Takanobu could still hear the words of a stranger he'd happened across from less than a productive training session at one of Konoha's open training fields earlier that day. Just thinking about how the stranger spoke to him brought Takanobu's Senju blood to a heated boil; no one, he vowed, would disrespect him in such a manner ever again. Takanobu realized long after he'd left the training grounds that this stranger, whoever they were had taunted him so severely that he'd been overcome with a strong urge to exact some kind of justice. Although it may have gone against everything that his Father, Mother, and other Senju clan elders had instilled within him Takanobu couldn't deny that he would have felt good slamming his fist into the intruder's face. That said, he was glad now that he hadn't.
Those of the Senju clan were held to a much higher standard than most other clans in Konoha due to their history and while times had certainly been different now, Takanobu didn't want to think about what kind of a shame he'd have brought upon his family if he'd struck the boy in anger. Doing so would have been a direct contradiction to the rites he'd learned even before attending Konoha's ninja academy and a great shame should it be discovered by the clan that he'd fought and lost to an outlier. Worse still; was that the encounter itself would probably go on to be spread about like wildfire amongst gossiping circles and had things escalated further, it wasn't far fetched for one to question if whether or not the founding Shinobi family had perhaps begun to lose some of its hold on its members. No, Takanobu would have no such stain on his or his clan's honor.
Takanobu was just about to pull down his mask when a knock at the door stopped him dead in his tracks. "Who is it?" Sounding tenser than he intended, Takanobu waited for a reply. He hadn't bothered reaching for the Dengen that had been resting peacefully near his bedside because there was no one who would want to do him harm within the Senju compound - more than he could say for the general population within Konoha. "Katsurama," sounded a deep and familiar baritone from the other side. Takanobu eyed his Dengen once more as if pondering some complex thought but soon abandoned whatever it was before saying "Come in, the door is open."
Katsurama obliged. He stepped through the door and revealed a frame that practically rivaled the entrance itself. Clad in blue armor-plated traditional armor that looked as though it'd been cleaned earlier in the day, Katsurama embodied the essence of everything the Senju stood for. His presence screamed noble and his posture all but commanded respect; cobalt blue hues met with Takanobu's hazel brown eyes and for only the briefest of instances, the youth's gaze shifted. Katsurama must've caught this because his eyes seemed to soften as a small smile formed upon his face. "You've grown taller since the last time I was here but that nervousness hasn't been beaten out of you yet - we'll be working on that today," said Katsurama folding both arms over one another.
And sure enough, the duo would soon find themselves standing dead center of a circular ring elevated three meters high off of the ground. There were red lines around the entirety of the ring denoting where the boundaries were but Takanobu had always been fascinated by the Hiragana written in the center of the ring; a short string of letters that were meant to read as "Spirit of Fire" one of the few things that Takanobu had learned, played an integral part of some important preceding that he'd been much too young to understand. As the arena was comfortably within the Senju compound along its Westernmost section, Takanobu took a certain measure of comfort knowing that this time, his training would suffer no interruptions. On the other hand, with Katsurama as his instructor for the evening; this was a session in spirit and discipline that had been destined to be painful & above all else, rigorous. It was one of the things that many Senju to include Takanobu, loved and hated about sparring with Katsurama.
"Are you ready, Takanobu? I'm going to come at you with the spirit of an attacker - defend yourself!" Katsurama did not wait for a response before darting forward, charging Takanobu with such speed that the youth had hardly seen him at all; managing to block the first blow only because his mentor struck deliberately where the youth's guard was raised. To Takanobu's surprise, the wooden Bokken used by Katsurama did not splinter upon crashing into his solid steel Dengen but instead rang with a resolute crack that sent Takanobu backward lifting him several inches off the ground causing him to stumble back awkwardly. Takanobu winced as he righted himself; the blow had not done any real damage but Katsurama's strike was heavy and rattled the youth from his hands down to his toes. "S-so heavy.." Again, Katsurama charged. This time, however, he leaped into the air making sure to hover just long enough to give Takanobu time to spot him.
Quickly, Takanobu rolled forward and turned his body so that he again faced Katsurama as the man landed where he stood only a few seconds before. If Takanobu expected to gain a moment's rest to collect himself he'd been sorely mistaken as from seemingly out of nowhere the weight of a heavy blow caught his left arm and sent him rocketing rightward, through the air and to the edge of the ring where he'd fallen hard just barely avoiding the nine-foot fall below. Takanobu's vision went black for all of four seconds and when it finally did correct itself he realized that what had struck him was not Katsurama...but a clone? "When?" He asked, confused as he picked himself up off the ground. "When I made that great leap to strike at you from above. Katsurama or rather the bunshin he'd created, spoke in response before decomposing into an Earthen solid mass.
Grunting, Takanobu steadied himself and despite the pain in his left arm he managed to smile. He smiled to hide the fact that the hit had actually shaken him quite a bit mentally, not expecting to be clocked so hard and sent flying Takanobu realized for the first time that he truly needed to double down on his training. His body shook visibly and though Katsurama mentioned nothing of it at that time, he realized that perhaps dialing it back or finding a more...suitable mentor for Takanobu's current state would have been better for the youth. "I'll just have to be more careful," proclaimed Takanobu who to Katsurama's surprised, seemed willing and eager to continue training prompting a similar expression from him. Katsurama couldn't help but think that Someday, this child may become the Shinobi this world needs.
Even after taking such a heavy blow Takanobu's fighting spirit, his will was still intact. As if to be positively affected by the exchange, his hazel eyes were aglow with vigor and determination almost bearing a similar resemblance to the burning sun above. Once the stinging in his arm had reduced to a dull ache, Takanobu stepped forward and away from the ring's edge. With his right hand, he'd create the sign of Shinobi Kumite; a raised index and middle finger skyward with the remaining fingers folded in toward his palm, just like he'd been shown before graduating. Intent on putting his willpower to the test, Takanobu stood before Katsurama intent on surpassing his own limitations both for himself and for his clan.
This time, when Katsurama charged forward Takanobu was ready to receive him. His guard raised, feet distanced, it would appear as though Takanobu had somehow found a wellspring of courage and held no reservations about drawing from the power within. Katsurama's right hand snapped forward and rather than catching the skin of Takanobu's jaw, he instead collided with the youth's arm - stinging, but not quite hurting him at all. Again, he tried, and like before, he found only Takanobu's guard. Suddenly, he started to realize that landing a clean strike on Takanobu would not be simple. Katsurama jabbed twice into Takanobu's guard, hooked with his opposite hand, and then swept low quickly.
To his credit, Takanobu was able to guard against the first two jabs thrown by Katsurama but in doing so he'd made a rookie mistake and blocked his own vision, preventing him from seeing Katsurama as he swept for his legs. Instantly, the Genin went down and while the thought to roll like a barrel had been on his mind; for some reason, Takanobu just couldn't react fast enough. Managing to bring his arms in toward his body just before a hard kick crashed against him, Takanobu slid toward the arena's edge. Coughing, winded, and in a great deal of pain. "Rise Takanobu! On your feet, the pain you feel now should serve as your motivator! To protect those in need, the poor, defenseless, elderly; let that be your power and stand!"
Just a dull ache... Just a dull ache... Just a dull ache. Takanobu repeated the words in his mind, fighting to force the pain he felt into a tiny corner where it could then be placed within a box and ignored. For the moment, at least. Katsurama's proclamation did him no favors but hearing a reality spoke so urgently served to keep Takanobu grounded. He needed to focus! Rolling over onto his hands and knees, Takanobu pushed himself up to one knee and then with a strained effort, to a full stand. Just a dull ache... Katsurama, who'd been watching intently up until now, smiled once again. Takanobu may not have been the prodigal Senju child that the Shodai Hokage had been nor was he the most physically dominant for his age, but he had the spirit of will and a more than kind heart. That quality about himself would certainly benefit the village and perhaps one day, honor all Senju before him.
*Huff...huff...huff*
If Takanobu held any reservations about the skill of Katsurama those thoughts were quickly wiped away. Sticking to defense thus far had managed to keep him from taking many serious blows but Takanobu realized all too well that without creating an opening for himself, he'd be used as a punching bag. How then could he overcome someone with more experience and far greater physical ability? Trying to exchange blow for blow would only lead to disaster, he needed to find a way to break Katsurama's momentum but that task was easier said than done. Gathering what may have been the last of his natural strength Takanobu prepared himself for his first offensive of the entire sparring session. His body ached all over now and shutting out the pain was beginning to become an arduous task and yet...
Reaching for the twin pouches on either side of his vest, Takanobu removed a couple of shurikens and two Kunai knives each before placing one of the Kunai in his mouth using his teeth to firmly grip the wrapped handle. Meanwhile, both shurikens were swapped over to his left hand leaving the lone Kunai knife gripped in his right. The moment he saw Katsurama tense (probably on purpose considering the man's skill level) he rushed forward quickly losing one of the Shuriken toward Katsurama which the man blocked by retrieving a dagger of his own, causing the steel to ricochet before Takanobu launched a second Shuriken, this one aimed for Katsurama's lower abdomen. Katsurama sidestepped the shuriken but did well to keep his eyes on an advancing Takanobu.
What's he planning? Watching, Katsurama studied the younger Senju as he loosed his first Kunai knife with precision, and just as Katsurama went to deflect it, the boy bound for the skies. Katsurama was no fool, however. Even with Takanobu's relatively slow speed compared to himself, he hadn't taken his eyes off the youth for a moment and when he realized that the boy had been doing something strange with his free hand, he questioned the significance because, in his time, no Shinobi had ever performed single-handed seals. As far as he'd been concerned, the act was simply another way of playing tricks with his mind. That is until his left foot sank deep into the arena floor causing katsurama to look down only to realize that a pothole had manifested seemingly out of the blue. Grunting, he struggled to free himself and by the time he'd looked back up to where Takanobu had been, he found the cold glinting steel of a Kunai racing toward him.
"What the?!" Swaying just in the knick of time, Katsurama managed to dodge out of the way allowing for the Kunai to fly past his left side but the width of the blade still managed to slice a thin, shallow line across his cheek where only the slightest trickle of blood ran down; Takanobu had scored his first blow against Katsurama. With a thud, the dagger impaled itself into the arena floor and Takanobu landed but continued to advance. Caught off guard by the distraction, Katsurama could only raise his hands in defense as a fury of punches, kicks and elbows came his way; deflecting most of them while others were a near miss. It seemed as though he'd underestimated this Senju.
More importantly, Katsurama had noticed that with each strike either landed or missed, Takanobu's intensity seemed to increase. It was almost as if the intimidation that he'd felt before knowing of their power gap had been quickly waning, replaced instead by a burning desire to forge ahead as if to be a small fire growing in strength. Truly, he could say that this young Leaf's will to take on obstacles at this moment far exceeded his own expectations. If he were being honest, Katsurama had expected the boy to keel over and quit after the first impactful blow and when Takanobu hadn't, he'd gone through almost every length imaginable in order to try and test the youth's will and needless to say, this was a Senju born and bled truly of their ancestors. Takanobu was indeed a true Konoha Shinobi worthy of his rank; Genin.
Takanobu couldn't say with certainty how long he and his mentor had engaged in Kumite but when Katsurama had given the signal for them to take their first break his legs became freshly boiled noodles. Dropping to the ground, he laughed sheepishly realizing that it would be a long while before he could stand up again. Katsurama on the other hand, appeared as though he'd only gone for a light morning jog and if not for the shallow cut across his left cheek one wouldn't have been able to tell that he'd been fighting at all. "No surprises here," Takanobu spoke between breaths, "the difference in our strength is just too great an obstacle to be overcome so easily." Despite his youth, Takanobu was not one to be blindly optimistic and understood his limitations far better than some of the same age.
During the time spent resting, he'd slip into a state of reflection and play each moment of their battle back within his mind. Most notably, he recalled each moment where a tactic employed by Katsurama had thrown him off guard, forcing a state of confusion that took more time than he would have liked to admit to recover from. "If I am going to be ready for my first mission, I'll need to start thinking outside of what was taught at the Academy. If I don't...I'll be eaten alive," at the thought of not being ready Takanobu shuddered. "You won't find many humans trying to eat you alive. Though, if that actually did come to pass I'm sure they'd have a hard time digesting that rugged hair of yours." Katsurama chimed in, teasingly.
Among the Senju it was common knowledge that Takanobu stood as an outlier with his bronzed skin, wool like hair and unique skeletal structure but there could be no denying his heritage as both his parents were indeed of Senju descent. This had sprouted many rumors over the years that he either had been blessed with good fortune or that he'd been cursed; neither sentiment particularly bothered him and for the most part, didn't interfere with his daily life as a child growing up save for two incidents where he'd been forced to defend himself from a would be bully. Ever since then, however, few if any spoke about him like he were any different from others within the clan and more of his bloodline embraced him due to his budding personality and forward thinking than anything. Of course, there were still concerns from those not within the Senju; such as the stranger met at one of Konoha's public areas all but insisting on a confrontation, that encounter hadn't sat well with Takanobu. At least now though, he believed himself capable enough in mind to truly follow through with what needed to be done even if his physical skills weren't quite up to par.
No, he wouldn't be intimidated. After facing against Katsurama who was without question one of the more powerful member of the Senju clan, Takanobu couldn't fathom being afraid to take on someone else. Provided of course, that his reasonings for doing so remained noble and the integrity of his spirit had aligned with the purpose. Suffice it to say that by the end of his meditative learning session in conjunction with an intense lesson on battle outside of the classroom, Takanobu was a Genin who could handle most obstacles that may have frightened ordinary children and some men."You can rest assured on that note, I don't plan on being eaten by anyone any time soon." Takanobu's response was filled with confidence and Katsurama firmly acknowledged the sentiment. It seemed as though the boy was finally starting to come into his own and soon enough, he would be a man worthy of respect and honor among the citizens of Konoha.
What Takanobu had not yet realized was that Katsurama wanted to prepare him for a day when he would be forced to make tough decisions in order to solve problems. Violence was not the way of the Senju and the training sessions taking place today were not to incite feelings of aggressiveness or brutish behavior but to instill within him a discipline necessary to stand as a guardian and protector of those who were not able to protect themselves. Moreover, he wanted Takanobu to be able to keep the things that he'd come to love in his journey, sacred. There were men and women out in this world who would one day target him because of his lineage to test him, test the foundation of the clan and by extension the Hidden Leaf village. Katsurama knew that his time may have been in the present but it was Takanobu's era that mattered more than anything else; for his generation would become Katsurama's future and some day, his legacy.
Innocence in the youth could be a beautiful thing if nurtured and cared for properly but it was something incredibly fleeting. One wrong turn down any given path and disaster could surely follow. Hate was as connected to the spirit of Love as the connection between a mother and their offspring, requiring a fine balance in order for either to exist in harmony with the other. Takanobu was a fresh, young mind full of Love and kind hearted ambition but Katsurama was not so blind to a hidden truth. Should this boy cross paths with a particularly vengeful Yamanaka or the offspring of a bitter royal family member, no tutelage that katsurama himself could give would prepare Takanobu for such a trying moment. Knowing this to be an inevitable fact of their heritage, all that Katsurama could do now was exactly what he did; mentor, guide and instruct this young child in the hopes that he would not stray from the path of the Will of Fire.
Takanobu, realizing that his instructor had been staring at him or perhaps staring off into some nonexistent event, sought to gain his mentors attention. "Hey Katsu! What are you staring at?" Immediately recognizing his folly, Katsurama flushed but said nothing. At least, not right away. "I'm just thinking about the journey that lays ahead for you, Takanobu. You aren't the only member of the clan working hard to achieve something great but none have been blessed or perhaps cursed with your genetics." Takanobu was confused by the comment but said nothing. What did Katsurama mean by the journey ahead, and cursed genetics? Was there something more to training to become a good Shinobi? Deciding to push the thought aside for now, he pondered how he could improve further seemingly unsatisfied with both his current abilities and his understanding of the world at large.
Handling missions for the village was one thing but knowing about the history of the clan, his clan, was an entirely different matter. The academy had only taught up to the bare essentials about each Hokage and the council, and the discussions about each war that took place well before the times of peace were not much elaborated on for reasons beyond his understanding. This left him with many questions about things as they were and a plethora of uncertainties about how to truly conduct himself both as a Senju and as a civilian of the village as a whole. Thinking back to the training ground event once again, probably because it'd been the only off putting thing that had happened in recent memory, Takanobu questioned the social norms of those who did not come from clan backgrounds.
Perhaps where the boy had come from saying and doing such things as he'd done them were perfectly normal customs; approaching others and speaking in ways that seemed more confrontational than friendly, was that what it meant to be a regular citizen of the village? Whether due to living a largely strict and sheltered life within the clan's compound or some other internal reasoning, Takanobu was not accustomed neither to being spoken to like a peasant or being taunted for conceivably no reason at all. That was when Takanobu reconsidered; maybe, just maybe, that boy actually had a reason and it'd simply been Takanobu who was unaware. The thought might have put him on edge if not for his newfound power of will but that didn't mean Takanobu was any less uncomfortable about it. He would need to pay closer attention in his dealings with those beyond the compound especially to those seeking him out deliberately for these were people with intentions, motives, good or otherwise.
"Katsu, can I ask you something?" Katsurama looked up and nodded, remaining silent but attentive. "In your dealings with those not of the Senju, villagers and non villagers alike... what did you make of them?" Katsurama stiffened but caught himself realizing that to show any visible signs of unrest would have been quickly noticed and offset the trust established between them. He really didn't want to answer this question but saw no other way around it. Sooner or later, Takanobu was going to have to find out for himself how best to deal with 'outsiders.' "Well," Katsurama began, stalling for time as he tried to search for a reasonable answer. "I regarded them no different than I would have anyone from our family and gave them the same respect. Some were more pleasant than others but most showed great character. Why do you ask?" Takanobu then proceeded to tell the story of what he'd experienced at one of Konoha's public training grounds.
Sighing and scratching the crown of his head, Katsurama placed either hand above his knee (he'd been sitting cross -legged ). "Well, I suppose that's not much of a surprise. In the village you'll find a certain emphasis on young rivalries in order to promote growth and strength of character. However, it sounds as though the two of you may have gotten off on the wrong foot. Perhaps you should try speaking with this person again should you cross paths with them outside of the compound; at least then, you'll be able to get a better read on their personality and see for yourself if a friendship is possible." Takanobu groaned then nodded in respectful agreement.
He admitted that the situation may have been blown far out of proportion largely due to his own ignorance when it came to dealing with people but remembered the strange and off putting vibe that emanated from the stranger that day. Frankly, he wasn't exactly eager to run into him again. However, if Katsurama was suggesting that he at least attempt learning for himself the true nature of that person then Takanobu certainly couldn't refuse. After all, these were the words coming from the strongest person that he'd known of at the time and a well respected figure within the Hidden Leaf village. To go against such wisdom would have not only been foolish but down right arrogant and Takanobu was neither of these things.
The two continued to discuss at length about various other subjects of interest -mostly on Takanobu's behalf, and before long the sun had fallen to just about an orange flicker in the skies. Eventually, Takanobu's father had shown up and the three shared in their experiences of the day. Takanobu's Father was happy to hear the results of Katsurama's tutelage while he'd been away and thoroughly enjoyed listening to his son talk about matters of men twice his age with well informed thoughts and perspective. It seemed as though his young son was fast becoming a young man all his own; something that would make any loving Father, especially that of a Senju, proud.
The rumbling
Takanobu Lonelies/Trainings
The rumbling
On the following morning Takanobu stirred from his sleep much earlier than he would have liked, with several hours until daybreak. He'd spent all of the previous night and what remained after a hard afternoon of physical fitness conditioning in a deep restful slumber that seemed to have cured many but not quite all of the aches from training. Several areas of his body had developed minor swelling and the dull ache associated with these injuries were a constant. Katsurama had done his job as a fill in mentor remarkably well in that he'd helped Takanobu push beyond previous limitations. He was much faster now and the will to test that speed was strong in Takanobu; first for himself, then for the village.
A rush of cold air filled Takanobu's room and shooting a look of discomfort toward his window, Takanobu realized that he'd left it open. "It's always so cold in the morning." Takanobu muttered, getting up to shut it. As he were about to close the window Takanobu noticed that there were a bird sitting on its nest, fast asleep. "Even the birds aren't awake yet." Turning on his heel Takanobu headed back to bed, climbing in with with a silent moan of effort once he returned. Silence permeated his room and the family home once again.
Knowing of no better task suited to the hour that wouldnt wake his household, Takanobu decided to recited Konoha's leaf Academy graduation mantra from start to finish. Before getting halfway through, however, he'd fallen into a deep rest where his injuries could heal further.
A rush of cold air filled Takanobu's room and shooting a look of discomfort toward his window, Takanobu realized that he'd left it open. "It's always so cold in the morning." Takanobu muttered, getting up to shut it. As he were about to close the window Takanobu noticed that there were a bird sitting on its nest, fast asleep. "Even the birds aren't awake yet." Turning on his heel Takanobu headed back to bed, climbing in with with a silent moan of effort once he returned. Silence permeated his room and the family home once again.
Knowing of no better task suited to the hour that wouldnt wake his household, Takanobu decided to recited Konoha's leaf Academy graduation mantra from start to finish. Before getting halfway through, however, he'd fallen into a deep rest where his injuries could heal further.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
The rumbling
Later that day, Takanobu would venture out into one of Konoha's great forest areas North-northeast of where a great stone monument once stood. It was said that the region were home to a variety of rare plants and animals that he could observe both learning and entertainment. During one lecture before he'd graduated from Konoha's ninja academy Takanobu had heard quite a bit about carniverous wolves, Bears and foxes roaming about, doing his best to commit such animal species to memory should he ever find himself in their territory; like he were right now. Before Takanobu in all their glory were tall trees of varying heights and their leaves were a deep, healthy Green. If not for his self given task, Takanobu could have truly immersed himself in the serene atmosphere provided by the setting. It was if the flesh eating creatures and poisonous plants dwelling within were not factors at all or at the very least, a muted backdrop to a much louder, defined serenade of nature. Takanobu was in some form of paradise.
As he set forward, the youth kept Konoha's mantra embedded in his head; anticipating such moment where he would breath new life into its many,many meanings. This was partially a mental tactic for the youth and served well to keep him relaxed every solidary step taken through unfamiliar turf.
As he set forward, the youth kept Konoha's mantra embedded in his head; anticipating such moment where he would breath new life into its many,many meanings. This was partially a mental tactic for the youth and served well to keep him relaxed every solidary step taken through unfamiliar turf.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
The rumbling
Takanobu could almost feel himself being drawn in by the forest ambience. In contrast to the village which was often saturated with noise depending on where one went, Takanobu felt at peace with nature's silence. Above the occasional croak of a frog or cry from a cicada, there were few disruptions in what was without a doubt hi no kuni's best quality; Tranquility in this sense had taken on a whole new meaning to Takanobu and within that, he'd discovered something wonderful. He - Takanobu, wasn't aware of how much time that had been spent getting acquainted with the land but the youthful Senju realized that he were beginning to recognize plant and animal groups that he'd come across earlier in his meanderings. Thinking to himself that, these species of plant and animal lives were found only in unique areas, he began to take note of them and even quizzed himself on the groups as he found them to test his knowledge of Hi no Kuni flora and fauna for sport. What was most interesting about these groups, he thought, was that they did not exist in the same capacity as those within Konohagakure but seemed entirely at peace all the same. It were as if they lived in a time completely outside that of Humans and technology as it were.
The sun shined but did not beam heat down upon Earth's inhabitants and Takanobu was able to enjoy a measure of comfort in his journey. There were no clouds for as far as he could see and so far, no signs of any trouble approaching. Of course, trouble in the sense that Takanobu knew of it may not have tipped the danger scale for many as his rank and station forbade him from ever being involved in the great war though word about events taking place some times reached his eager ears. He'd heard about the many skirmishes had by some of the village to no great detail and when those sent on missions returned he some times got the chance to see the battle hardened ninja for himself. Their faces were always stern but the light never left them. As he prepared to round a bend along one path that would bring him back to the village, Takanobu wondered what he would be like after returning from a difficult assignment.
"Pretty soon I'll have to start pulling my own weight to make a living," he'd say to no one in particular. " I wonder what my first mission will be..." A thought lingered but the youth soon dismissed it. Surely, Lord Hokage and his camp had not forgotten to assign teams this year; perhaps because of the war, things were moving slower than normal.
The sun shined but did not beam heat down upon Earth's inhabitants and Takanobu was able to enjoy a measure of comfort in his journey. There were no clouds for as far as he could see and so far, no signs of any trouble approaching. Of course, trouble in the sense that Takanobu knew of it may not have tipped the danger scale for many as his rank and station forbade him from ever being involved in the great war though word about events taking place some times reached his eager ears. He'd heard about the many skirmishes had by some of the village to no great detail and when those sent on missions returned he some times got the chance to see the battle hardened ninja for himself. Their faces were always stern but the light never left them. As he prepared to round a bend along one path that would bring him back to the village, Takanobu wondered what he would be like after returning from a difficult assignment.
"Pretty soon I'll have to start pulling my own weight to make a living," he'd say to no one in particular. " I wonder what my first mission will be..." A thought lingered but the youth soon dismissed it. Surely, Lord Hokage and his camp had not forgotten to assign teams this year; perhaps because of the war, things were moving slower than normal.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
The rumbling
In all it'd taken Takanobu just under thirty minutes to reach Konoha's gate and significantly less time to check in with the guard on post. The stranger, a short and round fellow, didn't seem to mind Takanobu's adventurous spirit much and signed him in without incident. Now that he were officially re listed and accounted for among the populace, Takanobu decided to explore his home village a bit more. His first stop? Recently an arcade center rich with games like horse shoe throwing and a fake shuriken toss had been built near the Rukon district and since there were nothing else on his to do list, Takanobu decided to stroll to the area and have a little fun for himself. After all, what else was a youth to do on such a nice, sunny day?
While meandering the many walk roads of Konoha on the way to his destination, Takanobu noticed that there were many street performers out entertaining the crowds of people ad they passed. Some stopped to get a closer look at the spectacle while others kept on but made no 3ffort to hide their fascination. It was truly a heart warming revelation. Takanobu enjoyed peace and he enjoyed that so many shared in this belief with him. Along the way, he'd help himself to many exotic foods brought by traveling merchants using the coin given to him by his Father and he too, ate his fill while walking in harmony with others just like him.
All in all, he felt entirely blessed to be a leaf village citizen and was sure that there were others who felt the same way. Unknown to the youth, however, was that there were some in places well beyond his or any governing daimyo of the nation's reach, who would have killed to enjoy the kind of luxury afforded to those born within fire country. Truly, to a young child, this ignorance was bliss.
While meandering the many walk roads of Konoha on the way to his destination, Takanobu noticed that there were many street performers out entertaining the crowds of people ad they passed. Some stopped to get a closer look at the spectacle while others kept on but made no 3ffort to hide their fascination. It was truly a heart warming revelation. Takanobu enjoyed peace and he enjoyed that so many shared in this belief with him. Along the way, he'd help himself to many exotic foods brought by traveling merchants using the coin given to him by his Father and he too, ate his fill while walking in harmony with others just like him.
All in all, he felt entirely blessed to be a leaf village citizen and was sure that there were others who felt the same way. Unknown to the youth, however, was that there were some in places well beyond his or any governing daimyo of the nation's reach, who would have killed to enjoy the kind of luxury afforded to those born within fire country. Truly, to a young child, this ignorance was bliss.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
The rumbling
Takanobu brought his hands together; quickly extending the index and middle fingers of each hand, folding those that remained in clasp. Like a wellspring, he felt his chakra begin to pull up from within the body and surge down toward each foot. "This much should do for now," said Takanobu who were just about to make headway climbing up a tree when something caused him a delay. At the foot if the Ginko tree, where moss had begun to grow, he noticed a blossoming flower who's name he'd never before considered.
Its petals were as distinct like a red bird's wing and the stem looked stout almost akin to Konoha's many structures. Fascinated by this, Takanobu was stricken with wonder. "What peculiar looking flower," he said to no one but could feel his sentiment carry through to the flower as if it were connected with his own vein. As Takanobu took his first wayward step and planted foot firmly to the tree, he allowed his mind to think of how strong the flower he'd seen stood resolute and allowed this vision to carry him forward , and upward.
One step at a time; Takanobu would carry himself higher, a single foot in front of the other. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot...
Keeping pace while all the while trying to control his breathing and by extension, where chakra flowed was...a struggle for Takanobu. It wasn't as though he didn't have a firm or at least decent enough grasp on how to use his chakra but instead, the opposite. Takanobu had become too familiar with the kind of training done to truly appreciate its gifts. In his mind; climbing trees, even without the use of hands, was too easy of a task.
"I have to find a way of pushing my limitations. I just...I've no idea how." Rather than become frustrated at the realization of his own experience, Takanobu took that exact moment to acknowledge that one person could only do so much on their own. There was no other way around this reality; if he were going to have an hope of getting stronger, Takanobu realized that he would have to he placed on a squad. Then, he might be able to soak up experience from observing his squadmates and squad leader. Of course, this was a possibility well beyond his depth.
Perhaps it were time to start exploring the village and weighing his options or; maybe it was time to find a way to apply himself, at least then Takanobu mused, he'd be able to discover more about his power. For now he climbed, going further up the Ginko tree until reaching it's summit. Before his eyes was a orange sun, drifting low though not yet ready to slip into night. In the silence of this moment Takanobu could faintly hear chatter from the village. Amazing.
"I guess there is still an up side to tree climbing after all," said Takanobu before taking several calming breaths. Someday he'd be Hokage.
"I'll stick around for a while." And Takanobu did stick around; climbing and walking down the same tree more than two dozen times before nightfall. At night, he'd try a different exercise. If climbing trees were becoming too simple of a task; perhaps walking on water might have suited him best, he was partially inclined to the element after all.
Under a full moon and no clouds to impede a glistening starry night sky Takanobu would attempt his first instance of walking on the surface of water since graduating from Konoha's ninja academy. If he'd felt butterflies back then - that feeling were a blitz of dragon flies now. Peering over at what was undoubtedly a vast lake of untapped potential, Takanobu could distinctly note his heart rate increasing. "Remember your training Takanobu that's all you've got to do," he coached to himself. Only, he still didn't feel as confident like his words sounded. What if he fell in?
This was training in the dead if night - no one would come to rescue him if he'd happened to fuse the wrong amount of chakra and slip into the depths. Sure, he could swim or at least doggy paddle enough to stay afloat for a while but this was walking on the surface if a lake for crying out loud! "Just remember..." Takanobu stepped forward, raising his hands into the ram hand mantra. "Your..." His right foot pushed beyond the boundaries of comforting dirt and onto the treacherous territory of shifting, cold liquid. "Training!"
At the exact moment his foot touched the water blue light emanated from the sole and when the leg hadn't sunk, Takanobu knew that he were in good standing. Literally. He didn't hesitate to take a full step and then another and another. Before he realized just how he'd gotten there the young Senju was standing smack dab in the center of the lake over it's surface as though it were solid ground. "Well what do you know? Looks like I've still got some moves."
Unbeknownst to Takanobu who'd been celebrating his small victory, there was a giant fish several meters below...right beneath his feet.
*Rumble rumble rumble*
"Uhhhh that doesn't sound too good..." Takanobu looked left and then right. Nothing. Again, the rumbling could be felt atop already unstable waters. But...just where was it coming from? "Huh?..Whoah!"
Like a streaming jet the water beneath him shot upand struck Takanobu, lashing him with a stinging sensation and sending him tumbling through the air. His eyes were closed but he were not yet unconscious. 'What in the world?' He thought while falling weightlessly back down to the water below.
Things had just gotten a lot more interesting.
Landing hard, Takanobu spashed in the water just managing to right himself with chakra before sinking. Try as he did though, what ever had sent him flying just a moment ago...was gone. It were as if nothing had ever happened. Had he imagined it? No, impossible. The stinging he felt through his body now we're just as real as anything he'd ever experienced. So, where was the cause?
Its petals were as distinct like a red bird's wing and the stem looked stout almost akin to Konoha's many structures. Fascinated by this, Takanobu was stricken with wonder. "What peculiar looking flower," he said to no one but could feel his sentiment carry through to the flower as if it were connected with his own vein. As Takanobu took his first wayward step and planted foot firmly to the tree, he allowed his mind to think of how strong the flower he'd seen stood resolute and allowed this vision to carry him forward , and upward.
One step at a time; Takanobu would carry himself higher, a single foot in front of the other. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot...
Keeping pace while all the while trying to control his breathing and by extension, where chakra flowed was...a struggle for Takanobu. It wasn't as though he didn't have a firm or at least decent enough grasp on how to use his chakra but instead, the opposite. Takanobu had become too familiar with the kind of training done to truly appreciate its gifts. In his mind; climbing trees, even without the use of hands, was too easy of a task.
"I have to find a way of pushing my limitations. I just...I've no idea how." Rather than become frustrated at the realization of his own experience, Takanobu took that exact moment to acknowledge that one person could only do so much on their own. There was no other way around this reality; if he were going to have an hope of getting stronger, Takanobu realized that he would have to he placed on a squad. Then, he might be able to soak up experience from observing his squadmates and squad leader. Of course, this was a possibility well beyond his depth.
Perhaps it were time to start exploring the village and weighing his options or; maybe it was time to find a way to apply himself, at least then Takanobu mused, he'd be able to discover more about his power. For now he climbed, going further up the Ginko tree until reaching it's summit. Before his eyes was a orange sun, drifting low though not yet ready to slip into night. In the silence of this moment Takanobu could faintly hear chatter from the village. Amazing.
"I guess there is still an up side to tree climbing after all," said Takanobu before taking several calming breaths. Someday he'd be Hokage.
"I'll stick around for a while." And Takanobu did stick around; climbing and walking down the same tree more than two dozen times before nightfall. At night, he'd try a different exercise. If climbing trees were becoming too simple of a task; perhaps walking on water might have suited him best, he was partially inclined to the element after all.
Under a full moon and no clouds to impede a glistening starry night sky Takanobu would attempt his first instance of walking on the surface of water since graduating from Konoha's ninja academy. If he'd felt butterflies back then - that feeling were a blitz of dragon flies now. Peering over at what was undoubtedly a vast lake of untapped potential, Takanobu could distinctly note his heart rate increasing. "Remember your training Takanobu that's all you've got to do," he coached to himself. Only, he still didn't feel as confident like his words sounded. What if he fell in?
This was training in the dead if night - no one would come to rescue him if he'd happened to fuse the wrong amount of chakra and slip into the depths. Sure, he could swim or at least doggy paddle enough to stay afloat for a while but this was walking on the surface if a lake for crying out loud! "Just remember..." Takanobu stepped forward, raising his hands into the ram hand mantra. "Your..." His right foot pushed beyond the boundaries of comforting dirt and onto the treacherous territory of shifting, cold liquid. "Training!"
At the exact moment his foot touched the water blue light emanated from the sole and when the leg hadn't sunk, Takanobu knew that he were in good standing. Literally. He didn't hesitate to take a full step and then another and another. Before he realized just how he'd gotten there the young Senju was standing smack dab in the center of the lake over it's surface as though it were solid ground. "Well what do you know? Looks like I've still got some moves."
Unbeknownst to Takanobu who'd been celebrating his small victory, there was a giant fish several meters below...right beneath his feet.
*Rumble rumble rumble*
"Uhhhh that doesn't sound too good..." Takanobu looked left and then right. Nothing. Again, the rumbling could be felt atop already unstable waters. But...just where was it coming from? "Huh?..Whoah!"
Like a streaming jet the water beneath him shot upand struck Takanobu, lashing him with a stinging sensation and sending him tumbling through the air. His eyes were closed but he were not yet unconscious. 'What in the world?' He thought while falling weightlessly back down to the water below.
Things had just gotten a lot more interesting.
Landing hard, Takanobu spashed in the water just managing to right himself with chakra before sinking. Try as he did though, what ever had sent him flying just a moment ago...was gone. It were as if nothing had ever happened. Had he imagined it? No, impossible. The stinging he felt through his body now we're just as real as anything he'd ever experienced. So, where was the cause?
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