Shinrin Yoku Ranch

Deep inside the gates of Konoha were thick woods nestled along the village walls that expanded into a large expanse of forestry. This forest was thick and nearly impenetrable, covered in vines and sharp ferns. There was a trail to walk, but most villagers had superstitious sightings of ghosts in the forest. No one visited the Shinrin Yoku Forest.

Just outside the forest was a small ranch that had burned down. Two kind Senju who kept the trail and warded off ghosts were lost. Now their son Shiroyasha owned the land. Many people rumored an evil ghost burnt the house down because the frail elders couldn't appease the gods by walking the trails. 

Those people were right.

When Shiroyasha moved in he was lucky to have wealth. The entire ranch had been rebuilt for him, and Shiroyasha had the many amenities of life. With running sewage Shiro lived well at home. However he spent most of his home life walking the trails his parents once had, chanting the same hymns. The youth knew some evil spirit had been to blame for his parents death. But no matter how hard he obsessed over the dead he found nothing along the Shinrin Yoku Trails.

By day the genin would over think it all while catching lost cats and tending the orphanage. No matter how mundane the task at hand was Shiroyasha made due to contemplate what he was doing right that his parents hadn't. He yearned to know what had cost them their lives, and which Beast had set fire to his childhood home.

He wondered if the forest had really grown so treacherous in the village. If the spirits were possessing animals to harm people. The priest was always in deep thought.

Adopted into a Priesthood sect of the Senju clan Shiro was raised with knowledge of the kami that filled the silent, still air of the forests in Konoha. Shiroyasha knew some of their names, and paid sacrifice every day twice for those he knew of. He had never met a malicious spirit though.

The idea that the evil and vengeful spirits lashed out so viciously scared him, but the ninja took it as another part of his job and oushed away the grief in his heart. Every morning he would walk with a tea light into the dark forest. Shiro would walk the beaten path, stopping at shrines and lighting a paper charm in them. The chimes hanging from the alter would jingle ever so softly, and Shiro recited his prayer. 

The everyday bustle kept him going. These practices were his religion, but what is religion without servitude. 

Shiroyasha often asked himself that. "What kind of man would I be without something to ponder as I perform my Genin missions." 

Shiroyasha was too old to still be a genin, his priestly practice having taken a large chunk of his youth. While he came back from his morning ritual he thought hard to himself. Shiroyasha wondered how far he could push himself today. He had no missions so he expected to train. Something was pulling on his lapel though, something he had to address. Shiroyasha decided to head into the forest where his father had once trained.

Wordcount: 537

Dressed in his usual choice of clothing, a suit, Shiro walked into the forest. It was a warm day and he quickly broke into sweat as he headed to where the training ground was. The thick cloth fabric of his suit absorbed his sweat, but nothing would slow him down. In fact Shiroyasha whistled himself a tune and broke into a sprint. Hmrunning fast he made it to the clearing early in the morning. 

The thick forest kept a humid enviroment, and Shiro was out of breath before he even began. The clearing wasn't much, but a few cleared stump made for perfect training dummies. Shiroyasha punched some for awhile but he was no expert in taijutsu. Once he was good and warm he decided to try some meditating. Sitting on top of a stump he held his feet in a full lotus and channeled his chakra.

While adept with controlling his large chakra reserves, Shiroyasha had never manifested any elemental talent. Most of what he learned was from scrolls, and he was still fresh with his native element of earth. 

On this day however he would practice a different chakra release. The shadow clone jutsu was what he was working on, and while he sat on the stump Shiroyasha was cultivating his chakra. While performing the jutsu was easy for him, Shiro still struggled with evenly dividing his chakra. He sat on the stump visualizing his gut chakra pool. While perfectly formed for use Shiro was apprehensive if he could properly divide the aetheric source of energy.

With a deep breath he saw the energy in his minds eye Separate, and he exhaled. With both fingers held together Shiroyasha performed his first shadow clone jutsu. The doppelganger appeared right in front of Shiro, but he couldn't see it yet. With his eyes still closed he savored his success.

Suddenly Shiro exclaimed and got up from the stump. He fist bumped his clone and it vanished in a poof of smoke.

Happy with his success for the day Shiroyasha decided he would continue his training. The young man stood back up at the training dummies. He let loose a spinning elbow and the trunk cracked. Shiro didn't stop he leapt up and on the fly used the shadow clone jutsu. In his gut the chakra divided perfectly and his clone appeared mid air. The clone grabbed Shiro and threw him down for another piledriving elbow. Shiro intentionally missed however. And rolled on the ground. He stood up and his clone poofed away.

Even in the midst of action Shiro paused. He didn't want to destroy the training dummy. His father had worked hard to craft them and they were like living totems to the love he shared for his family. As Shiro rolled around he broke into silent tears of an orphan.

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The training was over now. Despite his success Shiroyashas heart had grown heavy. He wiped his tears from his eyes and waddled over to the bench to collect himself. It had been five long years since he found out about his parents death, but everything seemed so fresh in the moment. Like a meat hook had pulled his heart right out he sat there clutching his chest. 

How easy it was to be defeated by one's own self was a mystery to Shiro. But he didnt have much to keep with him at the moment. He wondered if his father had the same resolve to keep the dummy up for his son. Shiro was sobbing now, his head bent over and both hands covering his face. 

Suddenly he heard a familiar whisper. Not of a voice however, but of the shrine bell ringing. Usually he only heard it during lighting of the fires, but thebsudden familiarity snapped him out of his feelings. Shiro stood up like by instinct, and walked toward the path. The nearest shrine was ten minutes away, but he figured he would go pay his respects. Shiro rummaged in his pocket for a paper charm, and made his way out of the sad scene he had become.

The bright morning sun was begining to pierce the thick canopy and Shiro could see the beautiful forest well. The ferns were thick on the edge of the path, and Shiro knew not to walk into them. He did however lean forward to pick a small yellow peuteunia and walked with it. Happier now he was quiet while he listened for the occasional chime. The ring a ding was growing louder and the priest grew to bubbling with excitement. He knew one of the spirits had chosen him today, and what wonders bmwould befall him kept the stuffy sadness away from his mind. Shiro walked on and on, the ten minute walk seemed to drag on. 

Eventually he made it and immediately began chanting "A Forests Serenity Prayer." This prayer was meant to appease the spirits so they would accept the burnt offering. Shiro played it over and over as he prepared. 

Sitting cross legged at the small alter Ahiro opened the door. There was a small pile of ashes inside, and he ruffled them up with his sacrificial paper charm. The small folded rectangle had red ink in it, and a seal was printed to it. Shiro closed the door and began singing the same prayer. He had a soft singing voice, but he sang well. Shiro continued his tradition and lit an incense at the shrine. After it had burnt out, about forty five minutes, he reached back into the shrine with a lit match. His offering burnt slow, but the paper produced a lot of smoke. Shiro withdrew his hand and knelt on both knees. With his arms in a prayer gesture Shiro prayed to the kami who called to him.

Eventually smoke filled the shrine and it began to seep out, ringing the bells that hung from its little awning. Shiro felt like his work was done and returned back to the ranch. 

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When he arrived home Shiroyasha felt a lot of relief. Despite the home he grew up in burning down, he had it rebuilt to specifications. The familiar scene helped his heart rest and the previously heavy load was relieved. Shiro silently shuffled into his home and continued his daily routine. It had been 6 hours since he left and the shinobi was hungry. He planned a simple lunch. 

First he would cut up some onions and salami. He always kept the two fresh in his refrigerator. Once he had a savory mix of onions and salami together he started boiling some pasta. As the noodles soaked up water Shiro divided up some cheese and a cucumber. With a splash of dressing he made a great pasta salad and ate it all up. Shiroyashas mom passed him down the recipe and he followed it to a tee. The result was just like mom always made, and he ate up 

Once lunch was over Shiro took a small nap. For about an hour he rested his mind and body, soaking in the warm summer breeze. 

Every day for a long time he would live like this. Struggling to get by in a mundane way, and growing passive in nostalgia. Shiro was getting along for enough of his liking but soon things would change. Work was due to pick up and the Genin would be practicing in a whole new light. He wondered if a team would ever form for him, as he dreamed of the sweetest smelling sun flower. He wouldn't pick them, but the Senju was at his greatest in nature. Even the nature of his dreamland appeased his aching heart.

WordCount: 280

Total WordCount: 1,816

Stat Allocation:
+18 Vigor

Training Allocation
Shadow Clone(1,500/1,500)
Earth Style Wall(316/500)

okay so luckily I approved your stat page and know that you are a Senju with earth nature. These claims are approved, but please update your profile with the correct stat page links and icons. ^^