Troubled Waters
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:47 am
“Oh?”
Katashi was surprised to see the elder Hyuuga already at the pond. Honestly, he was expecting to have arrived before he did, but this worked out just fine for him too.
“Something on your mind today kid?” The man asked him as he tossed a stone unto the pond’s water.
“Yes,” The young Genin replied, “It’s about the training the other day, about the chakra control.”
“Go on,” The man replied as he listened.
“I was wondering if you could help me again. I could use a little more work and the training last time was very helpful.”
“Oh? I’m glad to hear it. So you want me to teach you some more chakra control, is that it?”
“Yes,” Katashi replied with a nod as he stood at attention.
“This one will be harder than the last one, you understand that don’t you?” He told the boy, though it sounded more like a warning. Despite that, the boy nodded. With a sigh, the man waved at the boy to follow him as he lead him across the bridge and down, next to the water.
“No tree this time?” Katashi asked, wondering why they had stopped where they did.
“I told you, harder,” The man replied as he faced the pond. “Your going to walk across this pond here… that’s just the first step.”
“Let me guess,” Katashi asked with a sarcastic tone, “You want me to stand in the middle for the second half?”
“Something like that,” He answered with a grin, “You need to get to the middle first before you stand there. Now then, go ahead and give it a try if you think it’s a cake walk.”
Katashi nodded and stepped forward. Before he could set foot forward though, the man gave him another warning.
“Your going to get a little wet,” He said, followed by a chuckle. This was met by a glare that Katashi sent his way as he then turned back around and stepped forward. Half his foot went in the water, but he managed to take a second step. This one however, the water was up at his ankles. With his next step, the water got higher and before he could take his fifth step, he turned back to land.
“I…” He begun, somewhat reluctant and ashamed, “I’m not sure what to do.”
“Ha!” The man laughed out as he walked over. “I told you it wasn’t going to be as simple. Don’t worry though, you’ll learn this as you did the other one, now pay attention.” Katashi nodded and remained silent, waiting to hear what he had to say.
“When you did the tree climbing, you needed to produce the right amount of chakra. Too much would break the tree and force you in the opposite direction. Too light and you’d fall off. That same principle applies here, but there is a big difference.”
“And that is?” Katashi asked, showing interest in what was being said.
“You need to produce and sustain the proper amount of chakra.”
“Hm?” The young boy didn’t quite follow with what was being said.
“The tree was a solid surface, but water isn’t. It is changing and so you must change your flow of chakra to go with it. The easiest way to remember is to go with the flow.”
“So I need to flow my chakra with the water?” He asked, still not completely sure he understood.
“Something like that,” The man replied, “You need to keep adjusting to the water’s ever changing nature. You’ll find that some instances, you’ll need more chakra than others, and vice versa. Being able to keep up with that constant flow will enable you to remain atop the water. I want you to walk over to the other side now, using the knowledge you just gained and putting it into practice.”
“I’ll give it a shot,” Katashi replied as he stood ready. He looked down at the water before taking a step as he thought about what the elder Hyuuga just told him. Go with the flow, the ever changing flow of water. He focused his mind and took a step forward, landing it perfectly well atop the water. A small smirk came on his face as he took another step, this one executed perfectly as well. His third step made his foot sink in about an inch, at which point the man shook his head.
“Don’t get too excited and keep focusing,” He shouted at the boy. It was true. After the first two steps, Katashi thought he was home free and didn’t notice that already he was sinking. Heeding the man’s voice, he refocused on the job and picked his foot up from the water and placed it on top. He continued slowly. On occasion, his foot would sink into the water. At such points, he would stop to gather himself and focus. By the time he knew it, he was standing in the middle of the pond. He looked back at the man with a smile, proud to have made it. The man however, didn’t share the same enthusiasm.
“All the way kid, your only half way there,” He said as he kept a stern look on his face. Katashi nodded as he turned around. He was only half way and could feel that the second half was going to be hard. He felt his control waning and his footing poor. He slipped up a few more times than before and on one occasion found his foot in the water a bit further up from his ankle. Trying his best, he struggled at the end and managed to make it to land by having both of his feet an inch in the water. When he reached land, he got down on all fours and looked as if he were exhausted. There, was the elder man waiting for him.
“How did you…” Katashi begun.
“I walked,” The man replied, “Across the pond. It’s a simple thing once you learn.”
Katashi shook his head as he turned over and sat down.
“’Hyuuga’s have great chakra control, but I feel that mine is lacking’,” The man said, quoting the boy from the last time they spoke. “Something like that was what you told me. You were so anxious, so much that when you asked me to teach you, I couldn’t turn you down. You actually learned the tree climbing exercise, but looking at you now,” He said as he looked down at the boy. Katashi in return looked back up at him, looking exhausted. “I’d say your about ready to quit. Am I right?”
Silence lingered between the two as Katashi looked away. He wasn’t sure what to do. He had never thought about chakra control training because he felt he was already good at it. However, throughout the course of several missions and other events, he learned that he wasn’t as adept at control as he should have been. He sought help, and got it, but now that the second exercise wasn’t going as smoothly, he wasn’t sure anymore.
“The water isn’t always still,” The man spoke up to break the silence. “Sometimes, a strong gust of wind blows and moves the waters violently. Waves crash about and the water becomes unstable. Other times, the water is cold and other times still it is boiling hot. It is ever changing by that which is around it. Humans too can be like this, changing to fit into the situation around them. I don’t know what your thinking now kid, but I’d like to offer you to just go with it. I don’t mean what is in your head, what is in your heart. What you truly want to do, go with it and let nothing stop you.”
Katashi looked out to the pond as he listened to the man speak. He put into perspective what he said and begun to think about what he truly wanted to do. Become a better ninja, was the first thing that came to mind. What was needed for that? Lots of training and hard work. The answer was right in front of him. Feeling somewhat renewed, he stood up and looked at the man.
“Ok, I’m done with my break. Tell me what you want me to do next,” He spoke with vigor and showed much enthusiasm, standing upright and ready.
“That’s the spirit!” The man exclaimed with a grin on his face. “Your going to walk back to the other side now.”
“Alright!” Katashi said as he walked to the edge of the pond. The elder Hyuuga took a spot next to him as the young boy looked back at him in wonder.
“Are you determined now to reach the other side, to not let anything stop you?” He asked the genin.
“Yes, I’ll make it,” The boy replied.
“Good. I’m going to channel my chakra into the water to disrupt it. This will cause the water to become more unstable, requiring you to put more effort. If you are as determined as you say, I have no doubt you will make it. Since this challenge is tougher, I won’t expect you to make it completely dry,” The last part he said followed by a mocking laugh. Katashi looked back at him seriously.
“Ha, ha,” He said sarcastically with a straight face. “Fine, go ahead and do it. I’ll make it to the other side, even if I’m drenched.”
“After you then,” The man replied. With that said, Katashi placed his foot forward and stepped on top of the water. He took a few more steps, all them well executed. Then, the elder man stepped into the water and started his water disrupting process. By sending out a shockwave of chakra through the water, the water became violent with miniature waves. Small waves, about half a foot, but enough for the small challenge he wanted to start with. It threw Katashi off, if only for a moment. The young boy struggled to maintain his footing atop the water, but was able to hold his own. He was doing better now than before, perhaps the elder Hyuuga’s talk having served a greater purpose in him. He was half way through and the man smiled. He was proud of the boy, for despite having increased the ferocity of the water, the boy was able to stand his ground and continue. It was as he told him, let nothing get in the way.
Katashi was surprised to see the elder Hyuuga already at the pond. Honestly, he was expecting to have arrived before he did, but this worked out just fine for him too.
“Something on your mind today kid?” The man asked him as he tossed a stone unto the pond’s water.
“Yes,” The young Genin replied, “It’s about the training the other day, about the chakra control.”
“Go on,” The man replied as he listened.
“I was wondering if you could help me again. I could use a little more work and the training last time was very helpful.”
“Oh? I’m glad to hear it. So you want me to teach you some more chakra control, is that it?”
“Yes,” Katashi replied with a nod as he stood at attention.
“This one will be harder than the last one, you understand that don’t you?” He told the boy, though it sounded more like a warning. Despite that, the boy nodded. With a sigh, the man waved at the boy to follow him as he lead him across the bridge and down, next to the water.
“No tree this time?” Katashi asked, wondering why they had stopped where they did.
“I told you, harder,” The man replied as he faced the pond. “Your going to walk across this pond here… that’s just the first step.”
“Let me guess,” Katashi asked with a sarcastic tone, “You want me to stand in the middle for the second half?”
“Something like that,” He answered with a grin, “You need to get to the middle first before you stand there. Now then, go ahead and give it a try if you think it’s a cake walk.”
Katashi nodded and stepped forward. Before he could set foot forward though, the man gave him another warning.
“Your going to get a little wet,” He said, followed by a chuckle. This was met by a glare that Katashi sent his way as he then turned back around and stepped forward. Half his foot went in the water, but he managed to take a second step. This one however, the water was up at his ankles. With his next step, the water got higher and before he could take his fifth step, he turned back to land.
“I…” He begun, somewhat reluctant and ashamed, “I’m not sure what to do.”
“Ha!” The man laughed out as he walked over. “I told you it wasn’t going to be as simple. Don’t worry though, you’ll learn this as you did the other one, now pay attention.” Katashi nodded and remained silent, waiting to hear what he had to say.
“When you did the tree climbing, you needed to produce the right amount of chakra. Too much would break the tree and force you in the opposite direction. Too light and you’d fall off. That same principle applies here, but there is a big difference.”
“And that is?” Katashi asked, showing interest in what was being said.
“You need to produce and sustain the proper amount of chakra.”
“Hm?” The young boy didn’t quite follow with what was being said.
“The tree was a solid surface, but water isn’t. It is changing and so you must change your flow of chakra to go with it. The easiest way to remember is to go with the flow.”
“So I need to flow my chakra with the water?” He asked, still not completely sure he understood.
“Something like that,” The man replied, “You need to keep adjusting to the water’s ever changing nature. You’ll find that some instances, you’ll need more chakra than others, and vice versa. Being able to keep up with that constant flow will enable you to remain atop the water. I want you to walk over to the other side now, using the knowledge you just gained and putting it into practice.”
“I’ll give it a shot,” Katashi replied as he stood ready. He looked down at the water before taking a step as he thought about what the elder Hyuuga just told him. Go with the flow, the ever changing flow of water. He focused his mind and took a step forward, landing it perfectly well atop the water. A small smirk came on his face as he took another step, this one executed perfectly as well. His third step made his foot sink in about an inch, at which point the man shook his head.
“Don’t get too excited and keep focusing,” He shouted at the boy. It was true. After the first two steps, Katashi thought he was home free and didn’t notice that already he was sinking. Heeding the man’s voice, he refocused on the job and picked his foot up from the water and placed it on top. He continued slowly. On occasion, his foot would sink into the water. At such points, he would stop to gather himself and focus. By the time he knew it, he was standing in the middle of the pond. He looked back at the man with a smile, proud to have made it. The man however, didn’t share the same enthusiasm.
“All the way kid, your only half way there,” He said as he kept a stern look on his face. Katashi nodded as he turned around. He was only half way and could feel that the second half was going to be hard. He felt his control waning and his footing poor. He slipped up a few more times than before and on one occasion found his foot in the water a bit further up from his ankle. Trying his best, he struggled at the end and managed to make it to land by having both of his feet an inch in the water. When he reached land, he got down on all fours and looked as if he were exhausted. There, was the elder man waiting for him.
“How did you…” Katashi begun.
“I walked,” The man replied, “Across the pond. It’s a simple thing once you learn.”
Katashi shook his head as he turned over and sat down.
“’Hyuuga’s have great chakra control, but I feel that mine is lacking’,” The man said, quoting the boy from the last time they spoke. “Something like that was what you told me. You were so anxious, so much that when you asked me to teach you, I couldn’t turn you down. You actually learned the tree climbing exercise, but looking at you now,” He said as he looked down at the boy. Katashi in return looked back up at him, looking exhausted. “I’d say your about ready to quit. Am I right?”
Silence lingered between the two as Katashi looked away. He wasn’t sure what to do. He had never thought about chakra control training because he felt he was already good at it. However, throughout the course of several missions and other events, he learned that he wasn’t as adept at control as he should have been. He sought help, and got it, but now that the second exercise wasn’t going as smoothly, he wasn’t sure anymore.
“The water isn’t always still,” The man spoke up to break the silence. “Sometimes, a strong gust of wind blows and moves the waters violently. Waves crash about and the water becomes unstable. Other times, the water is cold and other times still it is boiling hot. It is ever changing by that which is around it. Humans too can be like this, changing to fit into the situation around them. I don’t know what your thinking now kid, but I’d like to offer you to just go with it. I don’t mean what is in your head, what is in your heart. What you truly want to do, go with it and let nothing stop you.”
Katashi looked out to the pond as he listened to the man speak. He put into perspective what he said and begun to think about what he truly wanted to do. Become a better ninja, was the first thing that came to mind. What was needed for that? Lots of training and hard work. The answer was right in front of him. Feeling somewhat renewed, he stood up and looked at the man.
“Ok, I’m done with my break. Tell me what you want me to do next,” He spoke with vigor and showed much enthusiasm, standing upright and ready.
“That’s the spirit!” The man exclaimed with a grin on his face. “Your going to walk back to the other side now.”
“Alright!” Katashi said as he walked to the edge of the pond. The elder Hyuuga took a spot next to him as the young boy looked back at him in wonder.
“Are you determined now to reach the other side, to not let anything stop you?” He asked the genin.
“Yes, I’ll make it,” The boy replied.
“Good. I’m going to channel my chakra into the water to disrupt it. This will cause the water to become more unstable, requiring you to put more effort. If you are as determined as you say, I have no doubt you will make it. Since this challenge is tougher, I won’t expect you to make it completely dry,” The last part he said followed by a mocking laugh. Katashi looked back at him seriously.
“Ha, ha,” He said sarcastically with a straight face. “Fine, go ahead and do it. I’ll make it to the other side, even if I’m drenched.”
“After you then,” The man replied. With that said, Katashi placed his foot forward and stepped on top of the water. He took a few more steps, all them well executed. Then, the elder man stepped into the water and started his water disrupting process. By sending out a shockwave of chakra through the water, the water became violent with miniature waves. Small waves, about half a foot, but enough for the small challenge he wanted to start with. It threw Katashi off, if only for a moment. The young boy struggled to maintain his footing atop the water, but was able to hold his own. He was doing better now than before, perhaps the elder Hyuuga’s talk having served a greater purpose in him. He was half way through and the man smiled. He was proud of the boy, for despite having increased the ferocity of the water, the boy was able to stand his ground and continue. It was as he told him, let nothing get in the way.