Nurturing Talent [Private]

It had been two days since Satori had brought Tin to his home, two days of providing him steady meals, and proper stretches and physical therapy to help his malnourished body slowly get used to working properly. He'd even purposely brought his birth-mother, Raika by so that she could perform medical techniques and chiropractic measures on him. Satori wasn't certain he'd ever heard so many bones pop in his life.

It was no wonder a bed hurt him, there were so many bones misaligned from a life of poverty that it was a wonder Tin was even mobile. Impressive, really. After the medical treatment and bone-popping from hell, combined with active food and (relatively) restful sleep, he had already improved considerably health wise. The stretches and physical therapy had only just begun, it wasn't going to magically improve him immediately. But it was getting him into the proper habits.

Today Satori was fully intended to show him how to perform proper workouts, as well as begin the next step which was to help him understand how basics for living on your own with low funds worked. Trapping, skinning, farming, and gathering were all going to be important. Begging was the worst way to try and survive while poor and alone. It was time to give TIn skills, that would actually benefit him and help him become independent as a man and a ninja.

As the sun began to rise, Satori pushed the door open and exited the home, glancing to the side and walking around slowly. His knuckles idly brushed the sound-trap that had been placed there by Tin's hand (Satori had taught him how to make it by stringing bones and metal together along twine and hanging it so anyone that passed through into Tin's "home" made a racket.

"Tin," he stated simply down at the young man that was likely now quickly awakening.

"Breakfast. Then training," he stated simply with a slight smile. He wasn't put off by the azure-headed young man's demeanor, and every glare was responded only with a cocked brow or smile.

It had been two days since he had been brought from the regular streets, to that of the Ryuuzi district. Or whatever they called it. Estate? Compound? He didn’t really care. He had been given food, he certainly wasn’t hungry anymore. The six meals a day thing seemed less impressive when the portions were rather small. He had to do stretches with him, so he’d get ‘ready’ for the training. The stretches felt like training in and of themselves.

He did not go into Raika’s care softly nor quietly. It took him a rather long time to think about and be coaxed into doing so, he almost got spooked back to the streets after he heard his first bone pop. He gripped the surface the entire time. It was rather painful as well, but afterward he saw the benefits to it, he felt somewhat better after that. He felt rather spry. The stretches felt better, or rather, they felt a little bit easier after it.

And then the second day came, where Satori told him they’d begin their training. He was sitting there, on his rag of a bed that was probably cleaned at some point during the two days, having nodded off in a sitting position. He was brought to a sudden awakening as he heard his noise trap sound. He was up in a flash, into a crouching position, ready to bolt.

He frowned up at Satori, and at his own trap. It worked, at least, anyone who tried to come over while he was asleep would find themselves making more noise than expected, enough to wake him up. He stared at the man, then slowly rose into a standing position. “Okay.” he said. He still wasn’t comfortable entering people’s houses. It was one of the things that kept him from just breaking into them for money, amongst other things. He stood outside and awaited his meal.

While eating, albeit slower than when he had but a few days ago, now that he knew that it wouldn’t be taken from him, he looked up at him. “Will you tell me what the training is now?” he asked, pocketing some food out of habit.

Satori grunted lightly as he agreed to the fact, and once the breakfast had been settled and he asked what exactly the training was going to be Satori nodded once.

"Basic fitness for now. We can't start training in combat until your body is a bit more healthy, but we can start building you up," he explained simply before his hand lifted and scratched at the back of his head, wild curls shifting slightly with each motion.

"We'll be starting with your usual stretches and then body weight training. We'll take breaks as you need them, I want to ask how much combat experience and skill you actually have, among other things." It was all important information, he'd clearly gone to the Academy and graduated, but he wasn't certain how far his skills had diminished since then.

Likely he was just a normal graduate as well, not like him, Riku and Midori whom had graduated at the tops of their class and had been well on their way to chunin-level by the time they graduated. He had to get a precise gauge of his skill and combat level if he wanted to help him make true progress.

"Once we're done with physical training for the day you can rest for a few hours, and then we'll move on to the other chores that you can help with," he explained simply before pausing, giving Tin a chance to request further details if he wanted them.

Tin nodded slowly as Satori explained what they were to do. Something about building him up. He didn’t really think he could reach the levels of muscle that Satori had. He didn’t even really think it was a good idea to be. He imagined himself muscular, and thought the idea fairly ridiculous, especially when compared to giants.

But first, he was to do the stretches he had been on since after he came here. He looked to Satori as he asked how much combat experience he had. He thought for a moment, taking the time to sift through his memories. “I know some basic things.” he says. “I didn’t see much point to using these ‘jutsus’, so I didn’t bother trying to remember them for long.” he admitted. “They made me tired, and I wanted to expend as little energy as possible.” he ended with a huff.

He thought for a bit more. “I like the bow.” he said finally. “That stick weapon with string. I like that.” he said, before falling silent again. “Sometimes I can move faster than I thought I did, or… Something. I can’t really control it, but when you… Helped… me, I moved faster than I should have, really. I was weak, but kept ahead of them, even by an inch.” he realised how much he was talking, raising an eyebrow for a moment, then frowning. “..mh.” he finished.

Then he stared at Satori as if it were his fault he spoke so much. He barely even remembered what Satori had said before, though he did hear the word rest and training. He got up, glaring at him expectantly, and was ready to follow him to the training yard, or to start stretches where he was.

"Hm. The bow, huh," he murmured in thought if he preferred long range than it was likely that he would need some degree of proper training for distancing himself. They'd have to work on his stamina more than anything, as keeping distance meant constant mobility, and that would tire him out as well as any techniques he used along the way. As Tin glared at him after he'd spoken more than he since he met him, Satori gave a rumble of amusement from his chest before rising up and straightening.

"Alright. I'll look into getting a bow made for you, I know a puppetry user who's quite good at creating items, she can probably make you a decent one. I'm sure the local shops in the market have some as well--and my clan can likely make you one," he glanced at their surroundings a moment. Usually, Ryuutei used spears and their claws, but it wasn't unheard of for a blade or bow to be amongst their rankings either.

For now, they had some basic training to do, however. He pushed himself up and exited, figuring Tin would follow him as he made his way toward the training circle that he'd been having him perform his basic stretches in.

"Start with your stretches, once you're ready we'll go from there," Satori stated simply with a slight smile.

Tin’s frown deepened. He was having a bow made, or buying one for him? How much will he be driven into debt? He was a little annoyed by Satori’s rumble. It sounded like he was amused. He didn’t know what he should be amused by. His own chest gave a distinct rumble of UNamusement. Anti-amusement.

He followed Satori as he exited, of course Tin was just outside, neglecting to enter the house, as he always did. He glanced about. There were people milling around like the last time he entered the streets. He didn’t give anyone trouble, and they didn’t give any back. It was like a controlled environment. He was pretty sure had he not been with Satori, he’d have been kicked out long ago. He was sure of that. Though for some reason he figured that they wouldn’t have hurt him as much as the five man group would have had they caught him.

He followed him all the way to the training area. He looked at Satori, then sighed as he began to do his stretches. He started with pushing one foot over to the right, then slowly bent his left knee away. He let his muscles strain a little, though was eager not to overdo it. He kept the pose for a few moments, then switched to the other side. When that was done, he returned to the first. He continued that cycle for a while, then moved on to the other ones.

He threw Satori a glance when he felt as though he was ready for the next stage, crossing his arms, giving him a silent “Ready.”.

Satori grunted as Tin made it clear--albeit silently, that he was ready to move on. Satori straightened slowly from his crouched position and idly reached into his pocket, pulling out a long string of leather that he pulled the wild mane of hair back with. Collecting it into a thick ponytail that trailed down to the center of his back before moving forward and cracking his knuckles once, glancing down at him.

"We'll start with basic fitness. You don't seem to be the strength type, but you still need plenty of arm strength to properly wield a bow. We need to get your baseline physical abilities up to par if nothing else," as he explained this, Satori then took a breath.

"Do you know how to perform basic pushups and situps?" Glancing over him once, he contemplated this. It was basics in the Academy, but it had clearly been a while since he'd been in such a location. That meant if he wanted to do this properly he'd probably have to show him how to do it anyway, but one step at a time would do for now.

There was no point rushing all of this anyway. Building a body up from malnourishment and long-term abuse was never an easy thing to properly accomplish by any means.

Tin watched him as Satori tied his hair back into a bow. That hair would’ve gotten him into some t rouble on the streets. One, it would’ve been a playground for insects to get into, it was hard to keep (relatively) clean, and most of all someone could grab onto it. He inwardly shook his head.

He glowered at the man as he asked whether he knew how to do pushups. He remembered having to do them in the academy, but once again they were something that just wasted energy out in the real world. He finally let out a sigh, before nodding as he moved down to a crouch, then freefalling onto his behind. Then he flopped onto his back. “…Yes.” he finally said, while staring up at the sky.

He put his hands behind his head, then bent his knees. He took a moment for mental preparation. “How many?” he asked. Then he tried to do a pushup. It really wasn’t as bad as he thought it’d be, it didn’t take all that much energy out of him, he didn’t know why he hated them in the academy. Then again, all he did was do one. His feet rose a little as he pushed himself up, and his arms almost instinctively pushed forward too, but his head held them back.

“Why do you keep your hair long?” he asked.

Satori watched as he settled onto his backside, and then slowly flipped over. The affirmation that he knew was enough for him, and when asked how many Satori simply smiled softly.

"Just keep doing them until you can't anymore. I need to get a gauge on your body for now," with this he would then cross his arms fully over his chest and watch. Making sure that his posture was correct as he did them, and then Tin surprised him by asking a question. A question that wasn't required for basic interaction. Progress.

His smile remained light as he tilted his head to the side slightly.

"I wear it long for one because I like it. It's also an excellent channeling for some of my techniques, but primarily it's because of the traditions of my clan. We don't cut our hair because it's a sign of strength. In a fight, someone can grab your hair and use it against you if you're not skilled. Having long hair while an adult, and an active combatant, proves you're strong. Being able to turn that apparent weakness into a strength through techniques makes it even more so." As he explained this he silently counted each situp, an amused smile forming on his lips.

"...By the way, those are situps, not pushups," he stated simply as an afterthought. It didn't really matter. He clearly knew how to perform the workouts so it was fine if he forgot what they were called or mixed them up.

He nodded up to him as he said how many he should do. He continued doing his ‘pushups’. He felt fine for the first couple of them. So he continued. Again and again and again, the sky tilted as he pushed himself up, being forced to look toward Satori each time. Well. He could've simply not, but he was talking. Explaining about his hair.

“Huh.” was his response for the moment. He was trying to conserve energy at the moment, so he just listened to him. He brought up the argument about grabbing it in a fight. Really, it felt like more of a display of arrogance rather than strength. Not that he denied he could be strong. Someone can be both strong and arrogant. Usually, they accompanied each other, in fact.

He guessed it was just ninja things. Then he heard the last part. He scowled at Satori each time he rose up with his SITUIP. He was passing on fifteen now, and his stomach was starting to hurt a little. Now he remembered why he didn’t like it. Twenty-one, and it hurt a bit more. Twenty five, and it started to cramp. He stopped after twenty-six, he didn’t like the feeling. He took a breather. “I know that.” he gave a late snap to Satori.

He then rolled onto his stomach. He took a few moments to rest a little more, to ease the cramp out of his belly. Then he placed his hands onto the ground. He pressed his feet together. Squared his arms. Pushed against the ground. “Hmph. Do you tie it back when you’re going to fight?” he asked. His arms weren’t really as strong as his midsection, and he could feel them weaken with each one.

Satori gave a rumble of amusement at the snap but didn't appear concerned by it. Letting Tin be and letting him focus. As he measured him up, he noted that twenty-five was about his limit before he began to suffer from pain instead of burning. One was good, the other was not. That meant doing six sets of five was probably a decent enough warmup for him for now, the short breaks in between sets would let him expand that number slightly and put him right around his limit.

As he flipped over and began on his pushups instead, Satori tilted his head slightly.

"It depends on the situation. In training I do, but in actual combat, I tend to leave it down. Tying it up would render my techniques using it more difficult to use properly," as he explained this, Satori continued to count Tin's pushups now. Working the core was significantly easier on the body than targeting limbs, so he didn't expect as many out of him. But he still needed to know the final numbers if he was going to construct a good workout regimen for him. Tilting his head he waited until the final pushup was settled before he smiled slightly.

"Take a break and sip some water," he stated idly, reaching down to his belt and gently tossing him the canteen that had been resting there for him to sip from.

"Drink slowly so you don't throw it up. We'll let you rest a bit and then break into sets, I'll show you how to measure your workouts so you don't hurt. We don't want you to over-exert yourself, that will only cause you more damage instead." With this he then straightened and began idly shrugging out of the vest he wore.

He pushed himself up, turning his head a little as he moved back down, he didn’t want to get a face full of dirt. He winced a little, his chest hurt a bit this time. He managed about six before he started to grow a bit weary. He made it to twelve before he finally gave up, huffing as his arms burned a little. That was around as much as he could handle right now. A few days of food right now wasn’t enough to bring his strength up, He huffed, before grumbling to himself.

It was break time. He looked at the canteen, then at Satori. He waited for a moment, then reached over to take it, bringing it up to his mouth. He scowled at it, then unfastened the lid and took a few gentle sips from it. He was rather thirsty. He wanted to just drink it all in one go, but Satori said he’d throw up if he did that. It made him tempted to do it anyway just to show him he could. “Okay.” he said. He waited for a moment, then took another sip.

After he drank as much as he felt he needed, he stoppered the canteen again and stood up. He moved over to Satori, then offered him his canteen back. As far away as possible. Craning his arm to do so. He still didn’t want to stand too close to people.

“So. How long will I have to do them?” he asked. Though he already knew the answer, probably. Every day. It’d just increase as he said, until he was “strong”, then he’d have to do them anyway. He was somewhat averse to the thought of continuous expulsion of effort, but he was used to not being given six meals a day. “And what do YOU do to train?” he added.

Satori grunted softly as he finished up the set, settling in on a total of twelve. So probably about fifteen, in the form of five sets of three going by that. They'd work up from that point. Nodding once, he would eye Tin, making sure he was drinking slowly before accepting it back without comment. Just the fact alone he was offering it back was a vast improvement from his original attitude. Satori would take what he could get for now. Straightening, he arched a brow at the question as he replaced the canteen on his belt.

"Every day. The number will increase as your strength and endurance does. Once your body is in decent shape we'll move on to proper training," with this it flowed nicely into his next question, causing Satori to grin lightly in response before nodding toward the houses in the distance.

"I do combat training. Physical fitness training doesn't help me anymore, really. I haven't done that since I was probably six or seven. Instead, I tend to train with my father in live combat exercises," he held his chin in thought, his other hand lifting as he counted on his fingers precisely what he was referencing.

"Usually there's alot of broken bones. Taijutsu, Ninjutsu and Genjutsu are staples. Father doesn't usually need more than just his Taijutsu to toss me around and break me though. Medical techniques from my mothers are fairly key for the kind of training I do. You won't be ready for that for quite a while, but once your body is strong enough me and you will likely do combat training on a less... extensive, level. It's the best way to increase your overall combat experience, skill, and raw physical capabilities." With this explanation, Satori would glance down at him as he eyed his body.

"We'll have you do five sets of three for pushups and six sets of five for the situps. Don't stop until the set is complete, but if after a set you feel like you can't do anymore, then stop and take another break until you quite literally can't do anymore. Don't let it hurt. Burning is fine, and encouraged though. Breaks can be however long you need them to be. Once you feel too sore to do any more after a break, we'll stop entirely."

His answer was about what he expected. He wasn’t sure whether it would actually be good for him or not. Won’t he get over-exerted? Even if he rested for nights, he wasn’t sure. He’d have to wait and see. He turned in the direction of the houses that Satori nodded in, then looked back at him. He could believe it when he said that physical fitness training didn’t help him, he probably maintained it by doing… Things. The fighting thing. He doubted he’d have to do stuff like that. He didn’t want to just be able to walk up to someone and punch them.

He remembered what he was talking about. Taijutsu was about physical combat, melee. Ninjutsu was doing… All kinds of things. Genjutsu were about illusions, like ninjutsu, only against the mind or senses. It seemed as though Satori’s father was even stronger than he, he wondered if his own father would be the same, if he were alive. At least he didn’t have to do it yet. He’d rather just stalk around, he wasn’t made for punching or kicking.

He frowned at Satori. He’d have to fight him eventually? Or train with him, but it sounded like the same thing. He didn’t look forward to it. He tilted his head as Satori spoke about his training regimen. Five sets of three? So he meant do five pushups three times a day? And Six situps five times a day. He doubted he was supposed to spread it out, and was meant to do it mostly in one go, with breaks in between. He nodded slowly. He wasn’t planning on hurting himself doing this anyway. A thought came to him.

“Are you doing this with anyone else?” he asked. It occurred to him that Satori wouldn’t put all of his time and energy into just one person and his own training. Did he have other people? He was a little curious, if he did he’d have to ask them about it, if he could build up the courage.

Satori tilted his head at the question. It was odd how Tin was suddenly being social, but it certainly wasn't a bad thing. He saw no reason to hide such information from him by any means.

"If you mean am I training with anyone else, yes. I have for years. If I meet people that have talent, I try to encourage it," he lifted his hand up idly and started counting them on his fingertips.

"Akemi who I've known since the Academy, a Ninjutsu and Fuuinjutsu specialist. Midori, my sister who is a Taijutsu specialist. Riku my fiancee that is a Suiton, Ijutsu and Genjutsu specialist. Genkai a Taijutsu and Fuuinjutsu specialist, and Minami who is a Chemistry Crafting and Kugutsu specialist." Lowering his hand he arched a brow slightly.

"I've been training with all of them off and on for many years now. You're the first I've started from scratch like this though with, not that it matters. You have the talent to match them," with this he shrugged before he would idly fall down to crouch in front of him. Tilting his head curiously as he contemplated the last bit of what Tin had mentioned earlier.

"You said you can go faster than normal when you try. Does it feel physical? Like an adrenaline rush? Or is it due to a burst of chakra that happens instinctually?"

Satori listed off a few names, it didn’t really matter to Tin, he’d just forget their names until he actually met them. But he heard at least a couple of names. So that means he’s done this before, other people have trusted him to teach. Or something like that. He wasn’t sure what he should do with that information. But it made him feel a little less nervous about training with someone his own age, even if he could snap him like a twig.

He fell silent. He was throwing all of these peoples’ specialities around, and what could he do? He mentioned he liked the bow, and that was about it. Did it really matter? Probably not, he was better off just being beneath suspicion. That’s how he preferred it anyway. The most unassuming, let someone else take the spotlight, he didn’t need it. He frowned at Satori as he said he had the talent to match them. How did he know that? He was probably just trying to get his morale up or something.

He shakes his head at Satori’s question. “I don’t know, it’s not when I try, it’s just… When I need it, I don’t think about it when I do it, I can’t just make it… Happen.” he shrugged. “It’s probably just my adrenaline. Don’t bother with it.” he grumbled. It did exhaust him when he did it, though, kind of like when he did those tricks in the academy. “It might’ve been the chakra thing.” he added as an afterthought. It probably wasn’t, though.

Satori examined him as Tin actually appeared a bit uncertain. Whatever he was thinking about made him rumble in curiosity, but he left him to his thoughts. Instead, he contemplated the information that he was offered. The fact that it was an instinctual survival action made him think it was possibly an inborn talent, or perhaps a bloodline. Either was possible. Though why an individual with a bloodline would be a beggar was beyond him, there were a few options. Not all bloodline holders were part of large clans after all. Riku was an example of exactly the opposite, as was Midori.

Rubbing his chin as Tin continued to speak and commented to 'not worry about it', Satori chuckled.

"I won't until I see it in action. But it's good to have a general plan," he responded idly, before intertwining his fingertips together and tilting his head slightly to examine the young man for a few moments. With a grunt, he hauled himself to his feet and straightened.

"Keep going, while you do I'm going to practice some chakra control. If you need anything just tell me, take it easy," he stated simply before falling into his seated position once more. Relaxing in place and holding up his hands so that both his fists connecting. His legs crossing and eyes closing, despite this he kept his hearing on Tin. Even while he began to practice carefully channeling his chakra within him, performing his usual basic training to pass the time.

He watched Satori as he thought to himself. There was a lot of looking at each other during pauses. He decided it made him uncomfortable, and looked elsewhere. He glanced around the buildings, the houses and the training yard. He wondered if everyone here was a Ryuutei, it would have to be a big family to do that. Not a family. He corrected himself. A clan. Cousins, distant cousins, even more distant cousins. He didn’t know how strong they were compared to others, it probably didn’t really even matter unless the Ryuutei grew more arrogant than when they put their hair down.

He listened to satori, then shrugged. He doubted it was anything, running fast just made him tired, just like the chakra thing.

He stared at Satori when he told him to keep going. He just did the reps or sets or whatever. He has to do them again? He let out a sigh, it wasn’t going to be an uneventful day, probably. Then again doing sit and pushups all day weren’t much of an event anyway. They were just new to him doing them every single day. He stayed silent, and sat back down, getting to work.

Needless to say, a while later he was absolutely and utterly exhausted. He did a fair few breaks, but that just stopped his stomach and arms from hurting, they still burnt and were warm. It felt like a hot day. He was tired. “I… Can’t… Do.. Any.. More…” he huffed and puffed between words, sweating.

Once Tin had completely exhausted himself, Satori's eyes opened and focused on him. He'd been channeling his chakra in outputs steadily, draining his pool and letting it restore, then repeating. Once Tin had finished though, he halted and slowly pushed himself up to his feet. Dusting himself off lighting and offering a slight smile.

"Alright, well done. We can take a proper break now, then, and once you've rested I'll show you the basics of weaving and gathering food for low energy. It's much more efficient for nutrition than begging is." With this, he would idly walk over and wait for Tin to get up on his own. He knew better than to try and touch.

Once that was done and Tin was on his feet (if shaky), Satori led the way back toward his little "home", and would bring him his second meal of the day. Letting Tin sleep afterward was important as well, the body needed time to properly rest and recover or there was no point. He'd only do heavy workouts like this every few days, the sets were only a once a day thing until that point.

Still, this was the first steps to getting him on the right track health-wise. Once that was at a more neutral ground, Satori could begin the next route, helping him train a bit before going shopping with the young man so that he could get into some proper clothing and acquire a bow for himself. Perhaps he could even get Minami to make him a bow.

// Thread Exit.

Satori got up, and Tin tried to do the same. He was a little inconvenienced by his exhaustion, but most of his sore places were in his core and arms, his legs were mostly fine. They didn’t hurt anymore, and had recovered from his flight a few days ago.

Once he had clambered up to his feet, he slowed his breathing to a steady pace. He didn’t want to show too much weakness in front of him. Showing weakness was bad, if you were actually weak. It was a wholly different story if you weren’t, that was just being tactical. He followed Satori back to the base that he had made for himself. He looked at the food, before eating it quickly. The training had made him a little ravenous, and old habits were hard to break, even if that happened they were easily reforged.

He finished his foot, then crawled into his ‘bed’, and pressed his head against the rucksack that made his pillow. His training places were sore. Arms, stomach and chest. It felt like someone was slowly trampling on them, even though he was lying on his stomach. It hurt a fair bit. He let sleep slowly take him.

// Thread Exit.