Hidden Technique Practice

For too many years Yusuke had been on leave for the Hoshigakure no Sato shinobi forces. The man had taken up new responsibilities for the Inuzuka Clan, and his superiors had given him an indefinite leave. Sometimes he had lost count on how many years it had been since he was an active Genin for Hoshi. On days like these he would go to the training ground for some practice with Rudi.

For Yusuke it didn't matter how long he had been away. While working with the House of Hauringu in the Inuzuka Clan he stayed sharp. For an older genin Yusuke was incredibly gifted still and showed promise. The man was proud of how far he had even come as a ninja since taking leave. When he left he was just barely a man. But times had changed him for the good, and working in the Kennel was great practice for him. 

The Kennel was where pups of the Inuzuka Clan were born and raised. In this underground pit nearly every Hoshigakure Inuzuka met their life long partner; and as the keeper of the Kennels litters, Yusuke often used the Clan hidden jutsu. The Kennel was one large pit four times the size of the entire training grounds, and for the ninja to be able to run on all fours made it easy to get to and fro. Yusuke would check on pregnant dogs, recording their health and preparing the mother to choose a family. 

The keeper of the Kennel was very familiar among the Clan in Hoshi. So too was Rudi, Yusuke's inuzuka hound. 

The two of them were in the training grounds, and Yusuke was distracted by all these spinning thoughts. The man had his mind else where, and his sparring partner, Rudi Ruu, was landing all sorts of strikes while transformed in the Man Beast Jutsu. Yusuke's head just was not in the game,  and so Rudi ooofed back into his true form. The dog growled softly at his owner, saying, "You aren't yourself brother." 

Yusuke looked up at the sky and scratched his chin, the same place his canine companion had just roundhouse kicked him. The Inuzuka replied, "I know man." Then he sunk into the ground. Yusuke was just as good as ever but he didnt feel like he matched up to a truly gifted man like the Hogokage. As he sat there thinking about the time he lost staying as an over qualified genin, Rudi trotted over to where lunch could be found.

The giant dog used his nose to rummage through the picnic basket Yusukenbrought, and went straight for the pepperoni stick. Rudi grabbed it with his teeth, ever so gently, and proceeded to make his way to the blob his owner called himself. When he made it back to where they had been sparring Rudi dropped the meat stick before Yusuke, and growled softly. "Eat something. We aren't leaving until you got your pizazz back." 

Yusuke nodded and grabbed the meat stick off the ground.  Giving it a heavy blow he made sure no dirt was on it  then grabbed a kunai out of his holster and cut a few pieces off. The man threw some slices to Rudi, then popped one in his mouth. Yusuke was deep in thought, trying to find where he had lost his edge. 

He couldn't help but figure this funk he was in would fade with time, and tried to keep his head up during lunch. Yusuke was silently self affirming himself, stroking his confidence for round two with his companion Rudi  the two of them ate lunch and silently continued their training. The pair had almost telepathy, Rudi familiar with how Yusuke operates. The canine knew his owner was brimming with potential, and could nearly sense when Yusuke was ready to explode.

The sparring started off with both participants standing inside a circular chalked out ring. Yusuke put his hand seals together for the Four Legged Technique. He molded his chakra thru his spine and quickly he hunched over to the ground on all fours. The barefoot ninja grew claws on all his nails, and his fangs poked out of his mouth. Yusuke looked absolutely feral now, and he leapt forward at Rudi in a sharp striking attack.

Familiar with how his owner brawled Rudi dodged to his right and rushed forward, biting Yusuke's arm. Yusuke heaved his companion in the air, suffering from the bite. As the dog was raised higher his bite naturally tightened with anticipation, then he was pile driven into the ground. Yusuke was free as the dog let go and laid in the ground. "Get up Rudi." Yusuke growled to his companion. Despite the damaging blow being epic, Yusuke had held back to not hurt his friend. The dog got up and growled viciously. 

The fight was only just begining. The two went back and forth for three hours, testing their limits and conditioning their bodies. Yusuke knew he was still soft, and he had a long ways to go if he wanted to catch up to the rest of the genin in Hodhigakure. Rudi bit and tore at his flesh, scratching him and leaving Yusyke bleeding. It didn't matter though, Yusuke healed fast and he pressed himself forward. 

Rudi was in his true canine form now, and that meant Yusuke would be getting hit. He didn't mind though, Yusuke had always trained rough and tumble with his companion. Rudi Ruu was a tough old dog, and his bones were iron hard. Yusuke threw him out of the ring several times, and each time he did the canine would be wagging his tail, ready to engage again with the ninja. 

For over twenty years Yusuke had worked with Rudi, and he knew his dog like the palm of his hand. Ferocious in battle, the dog left Yusuke many scars to line his tan flesh. As Yusuke stood shirtless across from his dog, the tension was palpable. Both of them were training their best, but it was clear the past held their minds eye. Rudi was fondly recalling his youth, and Yusuke was bottling up his emotions. He felt ashamed he had gone this long without sparring. 

As Rudi was panting Yusuke decided to try his ultimate technique, Passing Fang. Yusuke leapt up into the air and began violently spinning, both claws reaching out from the quickly building tornado. Yusuke dove on Rudi, but the dog dodged. Yusuke couldn't see but his dogs familiar scent came from the west and he blindly dived in the direction he picked up Rudi's scent. Rudi dodged again, and watched where Yusyke would jump to next. The dog knew the greatest weakness of the jutsu, it's feral nature came blinded and couldn't hold up for long. 

Yusuke jumped again, but Rudi was already ahead of him. He flicked his tail and blue shimmers of chakra overshrouded him. Rudi was in his Man Beast form now, a rabid mimic of Yusuke. The dog jumped and performed his own Passing Fang, his claws blindly shredding at the air around him as Rudi jumped to clash with Yusyke. 

Both of them hit each other with the same force, and they flew backwards and beyond the lines of the sparring circle. Yusuke was smiling though. It had been years since Rudi and him clashed like that, and as he got back up his mind was now free. 

Rudi felt alive himself, and quickly got on all fours to have a stared down with his owner. The excitement was palpable, and remained so for the next few hours of the sparring.

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After all of their hard-core physical training, Yusuke and Rudi were scheduled for some meditation to collect their will. Rudi hated staying still for so long, but he was good at it. In fact he devoutly upheld Yusukes commands, it was the act of freeing his mind that the canine struggled with. All the same him and Yusuke spent the next five and a half hours in deep meditation. The goal was to refine their mind and grow intuitively.

Sitting cross legged in the dirt they both remained still with all eyes closed. Yusuke's gi was dirty now, but he was wearing it for the sake of unity in meditation. The symbol for House Hauringu was sewn onto the top left lapel, and the dark orange cotton uniform flapped in the wind. Yusuke had his hair up, and he pulled it back with a loose knot in the back. His hands were rotating thru seals, and he was fully immersed in the Dream world his minds eye had opened up for him. 

In his minds eye Yusuke was sitting in the same position, but in front of a waterfall. Suddenly the water began pouring overtop of him and he felt a sudden strain. Careful not to break concentration, Yusuke stayed under the metaphysical waterfall and began rotating chakra in his body. As the chakra flowed, he could feel his strength grow and the water seemed to not fall so heavily. 

Yusuke sat meditating like this for a long time, meanwhile Rudi struggled in his own special way. In the minds eye of the canine, Rudi chased a rabbit. Careful not to bark he sneakily crept up on a little white bunny, then Rudi pointed. With one paw up, and his tail straight back, the dog pointed and stayed like this for a long time. 

The two were fully engaged in strengthening their mind after their body, but this wouldn't be all the two would train on this day. Yusuke wanted to expand his spiritual control too, something the taijutsu focused fighter didn't generally focus on. Yusuke was determined to practice ninjutsu, a new frontier for him beyond the typical Genin Arsenal. Hoping to develop the skills of an all round useful shinobi, the duo would hone new skills.

When the two Inuzukas finished their mental training they dove into their ninjutsu training. Yusuke had never discovered his primary element, so he held a small paper seal. Depending on the users chakra nature, the seal would react accordingly. If Yusuke had a suiton nature, the paper would get soggy. If he had a fiuton nature the paper would cut. If he had a raiton nature the paper would burn a perfect circle. If he had a doton nature the paper would collect dirt; and finally if he had a katon nature the paper would light fire from the ends. 

Yusuke knew clearly what to look for, and he sat with Rudi on a bench. Holding the paper tag in his hand Yusuke wondered what kind of element he resonated with. He tried not to over think it, but deep down Yusuke was pretty sure he would have a katon nature. Yusuke was a real fireball in any room, and he knew it himself. Never the less to begin his practice, Yusuke held the paper in both hands and began to radiate chakra into the tags seal. As his chakra poisoned the seal it lit up in fast Flames, before burning up into ashes in the wind. 

Yusuke was right and he let out a, "woop woop!" The genin was happy, and Rudi howled loudly for his owner. The dog said, "You did it Yu! The both of them were happy to see it, and Yusuke had a surprise for Rudi. The ninja purchased two seals, one for each of them. 

Rudi was excited to discover his main Affinity for nature change in chakra, and sat patiently for Yusuke. The ninja put the paper tag on Rudi's head, then said to him "Okay. Channel your chakra- Wow! Rudi was quick to do it and the paper seal tag flimsily fell to a soggy mess on Rudi's head. Yusuke screamed out in congratulations for his dog, and they made quite a racket in the training grounds. 

For a half an hour the duo celebrated outside. It was night time by then, and the day had concluded nicely. Yusuke was eager to study new katon ninjutsu, and Rudi felt the same about suiton. As they both walked home, talking cheerfully, the Inuzuka pair had lovely dreams in their mind and heart. 

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Sticking straight to his schedule, Yusuke went home that night and studied the element of fire. For Yusuke to safely perform Katon, Fire Release, he felt like he should first familiarize himself to the nature his chakra is intrinsically linked to. Fortunately Yusuke lived on the Inuzuka compound of Hoshigakure, so he had quick access to a library before making it home. 

Sitting shirtless at his desk, Yusuke read from his book and took notes in a notepad. The study corner where his desk lay was lit by a candlestick. And he only had one light on in his condominium. Nevertheless Yusuke struggled to read The Mystery of Fire by Han Chao. Rudi sat in his bed, resting after the long day of training. 

The into to the book was as follows. 

Fire is the most mysterious of elements, and it's burning desire to be seen grants fire the potential only ever seen by the sun. This same potential can cascade down into you, and shape how you interact with the destructive element of fire. A wise man, me, once said: be not afraid of what burns you, be afraid of where it will burn you next.

Rudi found the text to be a little try hard, but he kept reading anyways. Eventually he finished the first chapter and moved onto the next. The second chapter was about the symbolism of fire, and even the scholar in Rudi was bored with what he read. Never the less he persisted.

Chapter three began to talk about chakra. "Fire forms through chakra in an encompassing light. Often the first sign of a fire nature user is sparkling lights, but upon honing their skill the fire nature user can harness grand heat and light. While channeling chakra for a fire release its best to use the three fold method. On the third rotation of chakra the fire will generally be honed at its greatest limit." 

Yusuke was familiar with the tri fold theory, and he made sure to try it the next day. On this day however he had just simply done too much and was ready for bed. Yusuke slipped his pants off and threw on some pajamas. Rudi was taking up the whole bed as usual, so Yusuke stole the blanket and woke him up. Like clockwork Rudi went to get a late night drink, and Yusuke positioned himself properly in bed. When Rudi got back his master was sound asleep, the candle burning at his desk still.

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Total WordCount: 2,456
Yusuke
+24 Speed

Technique Proficiency:
(Past Training=547)+953=1,500 (Skill) Eight Inner Gates
+1,503 (A Rank) Eight Inner Gates Jutsu

Approved