Episode 4: Lights out

[Legacy]

Takanobu leapt backward, tucking his legs and curling like a ball so as to complete the flip that served to help him dodge a thrown Kunai dagger. He never saw the blade go into the ground but hearing a hard thwack against an earthen surface was confirmation enough. As he reached the end of his airborne time limit Takanobu kicked his legs out and uncurled from the ball like position just in time to have both feet catch against the ground beneath him. Because of the momentum that he'd managed to generate before from a series of strafes and dashes, the energy released served to send the Genin sliding back a few inches before grinding to a stop. Before him, standing erect some couple meters away, was the Kunai launched by a makeshift contraption for training. If Takanobu had been hoping for some time to stop and rest, there would be none.

Shortly after his landing, another Kunai blitzed his position and forced or rather, compelled a hard reaction from the youth. By now Takanobu seemed to have become an exceptional user of Ochiba's Single finger draw and made short work of obtaining a ninja tool of his own; a Dagger, no larger than a ruler but no smaller than a Kitchen knife, had been removed from Takanobu's ninja pouch and equipped readily within his dominant hand. Meeting the oncoming dagger with force and skill, Takanobu slid his blade along the edge with enough push to alter the weapon's trajectory but still received a small cut wound across his right cheek. Dark crimson liquid oozed from the wound falling down the sides of the Genin's left cheek followed shortly after by an acute stinging sensation. "That was too close," said Takanobu as he bent at the knees raising his weapon.

His training had only just begun...

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If there were clouds blotting out the sky above, Takanobu couldn't see them. Darkness blanketed the region clinging to Camphor, Hinoki and Ginko trees: Welcomed props in a setting so unfamiliar yet distinctly homely. Somewhere off in the distance; a lone toad croaks, slapping its slimey feet across a rock decored with mushrooms. Hearing the sound and finding a strong pull from somewhere Inside himself, a smile tugs the Senju's lips.

Zzzt! Kuh-kuh-kuh-kuh-kuh. As if it were a whip, cracking in air, the sudden snap, tug and pull of an instrument for Takanobu's training sent him into fight mode. Hearing the distinct noise of Knives hissing toward him in air, Takanobu set his feet at shoulder width and bent each knee. Now, he was ready.

The first dagger struck hard at his held Kunai, bouncing off with a loud clang before falling toward the ground. Dipping low, Takanobu used his free hand to grab at the dagger: buzzing over head, a knife glides by just as his hands grip the handle. With his non dominant hand now armed, Takanobu strikes at an incoming Dagger with enough force to jolt it. Not enough force to stop it. A second swipe made by his dominant hand as the dagger homes in on his right eye sends the knife away and into a nearby Ginko tree.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

As the last two daggers speed toward him Takanobu can feel his blood beginning to boil. A heat rises from toe to head and suddenly, the Leaf Genin realizes that he is beginning to enjoy himself. No longer plagued by a fear of being cut because he now knew what it meant to be sliced - if not surface wounded due to the cut on his cheek, Takanobu could feel his confidence in performing what he thought of as Dance detour [\I] growing steadily. "I'm beginning to get the hang of this...yeah, I can finally slip into a rhythm now."



As the remaining two Kunai were launched in Takanobu's direction he could feel himself reacting not out of anticipation but instead, from a well developed thought. No longer did he feel as though he were scrambling to beat back steal with iron. Now, he believed himself to be taking on a kind of dance; figuratively, at least. In spite if the darkness he could hear well enough to catch the sound of Knives whistling and it were perhaps the only reason that his detour were able to be performed smoothly in the night.

Ka-shhhhhrk! Steel met steel with force and despite tired arms, muscles worn from repetition, Takanobu managed to beat back the last two daggers in a deftly display if discipline and we'll practiced maneuvers. This time, Takanobu thought, these tools littered across the ground like snow were only for practice. He dreaded the thought but came to a quick realization that he were not pushing himself for no reason. Always the peace maker, he often sought peaceful solutions to problems but what if that were not an option?

A chill came over him, consuming his body like a thick glacier broken into fragments. He'd never killed before. Hoped and believed that he'd never have to. But there was always a risk in duty; Especially within and around the Senju clan: He'd already heard stories about family's within the clan who'd lost loved ones to what should have been easy missions.

For the first time since graduation from Konoha's ninja academy, Takanobu felt a burning desire to become strong. Stronger than the Hokage, even. He wanted to protect his family, clan, loved ones and village. But first...

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Somewhere in the village, Takanobu's name is called to a stadium arena in order to begin village Chunin exams. He is not there to answer...


See ya Next time; [\I]