[Graded][PB] Mysterious Training

[Texas]

Within a very very short amount of time, Asuma found himself in a completely different location than he originally was at.  "What the...." he couldn't help but mutter after seeing the beautiful sight of a completely different land.  Today was the first time that Asuma had ever really left the Land of Wind.  For the most part, he was accustomed to desert and extremely hot weather.  He was in actual awe, and for a few seconds he had forgot completely that Zao was with him.  What was this land?  Where were they?  He had no idea and only had so many questions.  His brain filled up with confusion, which left him to stand there.  He looked like he was unable to comprehend what had happened.

It took a little bit to snap out of it.  Within the minute of him having his mind in a pretzel he wouldn't be able to hear anything outside of his own mind.  It was only a few minutes after Janesisu had to speak up to him and tell him: "Asuma honey, snap out of it" which caused him to shake his head and look for Zao.  If Zao was still near him he would look him dead in the eyes.  The man clearly was more than just a wondering figure.  He had spent his time learning and perfecting his capabilities to the point where he can do things out of the realm of normality (even to a ninja).  If Zao had spoken to him, he did not hear.  Instead he would just ask him a few questions.  Zao would notice that Asuma's normal joking or even over-dramatic behavior changed drastically.  Asuma was now very serious and his facial expressions showed.  "Sensei, I have a few questions before we go any further anywhere else.  First off: How did we get here?  How did you learn to do that?  Where exactly is here?  What are we going to do here?"  All of those questions bursted out of him like verbal diarrhea.  He couldn't get passed what just happened and needed some answers!

[Zao]

"Hmm..." The whited haired, scholarly looking man understood that the rapid change in environment and location would have a certain effect on the young chuunin next to him but it seemed like the kid was truly caught off guard to the point that even when the former jounin stepped up next to him and saw that their was a bit of a dazed look in the shinobi's eyes, like he was lost in thought. Raising his left eyebrow the man then took his hand and waved it in front of Asuma's face, "Hey kid, you okay in there?" Even the as he spoke to the young ninja their was a lack of a response, as if the kid had fallen into shock or something.

Taking a couple steps back the man folded his arms over one another upon his chest and simply admired the scattered flakes of snow that were casually falling around the two Suna-nin at the moment, after a short time passed it finally seemed that his young student had returned to his frame of mind. But there was a subtle change within the kid, though it was very slight it was like a wave of seriousness had washed over the ninja causing for him to be a slightly different person than before. It was enough that cause a slight smile to grow upon the man's thin lips.

"Questions? Go ahead." Being a type of scholarly person, Zao was the kind of person who was always asking question and then striving to discover the answers, even if it meant he needed to travel across different realms in search of those answers. He quietly listened to the four questions that were fired at him back to back and wasn't surprised by them as it was something he had been asked several times before by others whom he had worked with. "We jumped through space, this is the country of Knowledge actually. It was something taught to me by my old master and stuff that I've learned over the course of studying various types of ninjutsu in order to understand what space and time truly are. Like anything else in our world they are able to be manipulated by those who understand how to do so."

Zao paused for a moment, letting the first couple of answers to disseminate for the chuunin to understand the current situation at hand before he would then finish off his answers with this, "We are here to train, away from all the distractions and eyes of the village. I want to see just what you are able to accomplish without having to hold back, Asuma-kun."

[Texas]

'This power is incredible' he thought as he shook his head to bring himself back to reality.  He continued to look at Zao, but this time he was more relaxed and mentally at ease.  This power was something that shinobi's could only dream of.  Asuma was always someone who wanted to learn more.  He couldn't help but ask Zao a pretty predictable question. "Master Zao, do you think one day you could teach me this technique?" The question was genuine, but he knew that he already had a long road ahead of him and before he could truly even think about learning other techniques..... he would have to master the Genma inside him.

Asuma cut himself off after he realized he was getting far too ahead of himself. "Well, first I want to master the power within me.. then maybe we could have that conversation."  Asuma smiled at Zao and simply was prepared for the next step.  He was excited that Janesisu was going to aid him in mastery, but also had Zao to guide him in furthering his potential.  He looked around the beautiful landscape and quickly back at Zao.  Asuma was ready.  It was time.  Whatever was to happen next, Asuma would devote his life to becoming stronger.  With the renowned shinobi near him he decided that he couldn't waste any more time.  He would wait to hear if Zao had to say anything, but at the end of it all it was clear what Asuma would say.  "Welp Sensei, lets get started!!!"

[Zao]

'Little Asuma-kun...' The young scholar wasn't surprised by the sudden question from the junior shinobi, after all it was a rare form of Ninjutsu that only some had heard and even fewer had actually been able to see it in person. Even Zao himself had only met maybe a handful of other individuals in his travels to numerous places in the world and other worlds on top of that. Space-time was one of those arts that stood on the apex level of Ninjutsu and required more than just hard work to achieve like one can do with normal ninpou or elemental releases. It actually required for one to have the aptitude in order to be able to learn and comprehend its profound nature.

"Heh, yes." There was a gentle laugh as the man replied to his student, understanding that the boy had realized the situation and that he wasn't ready or even able to start learning such a level of ninjutsu, at least not yet. The man saw the gellow Suna nin begin to become excited again and even Zao felt a bit apprehensive as to what the shinobi would be able to accomplish in respect to the power that was now sealed within him "Let us begin..." A faint maroon glow appeared as the Tenku chakra was channeled through his body as he briefly passed. "...Janesisu, help our friend to better understand what your actual power is." In that moment he spoke to both the host and the genma, it was time to begin as the gently drifting snow flakes continued to fall down upon the two shinobi.

[Texas]

Janesisu was of course listening. She was extra fascinated with Zao's expertise in ninjutsu. She took note of his skills and simply prepared herself for where the conversation was going. Janesisu had an agenda of her own. However, she wanted Asuma to become more powerful before she could even think about making any kind of moves. She listened as the two talked. She heard the request from Zao and could feel the excitement and determination in Asuma. Janesisu didn't hesitate, she knew Asuma would try to access her power almost immediately. The second the words left Zao's lips "Let us begin..." she focused her energy and made it present enough for Asuma to access without struggling... too hard.

At the same time Asuma looked at Zao. "YES!" He then held the chakra holding sign in front of himself and closed his eyes. He did what he had always done. Right before he was about to fully focus he could hear Janesisu speak to him. "Do what you have done before." Those words echo'd in Asuma's head as he continued to focus on the power within. He focused his chakra deeper within him. He went through the same motions he did before. It took some effort, but nearly as much as it had been before. He found Janesisu's chakra and merged it with his own. Once the two chakra merged, Asuma's exterior body began to change. It only took 15-20 seconds before Zao would notice white chakra exude from his body. Once Zao would see the white chakra emerge, Asuma would open his eyes. Like last time his eyes were glowing white.

Asuma would change his physical position once he felt the power flowing within him. He folded his arms and had a little shit eating grin to his face. "Impressed Zao Sensei?" However quickly Asuma realized that he didn't know what to do next. He got a tad bit embarrased and quickly changed the topic once Zao would answer or not. "So.... what now?"

[Zao]

"I am impressed, my young student." The short, white haired scholar nodded his head even clapping his slender hands light in applause at the boy's new found connection with the Creation spirit. His blue eyes swept over the pure white aura of chakra that had envelped Asuma at the moment, while to the naked eye it only seemed a bit thicker than the previous one to a sensory type like Zao it was like a one eighty. It was so much denser then before despite the only slight change in its overall appearance to those looking at it right now. "Now.."

It would seem that even though his spirit had helped him to a limited extent, she had only did that much and nothing more it seemed. Though that was more so just the young man's theory as he wasn't currently using his Tenku to speak to with the genma but was observing how their chakra was interacting with one another. Currently the link between the two was very stable as it should be, now that the pair were actually working together with each other instead of her just allowing her host to do everything on his own. He silently pondered just how manipulating the genma would be to the inexperienced shinobi, he'd have to keep a close watch on her and attempt to discover just what if any malicious intentions it might have have.

"This power you have is the power over creation, meaning that you will have to open your mind to out of the box thinking. What you can create is only going to be limited by your imagination." The man smiled, truly intrigued by the near limitless possibilities that were available to the host of the Creation genma, but it would take experimentation to discover the limits of this power. Something he looked forward to seeing Asuma do as it was something he'd only read about before. "Concentrate on something you'd like to create, then link your thoughts to your gemna chakra. "

[Texas]

Asuma knew that he would be able to use great power. He didn't connect the dots that he was capable of creating anything he could put his mind to. In fact, he got so caught up in harnessing the power within, he had forgotten what he could do with that power. He looked at Zao and wondered a few things. He figured he would ask now than get fully entangled in something way over his head. "Zao Sensei... what are my limitations? I don't know what I am capable and not capable of creating at this point..." With that being said, Asuma would listen intently to what Zao would follow after his questions. It was important for Asuma to get it right, he wanted to not only impress his sensei... but he wanted to progress himself.

With a few seconds of thought, Asuma decided to pursue creating something he was familiar with. A Kunai! It was fairly simple as far as something that could be created. It was all metal and Asuma was so familiar with it; he could practically imagine it in his hands already. He focused on the chakra he had been able to utilize and then channeled the chakra throughout his body and to his hands. While doing that time almost stopped for a second. At the moment he blinked, he was looking at Zao, but when he reopened his eyes he was in a dark area with only Janesisu in sight. "You need to not only imagine what the item looks like, but remember what it is made out of, the size, and the overall utilization of it as a whole. When learning a new item to create, it is easier when you have had past experience with it. Keep connecting your imagination to the chakra and use that to mold the item. Once you learn the basics of this, your creation will only get stronger. You need to keep your sense of imagination, especially for the endgame of learning your full potential, honey." Asuma blinked again and was back exactly where he was as if nothing had happened. He wasn't even able to vocalize a response to Janesisu.

Asuma kept his focused and continued to mold the white chakra that he was able to harness. He used the words that Janesisu gave him and tried to practice this right in training. He focused his chakra around his hand. He used his knowledge and experience with a kunai to fully create the idea of what it would look and feel like in his hand. The white chakra started in his hand as a white ball. The chakra could been seen simply swirling around in his hand, trying to take a form of some kind. The chakra itself took a little bit, but slowly started to form into the shape of a kunai. Asuma's only problem now was how would it form into an actual kunai?

[Zao]

"Your limitations?" Zao would respond to the question with another question back to the young genma host, a gentle smile forming upon the man's thin lips as he reached through space through a small hole and retrieved a pair of fur cloaks as a slight shiver went up the man's body from the thin clothing they wore which was much more suited for the environment of their homeland. Wrapping one around himself as he pondered the question the white haired scholar would reply after a few moment, "I'm not sure what you limits will be at this point in time, only you will decide that for yourself. But start with something small, something simple that you are familiar with." It was probably an answer that the young chuunin wouldn't really understand at the moment but the former jounin didn't bother dumbing it down or simplifying it for Asuma and instead wanted the shinobi to ponder over his powers and start to feel things out on his own.

With a keen, sharp eye the man's bright blue gaze was focused on the young man as he seemed to blank out for a few seconds, it was something that'd the spiritualist had seen before with other hosts and even though the man didn't have any Tenku jutsu active at the moment he guessed that most likely the two were having a conversation with one another. In the moment in which the host conversed with the spirit within him a cloak made of thick, dark grey cloth and grey fur from what looked like a wolf was draped over the ninja's shoulder, most likely he wouldn't even notice the chance with how focused the kid was on succeeding with forming something familiar with his chakra. The short moment passed and Asuma seemed to reemerge from within his own consciousness as the distance stare disappeared now returning to the chuunin's normal gaze, it seemed that perhaps the spirit had helped him a bit with some type of advise.

But only time would be able to tell if anything would come of the information he'd been given in that brief period of time, even Zao couldn't help but shift his focus onto the chakra that was beginning to form into a ball of the spirit's chakra within the shinobi's hand, seeming to take the shape of the ever so familiar shinobi tool; the kunai. It was a slow process and honestly the spirit enthusiast didn't hold much hope for the new host being able to utilize the spirit's power. Yet, even a failure at this point was already progress from where Asuma had been earlier today. Something that would allow for the host to begin to understand and build up his ability with this new power and start the tedious process of mastering it...yet a tiny sliver of him truly hoped for the chuunin to be able to actually form the kunai on his first attempt.

[Texas]

Asuma continued to focus on the chakra in his hand. The white chakra continued to swirl until it started taking a shape. The amount of focus Asuma was doing was arguably too much. The white chakra itself started to become more wavy and less of a solid shape. Before he knew it, the white chakra popped almost like a balloon and the chakra itself dissipated. Asuma looked at his hand that once had that chakra flowing and then at his sensei Zao. He didn't understand what he had done wrong. Was he too focused? Was he not letting the chakra flow freely enough? Was he channeling it wrong? These were all questions Asuma generally had no clue on.

He looked at Zao with his eyes shining from still being in the form and looked at him. "I... I don't understand what just happened." His state of confusion caused him to clench his fist in frustration. He knew that he wouldn't be able to perform these jutsus easily, but he thought that with Janesisu's aid and his determination would at least help him form a simple kunai. Overall he was utterly confused. He kept eye contact with his sensei and asked him a simple question: "Sensei.... where did I go wrong? I felt like I was doing everything right.. Just like with normal jutsu, I focused on what I wanted to create and tried molding my chakra to utilize it...." In the back of Asuma's mind he was more than happy that he had a guide to aid him in the basics of mastering his genma. Although he came across as confident, he will always have a fear that Janesisu will consume him and he will be lost forever. He wanted to become the most powerful shinobi that Sunagakure had. In order to do that he had to work through this with his sensei Zao. What kind of advice/guidance will he provide? What could of Asuma done wrong?

[Zao]

There was a literal 'pop' as the technique went from almost solid back to a struggling source of chakra attempting to form into the shape of a kunai until it lost control and dissipated into the air before fading away as though it had never been there in the first place. Though the scholarly man didn't shake his head in disappointment or seem the least be let down by the actions of the chuunin before him. Instead a warm smile had drifted back onto the man's thin lips at this point as he brought his right hand up to stroke his chin as if in thought, for Asuma to fail on his first attempt was actually a good thing in the man's opinion as it would allow for him to see that controlling the spirit's chakra was a bit more difficult than his own and that hard work and dedication would be needed in order to make strives forward to controlling the grand power that was now his.

"Though I am not a spirit host myself, I believe that I can help you a bit with the problem." Zao began to answer the questions directed at him by the young man, pulling the cloak a bit tighter around him now with both hands as he continued to speak. "You molded the chakra and attempted to form it just how you had been taught to do ever since the academy, right?" He had started with a question back to the young chuunin before him, trying to get him in the thinking mind set now as he only paused briefly to give the shinobi a chance to respond before continuing on. "While you do need to understand how to control and mold the chakra, you must remember that it is still not your own chakra and the methods that work for you may not work as well, or in this case at all. This means that it is going to require some trial and error on your part to discover just how to control the spirit's chakra."

He nodded quietly after speaking and then seemed to gaze at the man, but the gaze felt as thought it was penetrating into the guy all the way down to his very soul, thoughts on the spirit within him. The spirit, when willing, was the best teacher on how to use their chakra obviously because it was their chakra in the end. "But...the one who can help you the most is your spirit, Asuma-kun. After all, it is her chakra and she would know best how to control and mold the chakra. Try asking her to give you a hand again..." Zao was wondering just how helpful this mischievous spirit would be as it was hard to get a read on just what the spirit truly wanted...

[Texas]

Asuma stood there dumbfounded as he listened to Zao speak about what had happened. He nodded as Zao spoke in both agreement and in understanding. Zao was right, Asuma was practicing the techniques he had learned from the Academy. He had to try a new way to perform this jutsu. With Zao's idea, he spoke out him to let him know what he was thinking. "You're right sensei... Let me try to communicated with Janesisu."

Upon those words Asuma placed his hands together and shut his eyes. Only a second later he opened them and looked at Zao with a weird look. For some reason Asuma could not go to the plain that he once visited earlier. Before Asuma could express his concerns he heard a voice within him and knew it was Janesisu. "Sweety, you are focusing about just imagining something and creating that image out of pure chakra. That is only half of creation style. For it to fully turn into that element and have the same characteristics as the original... you need to think about what it is made of, how it is made, and what the purpose of this item is for. If you mold and create this item in your mind without that you will just be creating an item with the same characteristics as a clone. Now hun, try again but really think about what this item is and how it really is created and what it is made of." Asuma kept looking up and placed his right hand on his stomach and put his left hand out.

It was important for Asuma to use the guidance both his sensei and his spirit had taught him. Asuma closed his time and tried this process over again. He started to focus the chakra around his hand. Since the chakra was part of the genma it began forming in a white hue. It first was mossy and see-through, but as a few seconds went on the chakra began to be a bold and bright white color. It took a few more seconds for the chakra to form in the shape of a kunai. Asuma made a point to focus on the creation of the kunai. He focused on what it was made out of; he used that focus to truly create the kunai of not only chakra but idealy make sure it forms in the way that it is supposed to be... a metal kunai.

With a few more seconds passing by, it took a total of a minute of focusing and forming the genma's chakra to create the kunai. At the end of the creation, the bright white color dimmed and started to simply form into the silver metal kunai. With a simple blink, the kunai looked as if Asuma took it out of his pouch. He looked at it then at Zao. He jumped up in the air multiple times in excitement. He threw his arms in the air and yelled "YES!" However, in his excitement he lost hold of the kunai and it flew in the air. Asuma didn't realize it for a second and watched as it was too late and already descending towards the ground near him.

[Zao]

Zao was constantly trying to instill within the boy that is was okay to ask question and it was part of being a host in that you needed to establish a streamline of communication with your spirit, after all you were using their power to accomplish your goal in the end. As he spoke about trying to communicate with Janesisu the white haired man only nodded his head and watched on in silence for the moment as the young chuunin's eyes closed this time. There was a tremble in the man's left forearm as the tip of a golden vine poked out from the thick cloak seeming to look around the area despite having actually eyes before 'looking' at Zao. "Haha, I know you don't like it hear. But we'll only be here for a bit longer so chill Toge."

As Asuma spoke with his spirit, back in the real word Zao was conversing with his spirit plant hybrid that was expressing to him its dislike of such a cold place, silently requesting for him to send him to the space-time user's personal realm. Though the young man ensured the plant spirit that they wouldn't be staying here to much longer and in fact the scholarly looking man actually already had a destination in mind for them to return do. He had received word about some strange sand spirits roaming around the west edge of the Wind country desert and after the boy learned a bit more control over his spirit's powers then he would take him there to test it out in a controlled combat based scenario.

Zao glanced back over to the boy who had an odd look on his face, his eyes having already opened now but the former jounin waited and didn't probe with any questions towards the chuunin and instead allowed for him to explain if he wished to do so. As the boy's hands moved to the two locations he continued to watch carefully now as it seemed that Asuma was about to attempt the kunai creation again, hopefully his spirit had been able to give him some tips or advise for this new attempt. "Hah, good job!" Even Zao was a bit excited, despite it being a plain kunai it was just the boy's first creation and successful use of the spirit's chakra for his own purposes. The kunai that flew into the air started to fall but as it descended almost to the ground it stopped midair, if one was able to look carefully in the falling snow a single chakra thread was now touching the kunai and seemed to be holding it up. As the index finger of the left hand moved the kunai floated over to the shinobi who had created it, "Congratulations. How confident do you feel that you can do that every time?"

[Texas]

Asuma was shocked to see the kunai stop in mid air. It took him a second to realize that there was a chakra string that went from the kunai to Zao's finger. Asuma took a step forward and gripped the kunai. Without a hesitation, he gripped the kunai in a way that made him ready to throw it. He quickly turned and threw it at a simple rock structure that was near them. With his proficiency in his aim, he hit the rock dead in the middle. The kunai of course couldn't go through stone, so it made a clinking noise and landed on the ground. Asuma's form dissipated and he looked at Zao with a smile. Asuma performed all of these actions after Zao asked him if he could do it again. He replied candidly and confidently, well at least to him. "Zao-Sensei all I need is a little bit of time to regain my strength, but I can do it again. I am excited that I know how to create things.... I can't wait to start creating jutsu for this! Maybe there will be a day when I don't even need to bring ninja tools or weapons with me." Asuma of course got fully ahead of himself.

He looked at Zao with the utmost confidence. However, Asuma was a thinker as well. He gave off that he was goofy and unassuming, however he was very attention to details. He knew that every question stemmed from a certain though, and he always tried to get into other's head and learn where that thought originated from. In this instance Asuma wanted to know the truth behind the question. Sure he was wondering if Asuma could do it again to see if he truly learned the jutsu, but there had to me more behind it. Asuma kept that in the back of his mind, but he knew that at some point they would teleport to a somewhere with Zao's jutsu and he wanted to make sure he was paying extra attention during this. Asuma awaited what Zao would say once he displayed his confidence.

After he was done speaking, time stopped for only a second. "My love, you did great. I want you to remember how you did that and use that towards every future jutsu. In the near future you will be able to create anything with only your imagination as your limit. Keep training and keep learning and some day you will become what you are striving to be... an incredibly famous ninja." Asuma thought it was a bit odd Janesisu said that to him. Especially considering is dream was to be the greatest ninja in suna.. not the most famous. However, he brushed it aside and stood there as if nothing happened. "Thank you Janesisu, WE will be the greatest". The emphasis on "we" threw Janesisu off a bit as well. There was a lot of room for surprises between the host and the genma.

[Zao]

"Good. You confidence is what makes me sure that I can bring you along to deal with a spirit problem on the western edge of the desert." Zao didn't hold back from the young man, from just the confident tone of Asuma's voice and the look within his eyes the man couldn't help but smile and nod approvingly of the genma host. This small bit of understanding which he'd received from his training and working together with the spirit within him would be the solid foundation that he needed to build himself as a shinobi upon. "Rest for a bit and enjoy the snow, after that we'll be heading off to take care of the sand spirits. I want you to practice using this newly acquired power in a combat situation." The white haired scholar paused for a moment as he glanced out across the snow covered mountainous landscape before them, something you couldn't find in wind unless you traveled to the northwest board and even then there were not mountains like this as these were much taller than anywhere else in the world.

Exhaling slowly he turned his bright blue eyes back onto the young chuunin with him, "That will be the true test of how well you've been able to comprehend the power that lies within you from your spirit." With his piece spoken to the fellow Suna shinobi the man felt a certain plant spirit wiggle again only instead of being in his normal spot around his left arm the little plant spirit was curled up around his chest simply looking for warm. 'Stay still little one, we'll be back in the desert shortly.' Shaking his head the man looked over to the chuunin again.

After a period of time passed that would allow for the gemna host to recover Zao once more tore open space to create a portal. When peering through it one could see shimmering deser sands and an individual dressed in normal Suna nin attire. The braclet on the man's right wrist glowed with a soft blue hue of chakra before he told Asuma to follow and the man stepped through the portal. The two young men would be warped to a place in the far north west desert of Wind country...