"Dead Bone Pulse" [Training]

Everything had changed. Ever since Kankuro Chomaru had left the Mizukage’s office with his new ability he felt strange. The feeling was hard to explain, but he could tell that something inside him had changed. Mizukage Psychosis had given the Shikotsumyaku bloodline ability as a reward for finding Orochimaru’s old notes in a secret laboratory in the Valley of the End. Just because he had the ability now didn’t mean that he was able to fully control it right away. That was actually the reason Kankuro was out in his training spot. He was going to master his Shikotsumyaku abilities.

The boy’s green orbs looked over his hands, thinking to him about how much his body had changed. Letting out a soft sigh, his eyes came to a close. All he could hear was the sound of the ocean crashing down at the bottom cliff he stood upon. At the bottom was a graveyard of spiked rocks, reeking of death. One false move and Kankuro could be sent sailing off the ledge and into the rocks. Lucky for him, he’d grown used to the damp rocky terrain. He could tell where he was even with his eyes closed.

Tilting his head to the right, a cracking sound rang out from his neck. The memories of everything he’d ever been taught or learned about Shikotsumyaku ran through his mind. His body had become indestructible now as well. Because he was one who tended to use Taijutsu over anything else, this gift couldn’t have been more valuable to him. One he had full control, his body would literally become the perfect weapon. The way to control the ability seemed simple enough, but would it work? Slowly opening his eyes to view his palms once again, his hands began shake softly. A small grunt of pain suddenly escaped from his lips as the sound of bones crunching together came from the tips of his fingers. The skin at the ends of his fingers began to putrid upwards before finally breaking open. Razor shape white colored bone fragments had grown out of his fingertips.

“Whoa…” he said to himself in amazement. The broken skin had already started
healing itself around the base of the new bone finger tips.

The urge to test his new power poured over him. Taking his attention off his own hands for the first time in what seemed like hours to him, he noticed a large boulder the size of a two story home in the village. A normal sword would never be able to cut through something of that magnitude, but according to what he’d read about Shikotsumyaku, his new bone weapons would be able to do what a metal sword couldn’t. Clenching his fingers slightly, he jolted from his spot. Wind blew through his long light red hair as he ran closer towards his target. Rearing both his hands back, he prepared his attack. Quickly slinging his hands forward, his fingers dug deep into the rock.

Being finger length inside the boulder, Kankuro formed a sly grin. He was already getting used to his new power. Clawing into the rock, his fingers began to crack the boulder’s surface. He was actually cutting through the boulder’s hard inside. After a few moments, the side of the boulder broke into pieces. Large shards of the rock fell to the ground, shaking the ground Kankuro. The rocks nearly hit the boy, but he remains still, even when a piece the size of a wheelbarrow nearly crashed into the back of his neck. In his old body something of that nature would have hurt even someone like him, but with his new body he would always be able to have a prepared defense. With a sudden swipe of his right hand, each of his fingertips extends another foot, cutting the rock before it could touch him.

. . . .

Hours quickly flew by as if they were minutes. The setting sun’s light shown down upon a broken and cut up terrain. Pieces of large rock debris were scattered all around, deep cuts in the ground littered the ground, and holes were all around Kankuro’s clothes. Sweat streamed down the ninja’s face as he faced the same boulder he’d first started attacking. He was in a fighting pose with his knees bent and arms up to guard his face. His breathing was heavy and the look on his face told the story of the pain that ran through his body. Though he felt as if his body was going to fall over at any moment, he couldn’t end his training just yet. He’d already learned so much today, but as long as he could still stand he couldn’t consider the day’s training session complete. Either he was going to put everything he had into his goals of becoming stronger, or not even try.

With a loud battle cry that echoed though the training area, Kankuro charged towards the boulder once again. Each step he took felt as if it could be the last he was going to take, but somehow he managed to summon the strength to take another step. Again he felt his skin being sliced open as his bones began to form another weapon for him. This time the weapon grew from the boy’s left elbow. A medium sized blade of bone had formed. As he reached the large structure, he spun his body to the right. With his left arm bent, the blade sliced through the base of the boulder.

Freezing in his steps for a few seconds, Kankuro took the time to gather his breath. The boulder began to emit a loud crumbling sound. In one sudden drop, the entire top half of the rock slides downwards. It crashed hard beside the lower half, sending small amounts of dust flying through the air. The proud ninja remained still as a grin began to form. A soft laugh followed shortly after. It started out soft, but soon began to grow louder. Suddenly leaning back, the bone that grew from his elbow ascended back into the left arm. He’d been able to learn a lot about his power, but there was still a long way to go. He’d only just seen the tip of the ice berg. With his drive there would be no telling just what he could accomplish with some serious training. After all, in one day he’d been able to grow sharp objects from his body. What kind of attacks could he come up with after a few days of training?

Unexpectedly falling backwards, the boy stumbled a few feet back until finally taking a seat. He’d used up all his energy through his training. If he was going to make it home, he’d have to call it a day or risk not being able to walk. He could always pick up where he left off the next time.

. . . .

Kankuro would continue with his new training schedule. Each day he would come back to his training area in top of the cliff and could train his Shikotsumyaku skills. By the end of every day he could tell his that his power was growing. The training ground would become a broken mess every day and he felt as if he would die, but he continued on. By the time four days had come and gone Kankuro would want to test the limits results from training.

Standing 20 yards away from what seemed like a shooting range, Kankuro had his right arm extended. His thumb was pointed upwards while his index finger pointed towards the rock targets that stood upon a rock table. Closing his left eye, he aimed his finger up with the first target.

“Bang…”

A small bone fragment shot out from the tip of Kankuro’s right index finger. The fragment whirled through the air and crashed into the rock target, shattering it. Three more fragments soon followed, smashing the final targets. The fragments were actually Kankuro’s finger tips. Nearly as soon as they were shot from his finger, they regenerated. It was clear from this little warm up that he’d already come a long way in just a short amount of time. His projectile attack was spot on, but what about the rest of his skills?

Admiring his shooting for a moment, Kankuro wondered about something else. His long range attacks effective, but what about if his opponents somehow managed to make it past his first line of defense? Of course he could use his already intense strength to fend of attackers, but what would be the point of the ability if he didn’t find a way to use it effectively with his other skills? The previous few days had been not only focusing on developing attacks, but on perfecting them as well. After all, if his attacks weren’t perfect in training, then they wouldn’t be perfect in actual combat. A sudden thought appeared in his mind about just how to test this form of his power.

Taking a few swift steps towards the broken targets he’d just shot moments ago, he leans down and pick up half of the first target. Clenching it in his hand, his hand quickly shot up, releasing the rock into the air. Following after the rock into the air, Kankuro swung his left arm upwards. His bones had already grown out from his fingers tips into small sharp blades by the time he’d reached the target through the air. His feet hit the ground just as the sliced pieces of the target fell to the ground.

One target seemed easy enough, even if it were only half a foot in length. It had become apparently that he’d managed to increase the speed in which he grew and regenerated his bone structure at one time. Would he be fast enough to take out three targets though? There was no time to sit around and wonder. Kneeling down again, fingers wrap around the other three targets. The holes from the bone fragment bullets were in the center, or near center on one of the targets. He admired his shooting skills for a second before sending them flying into the air as well. Just as he’d previously done before, Kankuro jumped a few feet into the air to chase after the small rock targets. His eyes focus on the target that was already in front of him. A bladed bone shot from the ninja’s wrist, shattering the flat target with its sharpened point.

Looking over his right shoulder, he saw the second target as he reached the peak of its flight. Reaching his left arm around his torso, his palm faced the target from the right side of his rib cage. Like a bullet, another sharpened sword like bone sprang from Kankuro’s left wrist. The bone shattered the second target. As both of his wrist blades return to his body, he turned in midair. The third and final target was about to hit the ground. With a determined look on his face, Kankuro took aim. His right index finger aimed at the rock fragment and fired. Another small bone fragment erupted and smashed the target moments before it hit the ground.
Kankuro lands on the ground, looking towards the edge of the cliff. So far his self-instituted tests were all a success, but there was still one more he had in mind.

This final test was going to test his control under pressure. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he takes off towards the ledge. Leaping off the edge, he began to fall through the air. Coming closer and closer towards the watery grave below, the young mist ninja, steadied his nerves. Falling hallway down the cliff, Kankuro finally extended his arms forward. Running his palms and feet against the hard rock wall of the cliff, his bones began to grow. Digging deep into the cliff wall, the bone growing from his finger tips and toes carved into the rock, stopping him from falling. It would seem that even climbing along the side of walls was possible now. His ascent back up to the training ground was short. He climbed as if he’d been used to it for years.

For days he’d done nothing by training and now the fruits of his labor were finally showing. Rocks and imaginary opponents were one thing, but he wanted a real test. It was time to try out his new power against the enemies of the Mist.

{TRAINING=COMPLETED}

2117 words total / 200
10 stats, 10 jp

Shikotsumyaku trained/mastered