The final Rush (Training)

Zeo slept in a bit after a long night of training. He had trained all day yesterday, preparing for the exam. He had brushed up on new ninjutsu, tactics, and fell asleep at his desk. His place was covered with scrolls as he was mind-reading about calculations of ninjutsu traps and shuriken measures. Also for assault tactics as well. Strategy-- anything to give him an edge for the written exam. That part was going to be the toughest for him. By the time sunlight shown through his apartment window, he was now asleep with his head on his folded arms. He finally stirred realizing he had fallen asleep there.

He slowly rose up and checked around him. The mess was disgusting to him and he hated himself for allowing him to become such a mess. He wiped his face with his sleeve, embarrassed he drooled a bit on his desk as he slowly allowed his eyes to adjust. The sun soon showed on the calendar on his wall as he grasped whatt day it was....

Saturday. Today was the final day! His eyes widened as he soon became aware of his 'error'. He had slept in and the exam's sign-up period was starting that day, in no more than an hour.

"OH CRAP!!" he shouted as he suddenly lost his balance. The chair leaned back and soon he went tumbling over, tossing scrolls and falling upside-down on the floor. A groan escaped him as he realized he overslept and needed to get a move on! If he didn't he would miss the exam and be forced to do it all over again another year! He couldn't do that, not after all the faith and expectations his teachers and allies had given him. Scrambling to his feet, he got and got ready to go.

He quickly packed his bag of the ninja tools he could get. Shuriken-- though he could make his own with water release, his scrolls, paper bombs and all other tools every ninja needed. He also quickly jumped into a shower, for no more than a minute to quickly wash up after he fell asleep in his day clothing. After he washed up, he quickly tossed on a new kimoni, one with his clan's seal on the back-- the shinto gate. He soon got on his pants, shoes, and finally his headband, quickly trying it to his arm.

He soon was in front of the mirror and checked himself. He looked rather decent till he noticed his unkempt hair was an issue. He soon ran his hand through it, straighten it out as best as he could. He looked at himself for a moment and realized the time had finally come. He was doing it. He was finally feeling like a true shinobi of the star village. Since they rescued him from his fate, from drowning after his parents had died in his village, he looked up to them for saving him. Right then and now, he truly felt like he became stronger than he was back then. As he stood there, he flexed his fingers in turn, loosening up his hands. The muscles felt stiff from all the hand signs and studying he was doing. His jutsu required a ton of dexterity work. However, as he adjusted, he soon tried to bend his fingers differently, using hand signs he practiced. One-handed signs, which while he didn't want t o truly depend on, would come in handy if he needed to.

He had remembered reading about it weeks ago, about the skill to use one hand to perform jutsu, but required far more chakra to mold it. It was like molding it  more with your mind than your hands. Though the same thing could be said of mastered jutsu like the ones he did. It was more like muscle memory for chakra than it was just using your mind.

He soon returned to reality from the clouds of his memory as he soon saw the clock! 12: 22 PM!!  He had less than an hour left.

Grabbing his bag he was about ready to leave--- till he realized he was missing something! His sword! He quickly ran back and grabbed the strap and sword-- hanging off his living room chair. Swinging it over his shoulder, he quickly approached the nearby window. Jumping out, and closing it behind him, he quickly jumped off towards the location of where the exam sign-ups would be!

Zeo used his ninja like speed to try and cross the village. He had to hurry so he could get there in time! If he hurried, he could make it. He quickly reached the square of the town, where was the only place he couldn't just rush through things. Not without causing problems. Zeo touched down on the ground and realized he had time now that he had gotten outside. He took a breath, feeling exhausted.

He realized he had nothing to eat since yesterday, having been solely dedicated to training and improving. He had to stop and get something or he might suffer later for it...

"Zeo!" a voice called out to him. Zeo turned to soon find the masked shinobi-- his master Yasha. "Wow I didn't take you for a person who would sleep in on a day like this," he said with mild jest.

"Master... look I'm sorry but I need to get going to register in time," he said in a rushed tone. "I fell asleep and---"

Yasha raised a hand. "Whoh, slow down. I knew I wanted to light a fire under you to get moving, but don't go crazy." he said with a smile, "First of all, did you get everything you wanted done?"

"Yeah, but..."

"AND something to eat?" he asked next.

Zeo grew a bit irritated by this as now the stress was showing on his face. "Well no, but I don't have time to---" he was stopped as Yasha extended a hand, with a special ration bar. It looked pleasant enough, though bland in color as he handed it to Zeo.

"Eat. You are of no use to anyone if your energy is depleted. " he said flatly, his tone now serious as he insisted for him to eat.

With a grumble, Zeo took the ration and quickly munched down on it. Itt didn't taste bad and he already felt it start to renew his energy a bit more. he quickly ate, though Yasha was quick to make him slow down. "Come on, chew. Don't go choking yourself before the exam even started." he patronized.

Zeo was not pleased with this, him acting like a parent to him like that. He didn't really know Yasha, but was grateful to him all the same.

Zeo finally swallowed what was left and turned to his mentor. "Master Yasha, thank you-- but I really have to go." he said.

However, Yasha reached out and touched him on the shoulder to keep him in place. "Relax, Zeo. I know you're all worked up, but you must remember to keep your cool," he said calmly with a smirk.

"But  the exam sign up ends in five minutes!" Zeo shouted, already confused by the prospect why Yasha was trying to keep him in place. "I need to get there NOW!"

Yasha smiled from behind his mask. "But Zeo-- you're already there," he said simply.

"Huh?" Zeo said dumbly as he blinked-- and realized his surroundings had completely changed! He soon backed up out of Yasha's touch and soon looked around! He was inside the institute-- the hub for the shinobi of the village and where the sign-ups where. He was right in the central hall, with the sign in table and staff waiting there. At first, Zeo feared it might be a trick or ploy. He quickly turned to Yasha, almost upset. "D-Did you put a Genjutsu on me or something?"

Yasha folded his arms in mock insult,. "Hate to break it to you Zeo, but I'm afraid my affinity for genjutsu is pretty low compared to yours," he said as he looked to the table. "you may want to hurry. The proctors there are looking a bit impatient." he said.

Zeo blanced around and stole a look at his mentor. How the HELL did he bring them there? Was it a transportation jutsu of some kind? But he never event felt the change. It was so instant it was smooth... After a glance to the masked ninja, Zeo quickly ran to the sign-in table, prepared to register.

Zeo reached the table, though he ran the last bit and now was ragged for breath as he slammed his hands there.

"Name and form, please," the proctor said in a borish tone. Zeo quickly reached into his kimono for his form, but failed to get it. He checked the other pocket panickly and soon-- pulled it out with relief. He slapped it on the desk and soon revealed it to them. "Zeo. Zeo Kamigawa reported for the chunin exams!" he said aloud.

A sudden sigh escaped him relieved he had made it just in time.

Yasha watched in amusement as he saw Zeo register.

WC: 1530
End.

Learned: Skill One handed seals (1500 from 25% off)

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