A Good Day for a Run

Menma slipped the syrup stained plate into the kitchen sink as he walked to the door, heading outside he took note of the mist being especially light today for Kirigakure. It was the weekend so naturally he wouldn’t have to attend the Academy today, so instead he decided to head to the training grounds having spied a nice location the other day.

After a short walk through the village and one short stop at the local sushi stand he loved so much, Menma arrived at the speck of flat land surrounded by water he had set out to carve a presence on. Standing in the center of the roughly circular island among the sea; Menma took note of the open space marking in his mind roughly 50 meters from the center in every direction. Of course this was plenty of room to really knock out some training and push himself to a higher level. ‘Endurance Training first!’ Menma thought to himself as he walked to the water’s edge and began a jog following the shoreline around this small training island, the jog was simple just one foot in front of the other nothing to it. His breathing had found a good rhythm to the impact of his feet to the ground, breath in on right and breath out on left.

Quite a bit of time passed as he made his hundredth lap around the island, his breathing had begun to pick up its intensity. With every exhale being more exasperated and taking its own toll on him, but he refused to give in and pushed harder digging deep into himself. With that he began to pick up the pace and increase his jog to a full blown sprint, he knew taking it easy never amounted to anything and limits were made to be broken. Upon making his fifteenth lap since increasing his speed, from the water’s edge a massive water viper leaps at Menma with its fangs bare to pierce his arm. However, luckily Menma was able to react quickly enough, jerking his arm from its path and having enough momentum to spin around and stop facing the snake. Now facing this viper as it curls itself lifting only its head, still managing to be tall enough to look into Menma’s eyes. His stance now having his left foot extended forward and rocking on his heel and leg fully extended, while the main weight on his right leg beneath him with a slight bend for foundational support. His left hand forward and fingers outreached and ready to parry a strike, while his other arm against his side and folded behind his back baring a fist. “Damn serpent” Menma remarked as his eyes focused on watching as the snake's body seemed to pulse as it returned a gaze and slightly moved from side to side.

“I didn’t expect a battle, but I won’t turn down a chance to test myself.” Menma spoke to himself as they held this gazing standoff, the noise must have signaled something within the snake as it darted towards him moving at an alarming rate with dinner on his mind. As the serpent slithered through the  grass; it’s body cutting a path to Menma, He began to try and read its movement and predict the point of attack the beast would choose. ‘The right!’ was his decision that rang in his head as he clasped his hands together, lacing his fingers and solidifying the seal of the serpent initiating a jutsu he had studied known as Sparks. He held the seal as small little sparks began to whip around the clasp, then it happened. The snake was close enough to launch its strike for Menma, in that instance he slammed his right palm forward releasing the jutsu and creating a cone of electric static which did little to no damage. However, this static cloud he had manifested granted him an opportunity as it caused the serpent's muscles to contract and essentially lock for a brief moment. Menma acted quickly ducking low and driving his left fist into the beast's jaw slamming its mouth closed, the sound of the bones crashing together and possibly chipping teeth. The impact cut the serpent a flip and sent him crashing back into the waters from which he had come from, the sight was welcome as he watched it slither across the water moving on in search of a different prey.

With a sigh, Menma plopped to the ground and took a moment to sit and regain his normal calm demeanor. He reflected on the skirmish and thought what else he could have done to make the fight more decisive before it even began. He remembered watching as a child his father used to draw his katana at lightning-like speeds, slicing some foes before they could even respond. Thinking on this he walked in search of a decent stick with the rough shape of a ninjato blade, luckily he found one and began to prepare a stance for himself to draw his ‘blade’. Back to back he began to draw the stick from his hip, each slash ending with his ‘blade’ pointing out before he would slide it back to a rest position at his hip. After a few more hours here practicing his techniques, Menma decided to call it a day and begin heading back to his apartment to rest and maybe even stop at the sushi shop for lunch.

(909 Words)

259 to Quickdraw (259/1,000) | 250 to Sparks | 400 to +4 Vigor