Rubble

Daylight trickled down upon the featureless ruin allowing a show of dust and sand, dancing gently in the wind. The beams of light that pass through the cracks of the egg shaped structurewould continue this performance like a movie reel that were missing slides. Slowly the particles moving through the air found it's destination, sinking onto what remained of a classroom floor and joining it's predecessors on a neatly shaped pile. It was eerie how quiet this place was, what was once a place of life, sound and learning now silent and only it's hollow husk remained.

The wind picked up once more, drawing yet another string of dust to wander through the hallways of the institution until finally finding it's way into a classroom completely void of shelter. Light shone down upon the rubble, glistening upon the sweat of a young man's brow. Manzo had arrived. The young man shuffled around the floor, barely picking up his feet as he dragged his way to the centre of the classroom. He had heard that very few people traverse the ground and he thought of it innocently as a perfect place for him to find solitude and train. He had been bothered incessantly by the other children in his dormitory since he had been accepted to train and one day become a Shinobi and Manzo found it very difficult to dismiss the curious minds that wandered those halls. But this ingenious plan to get away almost fit to well; Being it an Academy and all.

Manzo loosely grasped his hands together, "Easy now." Manzo muttered, pinching his tongue between his teeth as he concentrated. His hands formed together the sign (known to many) of the Ram, it near looked like it was perfect before he began to channel his Chakra. As soon as the boy lost focus, his right foot slipped out from under him causing the wobbly child to fall down to the floor.

"Again!" He uttered to himself, as he once again rose to his feet, mimicking the position he had before.

Staring intently upon the ruined wall in front of him, he once again began to try and channel his chakra. However, this time it was to no avail, he felt his hand slip and the hand sign crumble into a fist. He stood there, his head hanging downwards facing the floor. He let out a defeated sigh, shuffling his feet outwards and bending his knees.

"Again!"




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Word Count: 405

The door to the Monkey's Uncle, a teashop located in the southeastern district in Sunagakure, opens, it's owner, a stone faced, bearded gentleman with ashen hair, walks out. He wears his usual stroll-through-the-village attire, a wide-brim straw hat to blot out the desert sun and a regal, white, flower print kimono. On his back sits a small pack that holds a wooden tea set, it's kettle and cups hang on its sides. His riight arm sits in a black-silk sling, he supports his weight using a strange, monkey-paw tipped "walking stick". In its paw rests a wooden basket, filled with peaches, berries and apples. The ashen-haired monk walks down the road of his teashop. As is his custom, when he gets to the crossroads of the main road and his road, he takes the wooden and ade engraved pipe that rests in his sling. He places its tip in his mouth and sparks a match on his own body. He lights his bowl, taking a wisful smoke. The ashen-haired man blows a wispy "O" into the air and watches where the wind takes it. A sudden gust, a guiding breeze, blows across the main street. Following its trail with his head, the ashen-haired man turns to the wind's direction and starts his stroll.

Through the many streets, passed the villagers going about their day to day lives, in an area that most have forgotten about, lies the ruins of the Old Ninja Academy. The strolling tea-brewer pauses as he spots the egg shaped structure. From the gleam in his eyes, it looks as if the sight of the ruins brings back memories, some fond, others not. The reminiscence brings a bright smile to the stone faced man, he feels as if he can almost hear the kata drilled into him by his instructors.

Again!...

A voice, coming from somewhere within the ruined academy, grabs hold of the ashen-haired gentleman's attention. Perplexed, he decides to continue his stroll, into the ruined academy. As he walks through its forgotten halls, the small voice gets louder, and the aged brewer silences his footsteps.

Peering into a room, he sees a shocking sight. A thin boy as pale as bone, who at first glance looks like a spooky skeleton, surrounded by the rubble of the dilapidated classroom, forms what almost looks like the ram handseal. He shuffles his feet apart, he moves as if sickly, and he tries to gather his chakra. As it surges, his concentration breaks and he loses focus and chakra.

Again!

The teashop owner observes the Youngblood in silence, watching him consistently try and fail. After sometime, the owner speaks up, his deep, basso voice rumbles the pebbles that litter the ground as white smoke drifts from his nose.

"Persistence is indeed a guardian virtue, yet it cannot make the woodpecker peck through stone." says the pipe-smoking, flower-kimono wearing, monkey-paw-walking stick having, tea-set carrying, fruit-basket-bearing, ashen haired man. Before allowing the boy to respond, the tea owner continues, "on days like these, I like to stroll around the village, and enjoy a meal of fruit and tea. It is always better to enjoy such things with company. Would you care to join me? A good meal can revitalize the mind and calm the soul."

As he waits for a response, the ashen-haired man sets up his wooden tea set.

[[559]]

Eyes clenched shut and knees facing the floor, Manzo felt like he was getting closer to completing his task. It felt like a deep breath before the plunge, however, never really taking the leap off the edge. For lack of a better word the boy didn't really know how to release his chakra to complete the Jutsu he was trying to perform but instead was stuck in the perpetual cycle of building up to the point he couldn't hold it or he lost concentration. Truly, it was a difficult sight to watch. Just as he began 

"Persistence is indeed a guardian virtue, yet it cannot make the woodpecker peck through stone."

The young boy bent his right leg as he lifted his left into the air, awkwardly swinging his body around as he shuffled on the one foot to face the man. Manzo hadn't expected anyone to journey into the abandoned building and because of this interruption he felt quite "spun out" to the point where he didn't quite catch the figure's metaphor. He tilted his head to left as he stared gaunt at the figure, taking in his attire, from his floral kimono, to the kettle edging out from behind his arm, but most importantly he widened his eyes to the strange walking stick he held. Before Manzo could make a sound, the man with the big hat spoke once more.

"on days like these, I like to stroll around the village, and enjoy a meal of fruit and tea. It is always better to enjoy such things with company. Would you care to join me? A good meal can revitalize the mind and calm the soul."

Manzo threw his head back, raising his right hand towards where the figure stood and pointing his index finger towards him. With a scrunched up face he took a moment to think, he had kept at it for most of the day and it did feel like he was getting no where. After a moment the young man dropped his arms and slouched, defeated, he couldn't say no to a break. As well as it being in Manzo's nature to say yes and take on any new opportunities that presented themselves.

"Aaaaah.. You're right, old man." He said as he dragged his feet towards him, "Say, is the Clone Technique supposed to be this hard?"




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Word Count: 395

The ashen haired tea brewer knew his sudden speaking would surprise the gaunt boy, but he did not expect the Youngblood to shuffle like he did. His spinning around was peculiar, as if he'd only recently gotten accustomed to standing up and moving. The sight made the man's heart ache and gave some explanation for the boy's "interesting" ram handseal.

... 

As the young blood thinks on taking up the teashop owner's offer, the aged monk takes off the pack strapped on his back, setting his stone tea set and table. After placing two cushions besides it, he kneels down. As he does, the dark haired boy's shoulders fall in defeat, yet an endearing look comes across his hollow eyes as he accepts the monk's offer of tea and fruit. He comes up and asks a simple question.

"Depends on the person," says the monk as he opens the kettles lid, "there are those whose Chakra flows through their system like a river. For them, creating a duplicate using ninjutsu is no harder then making a mirror reflect yourself."

He pours water into a stone container, continuing to speak, "there are others whose Chakra lies still like a lake, unmoving, but vast. Shinobi like this must do more to tap into their strength and gather their Chakra." 
He places the lid on the kettle and, using the arm that's hidden in a sling, he forms the tiger handseal with one hand. 

He kneads fire Chakra in his stomach, takes out his pipe and, with control and master, exhales a thin stream of fire directed toward the bottom of the Stone kettle. The flame casts shadows the flicker and leer between the rubble of the academy, with such an intensity that the area under the kettle becomes red hot, like a stove top. The monk places his pipe back in his mouth, waiting for the water to boil.

"Why do you ask?"

Jutsu Used

The basso-voiced monk chuckles as the youngblood asks if he really travels with a tea-set.

"Yes, I do, I've found it adds to strolls throughout the village. And, the Tea Ceremony is best experienced with another."

The ashen-haired man forms the one-handed tiger handseal, a look of curiosity crosses the skeletal-boy's eyes. He tries to mimic the handsign, acting as if he's unfamiliar with the Shinobi Handseals. He exhales a stream of fire, the youngblood's eyes go wide, his mouth drops and he exclaims. The monk smiles, hiding his thoughts.

Why does he act as if he hasn't learned this in the Academy? ponders the brewer as his kettle comes to a boil.

"My strength is my own, like a small sapling, I tended and cultivated it into the mighty form you see before you. But, my use of handseals is something that can be taught. More than anything, it requires skill, and a fundamental understanding of chakra." Water begins to bubble, but steam does not whistle from the stone kettle. The tea-brewing monk takes some supplies from his basket and begins preparing a brew of tea. As the aroma of roses, citrus, berry, and leaves fill the room, the monk continues. "If your chakra is that of a deep lake, then you must find where it wants to flow, so you can guide it and stream it into your being. To do this, you must allow your water to flow without resistance, into a path that is both natural and powerful. Handseals are the way we shinobi guide this "lake", our chakra." A thought strikes the eccentric tea brewer. "Do you mind showing me the Monkey handseal?"


[[274/1207]]

Eagerly the gaunt boy took his legs in his hand, folding them inwards to sit crossed legged on the pillow beneath him, his eyes gently crept upwards to watch as the pot began to settle, slightly tilting his head to the side as he listened to his company explain the basic fundamentals of releasing chakra. Admittedly, Manzo didn't think his Chakra would flow naturally to begin with and he would have to "Push" it rather than allow it to find it's way around, however, having someone explain it more descriptively to him allowed him to understand more clearly.

He rose a finger to his mouth, eyes clenched he began to frown, an inquisitive look on his face. "Hmmm.." He mouthed as he circled over what the monk had said in his mind. Soon, the aroma of the tea began to tickle at his nose and for a moment he lost touch with what he had been thinking about. Quickly, he snapped back to an original thread of his thoughts, opening his eyes placing his hands on his knees, leaning forward.

"Could that mean you could cast two jutsu at once?" He said excitedly.


Soon after explaining; the tea-totting man requested a handseal from him. Now, surely enough this one was one that Manzo had known already, quite simple and didn't require to much configuration with his hands. He would lay his palms flat together, interlocking his pinkies beneath his thumbs, so his thumbs lay flat upon them. Slowly he drew his hands towards him.

"Like this?"






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Word Count: 252

As the youngblood forms the handseal, the aged monk observes his chakra, and sees something strange. Though his hand position is perfect, his chakra does not react, as if their is a fundamental disconnect between his physical body and his spiritual self. As he asks if his seal is done properly, the tea brewer nods his head.

...

Steam whistles from the stone kettle, its sound echoes across the ruins of the academy, signaling the start of the Tea Ceremony. With purpose and ritual, the monk pours a cup of citrus-rose tea, for he and his company. In a moment of silence, he takes a sip, basking in the flavor profile of his brew.

"Do you know the reasons for the shinobi handseals, the meaning behind the signs?" states the aged monk as he puts his cup down. As he talks, he demonstrates each of the handseals, allowing his chakra to surge naturally, in hopes that the youngblood can understand. "To continue the metaphor of our chakra being like a still pond or lake, handseals are that drives are chakra to surge, rush, and splash, think of it like the wind that blows overhead to cause waves. Except, we, the shinobi, are the ones who dictate how and where the wind will blow, therefore, we determine where are chakra will surge to. It is not the handseals that create the fire that we will bellow to burn our opponents, but the chakra of the shinobi. Surging your chakra with purpose and intention will naturally make you form the handseals you desire, as in, the handseals for a healing jutsu differs greatly for one meant to harm. We know, for a fact, that it is our chakra that dictates our jutsu which forms are handseals because of the existence of handsealess jutsu. Jutsu such as these show that shinobi can access their power, their chakra, without the need to give it form and shape, with handseals."


As he concludes, the tea brewer forms the monkey handseal. Chakra, being formed in his throat, sprays out as a jet of water, high in the air, away from the tea table. The chakra-infused water refracts the sunlight streaming through the ruins, creating a sparkling display of color for a brief moment. The monk turns to the youngblood and takes a sip of tea.

"Do you understand?"

[[392/1599]]

JUTSU USED (non combative)
Water Release: Fish Spit - Possible learning opportunity 
Chakra Sensory

The boy would smile at the Monk as he acknowledged his handsign and without hesitation he would drop his arms to his side, letting them hang there, loosely. He began to feel particularly restless as the man began to pour the aromatic liquid into the cups carefully. The boy would drop his head down towards the table, attaining eye level with the cup in front of him and with a very apathetic look on his face, he began to watch as the tea slowly filled the cup. Drawing his eyes up only to watch as the monk began to speak once more.

"Do you know the reasons for the shinobi handseals, the meaning behind the signs?"

His eyes began to wander to the left as he began to look back to his time at the Academy. A haze of white drew over his eyes and before he knew it he was back in the classroom, surrounded by aspiring youth of his age or younger. Chatter littered the well lit room before a loud snap was heard, bringing the classroom to an immediate silence. Before the youths was a young man holding a rather sturdy spike against a busy blackboard. He looked up at the class, his face, seemed rather assertive and it brought a chill to those who had any mischievous intentions. The spike the man had in his palm lead to the chalkboard outlining a very simplified illustration of the many basic handseals a Shinobi should recognise.

Manzo began to slump in his chair, his vision fading as the young man began to explain the usage and meaning behind the signs and as he began to slump further his vision became more and more hazy before once the haze of white drew over his eyes, the voice of the Academies' teacher soon began to sound like the Monk's voice intertwined, giving an identical explanation. Soon enough, it only became one voice and it was that of the Old man's. Manzo blinked, bringing his head back up to meet the man's eyes as he finished his explanation.

A quick handseal identical to the one Manzo had shown before was cast and before the boy could know it the Monk had once again showed a dazzling display, filling Manzo with awe.

"Do you understand?"

Manzo nodded his head quite sharply and excitedly he would try to draw himself to his feet. First, he would grab his right leg and place his foot firmly on the ground, pushing his knee up with his hands so that it was directly in line with his foot. With one hand on his right knee and the other placed firmly on the table, he struggled, however, brought himself to his feet. Turning towards the Monk he would mimic the monkey sign once more.

"Like this?" 


The boy began to focus, picturing his chakra like a wide and deep lake with the shadows of trees and grasslands silently littered in the distance. As Manzo focused he began to tighten his grip, as if he was trying to force his Chakra out. Sure, for a moment that seemed to work as the dust beneath his feet began to draw upwards very gently, licking the tops of his feet and swirling very slowly around his lower calf. But that wasn't enough, Manzo had to try something else to be able to cast this Jutsu-.. And then a thought popped into the young boys head. What if he begun to picture it?

Manzo's vivid imagination began to come to life, as he pictured the lake that was his Chakra swirl and ripple, gaining momentum. He relaxed his hands, lessening the grip of the handseal and just like that he begun to feel a swirling in his throat, a strange sensation that he had not felt before. As the swirling continued it turned into what felt like a bulging of his neck to the point where he could no longer hold no more. His eyes burst open as he looked down towards the Monk, but it was already too late, Manzo's lips began to part and sure enough a high pressure jet stream of water bared down towards the Monk.






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Word count: 691 / 2100


JUTSU USED

Water Release: Fish Spit - Attempted

As the aged tea-brewer lectures the youngblood, he can see he boy taken in his lessons. Whether he was taught properly or not, it no longer mattered, the lessons that he needed were finally learned. Taking some moments to lift himself up, the skeleton-like-boy stands on his unsteady legs, turning toward the monk and performing the Monkey hand sign. 

"Like this?" says the youngblood as his hands interlock into the shinobi handseal. The monk does not speak, but nods his head in affirmation and observes the chakra of the budding shinobi in front of him.

He closes in eyes in concentration, his chakra ripples in his system, in ways that show a lack of drive and focus. His latent energy, like the exhaust from a machine, leaks from his body, swirling around his legs and causing bits of wall and stone to rise around him. Though an impressive display, it proves inefficient, as when he tries to channel it into a ninjutsu his chakra flow halts and stagnates. At this, the monk does nothing but sip his tea.

...

Something clicks in the youngblood, whether the lesson given to him by the tea brewer finally connected, or the results of his previous training bore fruit. Either way, his chakra reacted. It stills like a pond, his own actions cause it to ripple, his focus causes it to stream through his system and flow to his throat. Before he realizes it, he alters the nature of his chakra. As the monk senses water chakra, he smirks, finishing his tea and setting it down on the table. As he does, the chakra welling in the boy's throat shoots out, and a jet of water streams from his lips toward the monk, drenching his flower-patterned kimono, and with enough force to launch his straw hat off his head. As the youngblood ceases his Fish Spit Ninjutsu, he would see a drenched Raleth Sarutobi, beaming, like a teacher whose seen a student succeed. Unable to contain his joy, he slams the stone table, exclaiming, "A wonderous display of shinobi prowess, you should be proud!!!"

His deep voice bounces off the many walls, booming in the young boy's ears. The invigorated monk stands up, without the aid of his walking stick, the man who once looked infirm now seems brimming with power. He runs his hands through his drenched, ashen hair, water drips from his beard and mustache as he smiles.

"You've gotten a grasp on the nature of yourself and your chakra, you have taken your first step to becoming a full fledged shinobi!"

As he walks a distance away from the table speaks.

"You have felt, for yourself, how your chakra wants to flow. And, you have discovered that, with the right focus and intention, your chakra will form into any shape you desire, even those that are found in nature. But.."

Raleth turns, facing the young boy.

"Our chakra can do more than just ninjutsu. Chakra can also be considered life energy, as it can invigorate us and motivate us to act in ways we could not without it. If we flood it to our limbs.." As the monk, Sarutobi says this, he flows his chakra to his legs. Because of his control and master, his chakra does not "leak out" and there is no indication that his is manipulating his chakra. "We can reinforce them, making them stronger than steel. With proper technique, we can channel this strength, into singular move...a jutsu, if you will."

As he concludes, Raleth widens his stance and places one foot in front of the other and bends slightly at the knee. The chakra in his legs energizes his muscles, with this added strength he performs a low, sweeping spin kick, with enough force to kick up a whirlwind of dust, dirt, and rubble. His momentum is so great that the force of his kick moves him forward. As he spins, he performs another sweeping, spinning mid-kick with his other leg, with enough force to lift him up in the air and barreling toward the young boy. However, as he nearly completes his second spin-kick, he performs a third, spinning high kick, which launches him in the air and well above the boy. The taijutsu maneeveru he performed would move him forward and elevate him with each kick, his inital kick would look as if he was aiming to hit the young blood. But, as the second kick rose him in the air, it would be evident that he intended to "kick" over the boy. As he flies and release his final kick, the force and momentum he'd been building coalseces, and a whirlwind of pressure and strength would batter the empty space above and behind the young boy and cause a nearby wall to collapse. 

After completing his Leaf Great Whirlwind, Raleth lands behind the boy, turning and smiling.

"Though it may be a complex concept, do you understand? We can use our chakra to help motivate us, to perform feats we would ordinarily not be able."

[[842/2441]]

Leaf Great Whirlwind