From Fist to Palm

Kuniko watched his instructor carefully. She told him he would have to work hard these next few days. He expected as much of an answer. The heat of the moment had passed. She commanded him to wait there then detached herself from the tree and left. The genin could only obey, and so he stood there upside down and waited. He could only wonder if it was true, that he was no ordinary student. Perhaps it was a white lie. A common thing used by ninjas. As useful as any other tool. The Hyuuga dismissed the fire in his heart and awaited his instructor. 

Not long after she left, Tsubaki had returned and threw an apple up to Kuniko, which he caught. As he bit into the apple he thought about his place in the village. He was a nobody, and he never be someone to be feared. He would not surpass his peers. He refused to let his thoughts stray from this belief. To Kuniko, anything else was arrogance on his part, which he would not abide. 

He resigned himself to concentrating on maintaining his chakra control for the rest of the day, until at long last Tsubaki told him they had done enough. Kuniko carefully walked back along the tree branch and down the trunk, back to the familiar earth below. After his instructor complimented him, Kuniko would bow forward and say calmly, “thank you for your instruction, I eagerly await our continued training.” 

After eating a light dinner he noticed the sleeping bags his instructor had procured. Rather eagerly, Kuniko crawled into his sleeping bag when the day was done, to await his next assignment. He was asleep before the stars made their full presence known. 

WC: 290
TWC: 2511

Before the sun rose in the sky to awake the young Hyuuga boy, Tsubaki would be awake. She was contemplating how to teach Kuniko how to use chakra flow to heal wounds. She was trying to thinking of steps, she would attempt to slash her palm with a kunai. Only lightly to draw some blood. She thought using herself as the training would help the boy train, however, as she looked to her wound it began to heal instantly. Tsubaki sighed, she forgot that she could instantly heal from small wounds. She would have to use the boy's palm for his healing. 

The sun began to light up the sky and the training field as it began to climb over the horizon. Once the boy was awake, he would notice that there was breakfast already made for him. Courtesy of Tsubaki. "Morning. Eat up, it's another day of training." It was a bowl of rice along with some miso soup, still steaming with energy.  

After Kuniko was done with his bowl, Tsubaki would lead him to the flowing river. It glowed the same golden hue as the sky that it reflected early in the morning. "Day two, we are going to be using the chakra flow you exhausted yourself using yesterday and applying it to cellular generation. Or in other words, healing." As she explained the itinerary, she began to use the same technique to walk onto the water of the river and walked normally as if she were still on solid ground.

Once he joined her out on the water she requested, "Please hold out your hand, palm up." As he held out his hand for her as she asked, she would slash the palm with a small razor. It was only strong enough to damage the skin and draw some blood. "Now, I want to focus your chakra around the area that is injured. Make sure to focus intently." She knew that it would be difficult too because he was already focusing his chakra on walking on the water. If he wasn't careful, he was going to fall into the river.

WC: 353
TWC:2259

Kuniko awoke on the grassy field of the training ground in the early hours of the morning. The sun’s golden glow revealed a traditional breakfast laid out for the young genin. Kuniko huridly got up, straightened out his clothes and brushed his hair, then said to Tsubaki “good morning! Thank you very much for breakfast.” He trusted the older shinobi so he began eating his food quickly and without hesitation.  “It’s delicious!” Hunger is the best spice after all, and the previous day’s events had tired him out. 

Tsubaki began exposing the day’s events to him; training with healing jutsu. It finally time to begin training the thing he wanted to learn most of all. To heal others and himself. Kuniko followed her out to a river and watched as she began walking on the water. Kuniko soon followed suit and focused his chakra into his feet so he could join her on the gentle current. 

He offered up his hand as she instructed and was shocked when she cut him with a razor. His eyes were wide open looking between his cut hand and Tsubaki. Kuniko began thinking that maybe she was actually a sadist? It would explain a lot. But she told him to concentrate his chakra on the wound. Kuniko, somewhat confused, nervously replied “I’ll try… I don’t know if I can do this though, Miss Tsubaki.”

The young Hyuuga let his hand hand there in the open. Blood was beginning to slowly creep down his hand onto his wrist. Kuniko tried to concentrating on his hand but nothing was happening, except that his feet sunk an inch into the water. He was having great difficulty accomplishing anything. For over a minute he stood there with a pained look on his face, slowly sinking several inches into the river. 

The blood from his hand touched the cloth of his sleeve and began to stain it. Looking at the blood on his clothes suddenly reminded of the beast in the woods. Severed limbs and shredded bodies. The memory brought Kuniko back into the mindset he was back then when Ayato had arrived. His mind clicked back into place and he returned back to the surface of the water. The wound on his hand did not close, but the bleeding suddenly stopped as the chakra in his hands forced a blood clot. Kuniko slowly raised his gaze up to Tsubaki’s eyes. 


WC: 402
TWC: 2913

Thankfully for Tsubaki, Kuniko was a willing student. She was surprised that even after she sliced the palm of Kuniko, he didn't find her crazy. He nervously replied to the situation, "I'll try... I don't know if I can do this though, Miss Tsubaki." His reaction was characteristic however she found his compliance to be comforting as it showed his eagerness to learn. Such young minds are so moldable.

The first few moments began rough, which was to be expected. The challenge of flowing chakra through both your feet and your hands. As soon as he began to focus on healing, he began to focus less on staying on top of the water and started to sink a couple of inches. But suddenly, his fire began to roar and his determination allowed him to cover his wound, stopping the bleeding. Tsubaki began to clap enthusiastically as Kuniko showed her his accomplishment. "Great job! You're getting better and better. You'll be a regular in no time." His improvements were truly staggering. His chakra control was perfect for medical ninjutsu. Tsubaki thought that he would be a natural in no time without a doubt.

She continued, "Now that you got the basics of healing, it's time to apply it to some life-saving situation." Tsubaki smirked, hoping that he would start to get a bit nervous. She found it a bit enjoyable. The Senju paused for a moment, waiting with a kunai in hand. With a quick jolt, she would strike her kunai down into depths of the river. A large river fish was caught at the end of the blade. She plucked the large fish out of the water and flung it to shore, right past Kuniko. "You have a few moments before the fish either dies from its wounds or suffocates. I want you to quickly heal it and return it to the water." As a medical ninja, they'll always be in stressful situations, it comes with the job. Dealing with that stress was a regular part of the training. 

WC: 339
TWC: 2598

Kuniko smiled as his instructor applauded him. It was high praise for a low achiever. But then she said that he would be applying his training to a life-saving situation. Kuniko's eyes widened slightly as he was aware she still had her kunai in hand. A small panic began to build until Tsubaki threw the kunai down into the river, piercing a fish. After throwing it to the shore she made it clear that it was up to him to save it. 

Kuniko bowed quickly to his instructor as he stammered out "yes ma'am, I will attempt to save the fish as best I can." Kuniko quickly walked along the water to the shore where the fish lay flopping on the ground. The genin quickly activated his Byakugan and focused his vision on the fish's vitals and injury. Though he was unfamiliar with fish anatomy, he could make out what parts of tissue were damaged by the kunai. Using basic medical ninjutsu, he was able to superficially heal the damaged tissue as he removed the kunai. With great precision, he was able to use his medical ninjutsu in conjunction with the Byakugan to heal the parts of the injury he wasn't normally able to see.

By the time it was done, the fish had nearly suffocated and it bore a nasty scar, but when Kuniko gently picked it up and placed in the stream the fish began to swim away unimpeded. Still using his Byakugan, the young Hyuuga was able to see the fish swim away down the stream seemingly fine. The ordeal brought a few beads of sweat to the ninja's brow. He acted calm through out the proceedings but only now did he feel his muscles actually relax. He released his Byakugan and sat down on the shore. The poor lad's clothes were now sweaty, bloody, dirty, and wet from the training and he was a bit too tired to deal with it at the moment. He said tiredly, facing the ground, "Miss Tsubaki, I think I may be at my limit today..." 


WC: 345
TWC: 3258

The boy, as predicted, got stressed as he noticed what Tsubaki was doing. But the stress didn't stop the loyal and determined Hyuuga. He rushed to the side of the fish and began to get to work before time ran out. 

Tsubaki circled the boy as he worked, observing his struggles. As she did, she noticed an interesting tactic. Kuniko had activated his Byuakugan. She was impressed with quick thinking. Medical ninjas had to use their medical knowledge to find out where the wound is and what it's affecting. However, for a Hyuuga, they can use their dojutsu to see the internals. It was clever and promising with the future of his medical career. 

The boy was a mess. Bloodied, dirty and exhausted. Kuniko weakness to this unique ability was that it was draining on his chakra. Nothing that some training couldn't fix. Once finished, he returned the previously injured fish to the river's current. It was able to carry itself down the river as if nothing had happened. "Very impressive, Kuniko," Tsubaki complimented as he stared at the ground in exhaustion. He explained with some strain that he was too tired to continue further. The day was still young and she didn't want to waste it. However, she knew that she couldn't exhaust the boy too much or he might diminish along with his chakra. She smiled and knelt to his level, lifting his chin so he could meet her gaze. "You've done great today," She placed a kiss upon his forehead, "I'll let you rest. When you're ready, we'll continue onto the last part." Tsubaki would take off the ground and onto his feet. 

WC: 277
TWC: 2875

Kuniko still knelt by the riverbank stewing in morning heat. Rescuing the fish and healing himself had taken more out of him that he thought. His instructor had been watching him the whole time, which was certainly interesting to the young genin. He could of put on more of a brave face, but young man saw no point in trying to trick his instructor into thinking he was stronger than he really was. 

His spirits lifted considerably when Tsubaki said she was impressed. Kuniko could only bow his head quickly and say, "thank you, it's because of your guidance!" The words stumbled from his mouth as he looked down in his exhausted state but then Tusbaki knelt down and placed a kiss upon his forehead and said she allotted him his rest. Kuniko's face turned bright red as his instructor lifted him to his feet. Trying to keep his cool, Kuniko said as calmly as he could muster "t-thank you, I shouldn't take long." The genin bowed to his teacher and walked off with renewed vigor to a large rock with a decent view of the landscape. 

Once he reached his destination, he climbed up onto the rock and sat cross-legged and began to meditate. Kuniko used the chakra cleanse jutsu to remove the dust, blood, and grime from his body. Afterwards he sat there for 30 minutes, letting his energy return to him. He made sure to shake all thoughts of his instructor away while he rested. It was a pure mediation until finally his stamina had recovered. As Kuniko got up and began walking back to Tsubaki he wondered how she had the stamina for all of this. 

Once he had returned to her, Kuniko calmly said with a serious look on his face, "I am sorry for the interruption, I am ready to continue the training." He could think of nothing else to say to his teacher and her mysterious ways. 


WC: 324
TWC: 3582

Tsubaki grinned after seeing his energy return to him after she said how proud she was of him. It was cute and honest to see him like that. The Hyuuga quickly ran off to a rock nearby and sat. Tsubaki watched as Kuniko cleaned off himself and meditated. She had only known him for a day but there's nothing like the bond between a teacher and a student. However, Tsubaki couldn't allow this to blindside her. 

All the Senju's life, she had done what her mother and father have taught her. It was always been keep the tradition alive and keep up their legacy. Then when she entered the ninja world as a medic, she saw how weak their teachings had made her. She wasn't prepared for the harsh lessons she had to learn on her own. It was a dog eat dog world out there. No silver lining. She swore to herself that she wouldn't allow herself to be weak so that she wouldn't die. Perhaps that was the reason she felt joy alongside Kuniko's victories. Because it reminded herself of how she can pass on that strength.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Kuniko saying that he was ready to continue his training. Tsubaki grinning and got off the tree she was sitting in while she was thinking. "Alright, you ready for the Mystic Healing Palm?" She waited for a response before heading over to the rock he was previously sitting at. "We are going to be using fish again." She paused for dramatic effect. "However, you won't be healing a simple fish. You'll need to heal the bones of a Lamprey. The only fish with some bones." She would travel to the river and go inside the river instead of on it. There, she would wait. Moments later, she would reach down and grab a lamprey. It wiggled around a bit. She smiled as she had found the one that she had planted the nights before. They were going to be thrown away because of some injuries cause while fishing, but she needed them for the training. She placed down the fish on the shore. "Now help this creature."


WC: 361
TWC: 3236

Kuniko stood at the ready as his instructor asked him if he was ready to learn the mystic healing palm technique. Finally, the genin thought, the awaited time has arrived. He smiled so widely he covered his mouth to hide his teeth. Slightly muffled, he nodded and said “I am ready, Miss Tsubaki. I will try my best to apply what you have taught me to my next task.” Thankfully he was able to keep the excitement he was feeling from carrying over to his voice as he spoke. 

Then Tsubaki mentioned he would be performing the mystic healing palm on a lamprey. Kuniko raised his eyebrows in concern at the mention of the creatures. She pulled a slimey lamprey from the river and placed it on the shore for the young genin to heal. Kuniko was surprised that his instructor was able to yank a Lamprey from the river so quickly. The fact she was able to find one so quickly impressed him so much that he didn’t even have a problem with healing such a disgusting parasitic fish. 

Since it was getting warmer out Kuniko decided to shed his outer layer of clothing. He quickly removed his light over coat and set it to the side then he tied his headband over his forehead for the first time in years; it would better keep his hair from falling into his eyes.

Kuniko knelt down next to the lamprey as it writhed on the ground. He took one look up at his instructor and nodded before turning his attention to the fish. The Hyuuga then activated his Byakugan as he focused in on the fish. He became aware that things might get awkward if he looked up at his instructor for a brief moment, but the lamprey’s struggle reclaimed his attention. Kuniko’s eyes saw that the fish had cracked ribs. Bones would be much more difficult to heal than flesh. Thankfully, fish bones were small and would be easier to mend than a human’s bones. 

The Hyuuga placed his palms to the lamprey and a faint green light began to glow where they touched. It took all of his concentration, but being able to actually see the internal injuries with the Byakugan made it much easier for Kuniko to heal the lamprey than he expected. With the creature relaxing, The long haired ninja was able to mend the broken ribs that the fish had. It took only a minute and then Kuniko pushed the fish back into the river and washed his hands in the water. Using the Byakugan he was able to watch the fish swim away down the river. While still looking at it he said “I think I’ve done it… yes I have done it. Thank you, Miss Tsubaki...”

Kuniko’s facial expression relaxed why he knelt on the riverbank. He hadn’t realized he had been so tense until this moment. But now that it was passed, he was more surprised that he wasn’t surprised he used the Mystic Healing Palm. It seemed like it would have been more difficult. Perhaps all the training Tsubaki had given him prepared the young genin perfectly for this moment?


WC: 525
TWC: 4107

Once Tsubaki broke the bones of the lamprey, Kuniko went straight to work. He shed a layer and then got his headband to cover his hair from falling on his face. He knelt over the dying fish. With a green aura surrounding his hands and the abilities of his Byakugan, he began to operate on the vertebrae. Instantly, the fish began to show signs of being cured as it flopped around. The genin had perfected the Mystic Healing Palm. The fish was returned to the water, fully healed. 

"Wow, In only two days." Tsubaki chuckled, "Only a student of mine could do something like that." She hoped that the cockiness that she displayed would bring some pride to the Hyuuga. "Normally, I would just teach a student and move on with my life. Generally, I've learned to not care about the fates of others. However, you intrigue me." She smiled and placed a hand on the top of Kuniko's head, "Perhaps I'll keep you around." The Senju would start to head over to her belongings and pack up. "What do you say? Would you want to remain my student?" Her fate would be decided by her choice. 

WC: 197
TWC: 3433