. So he decided he was gonna improve himself. Today was no different day, today was no ordinary day, it was the third day, and there are only two more days for his training here but he go and make a contract with his new summon race, the Polar bear race.  They are a family of white Polar bears, of course Polar bears are as white as snow. It was a mystery the way sakuragi manage to stumble into them. These Polar bears love ice, they would prefer to stay in extreme cold areas, they would even prefer to be summoned by yuki clan members or those who uses ice release element. Sakuragi stumbled into the Polar bear sometimes ago, when he was coming from training. He got into the house and couldn't find anyone there, he felt probably everyone went out. By the time he went to the backyard to get some things. What he saw really baffled him. He saw he huge Polar bear talking with his dad, the Polar bear sad probably five times taller than his dad, it looked down on his dad. Sakuragi eyes were wide open,  he was surprised he could see an animal talked in real life. Was he dreaming or caught in a genjutsu?, probably not, what he saw was real, as real as the nails on his fingers  sakuragi had to hide behind a corner and watched as his dad spoke to the white Polar bears. It would seem these two understands each other very well, the bears speaks sakuragi’s language, he couldn't believe his ears. 
If his eyes were deceiving him, his ears are definitely not deceiving him, he could hear very clearly the words of the summon.  the Polar bear and his dad were flowing in communication. After about some minutes, the Polar bear would vanish instantly. Sakuragi’s eyes widen the more, he later came out of his hidings that and his dad explained some things to him. 
The clones are still holding the kunai, the sharp edge was pointed downward, the two ice clones were standing beside sakuragi, one to the left and the other to the right. Sakuragi stood in between his clones, they were both facing the same direction. The clones must  be careful not  to throw the kunais to curve and slash sakuragi. The position in which sakuragi was pose a danger to him, he not only need to outrun the speed of the kunai but also be careful enough not to be slash by the kunai. Sakuragi would get ready as the clones were about to throw the kunais. Off it goes, the clones threw the kunai with all their might, it flew very fast in the air. For someone to be able to catch up with a kunai flying at this speed,  he or she must be extremely fast. Sakuragi wanted to build his speed and that was why he was here in the first place. The kunais flew across the air with insane speed.  There was some distance in between the flying kunai, wide enough to contain a person. Sakuragi upon seeing the clones already got into action dashed after the kunai, he ran with all of his might. His heart was beating very fast as he ran and his muscles stretching out. He ran as fast as he could. His body wasn't too soaked in his sweat, because his cold body temperature will regulate the heat being discharged by the body. Sakuragi was almost about to the reach the kunai. It was flying off in front of sakuragi while sakuragi ran from behind. It was a serious run. Sakuragi managed to reach the speed of the kunai but couldn't run past it.






It was evening already, the kunais thrown by the ice clones had dropped the moment it reached it Max range. Sakuragi somehow managed to reach the position where the kunai was, but he couldn't run past it. Sakuragi global wasn't to reach the speed of the flying kunai but to run past it. He was weary already and was growing tired. Apart from that, darkness would soon fall.  He needed to get the mountain cave as soon as he could. He doesn't where a situation whereby, he would be stranded here.  Upon realising that the sky is getting dull and darker, sakuragi would carry his ninja bag across his bag. He would head to the mountain cave. The sea bank was still the same as it was. Large field covered in fine sand. Sakuragi was getting so tired he couldn't wait to get to the mountain cave. The joy and training in his mind thrilled him to no end. He couldn't wait to lay down on his bed made of ice. He couldn't wait to enjoy the cool breeze at the mountains. He couldn't wait to enjoy  the dark sky with the embodiment of the stars and moon. The bright colors that flashed into his eyes from the sky every night. He had named a Star in the sky 
a fter himself and would  usually checked out every night to watch the star. He had packed his food and water bottle into his bag. It was the third day and tomorrow would be the fourth, sakuragi seems to be pleased with his progress so far. He had learn some jutsu he wouldn't have learned on a normal.  The training also helps to exercise his body, training it to keep him in check. After packing all his stuff, he would head  to the mountain cave , having walk through the forest of wind before reach his final destination. It was a long journey, but sooner or later, he would get to the cave...




TWC :  5334

Claiming 26 stat worth of 5200. 

Using 2000 words  to learn  One thousand needles of death

Using 1218 to complete learning of Ice mirror 1218 + 2782 = 4000

using the remaining 2116 to Ice release : white death jutsu

Ok you look good to go. A note for the future. Do not be afraid to put your claims all in one post.


Approved.

Yeah, ThAnks