Things had happened fast. The second phase of the Chunin Exams ended, and Chigetsu was back to square one. Despite his victory, and new friendship in Inarie, there was a lot to focus on. He couldn’t mindlessly allow himself to be pushed forward by the wind any longer, even as it rained and torrented in every direction. In the fuss, with so much to worry about, he had managed to secure a moment alone. The Hozuki Clan had several private training grounds and parks, perfect for serene meditation.
Chigetsu had never been the type to meditate. Even as he sat here now, cross legged on the ground before a silent pond, he found himself unable to start. The purpose was clear to him. Clear your mind of all distractions, of all negativity and positivity. Until there’s nothing left but the universe before you. Tapping into the natural flow of the universe, and the universe’s natural energy, was the supposed secret. At the same time he was no monk. Chigetsu’s diet consisted largely of sugar. He was jumpy, quick to flutter from one topic to the next in his mind which scattered in every direction. Everywhere he was pulled around. By the desires of others, by his obligations, by his own mind. It was exhausting, even when he was the one doing it to himself. He had only the energy to retreat. Just to hide again, running back to his room. The place he had spent the last several years of his life, stewing in only his own desires and self-loathing. It all turned into a thick soup, and once it was let out there was no way it could be recanned. Like crawling out of the womb. Now things were different. In this small time he had changed a great deal. Although, was it really a small time? It had been over six months now. Maybe more. He hadn’t been keeping count.
That was how it started. Meeting Calis was what provoked all these changes in him. It was what led him to slowly turn into a different sort of person, what led him to the Chunin Exams, and what brought him exactly to where he was sitting right now. Calis was dead. There was no going back from that. He had only learned about it after the second survival phase of the exams ended. Before even that there were signs of it. Calis had been acting strangely. After all he said about the exams, he suddenly backed out of it at the last second. After everything he had said about winning, and all the supreme confidence that he had shown.
He didn’t have much of a family. Chigetsu didn’t know anything about the funeral, or if one was even going to be held. Nobody had told him, and he didn’t have the strength to ask.
Things were opening up in other, scary ways as well. He was talking to his mother again. His father was still dying. Suddenly he was in a relationship with the Mizukage? It all felt too fast. He wanted to slow down, but none of it was possible. To a certain extent he knew that slowing down was only his own inherent fear of change, but that didn’t do much to deaden the feeling inside his chest. The Chunin Exams were still here as well. Soon, he would have to fight. There was no avoiding it this time either. No getting lucky with finding a relic, no passing written exams. Just fighting. He would have to fight someone else, and maybe injure them to the point where they couldn’t fight back. The same was true of his opponent, who would be sure to be trying to do the same, or maybe even kill him. Why? Was this worth it?
He wanted to win, but why? That was what he kept on telling himself. That he needed it. That it meant a lot to him, more than it could to anyone else.
Chigetsu unclenched. His body relaxed, and a light sigh would release out from him. Pent up energy.
“I’m no good at this meditation stuff.” He wasn’t saying it to anyone in particular, but at the same time it was something that he needed to say. There was nobody here to listen, or to watch. His legs would be unfurled and he would dip them down into the pond. In an instant his entire body would be transferred down into the pond. His entire body would be merged with it, slurping down into it in an instant. Down in the pond it was easier. When he was a part of the water everything felt clearer. Smoother. It was easier to think and feel without the complications that came from breathing air. Without as much pressure or heat. It was so much more natural.
He swam down to the center, taking his time. There was no rush now, even if there was. The answers didn’t come to him any clearer down here than they did up here, but he felt more at peace. Less like everything was collapsing around him. He could wait here, taking all the time he needed to make peace with the world, and peace with himself.
[893/850- Training Ōhamaguri, Inner Depths, and Water Clone Replacement Technique]
Chigetsu had never been the type to meditate. Even as he sat here now, cross legged on the ground before a silent pond, he found himself unable to start. The purpose was clear to him. Clear your mind of all distractions, of all negativity and positivity. Until there’s nothing left but the universe before you. Tapping into the natural flow of the universe, and the universe’s natural energy, was the supposed secret. At the same time he was no monk. Chigetsu’s diet consisted largely of sugar. He was jumpy, quick to flutter from one topic to the next in his mind which scattered in every direction. Everywhere he was pulled around. By the desires of others, by his obligations, by his own mind. It was exhausting, even when he was the one doing it to himself. He had only the energy to retreat. Just to hide again, running back to his room. The place he had spent the last several years of his life, stewing in only his own desires and self-loathing. It all turned into a thick soup, and once it was let out there was no way it could be recanned. Like crawling out of the womb. Now things were different. In this small time he had changed a great deal. Although, was it really a small time? It had been over six months now. Maybe more. He hadn’t been keeping count.
That was how it started. Meeting Calis was what provoked all these changes in him. It was what led him to slowly turn into a different sort of person, what led him to the Chunin Exams, and what brought him exactly to where he was sitting right now. Calis was dead. There was no going back from that. He had only learned about it after the second survival phase of the exams ended. Before even that there were signs of it. Calis had been acting strangely. After all he said about the exams, he suddenly backed out of it at the last second. After everything he had said about winning, and all the supreme confidence that he had shown.
He didn’t have much of a family. Chigetsu didn’t know anything about the funeral, or if one was even going to be held. Nobody had told him, and he didn’t have the strength to ask.
Things were opening up in other, scary ways as well. He was talking to his mother again. His father was still dying. Suddenly he was in a relationship with the Mizukage? It all felt too fast. He wanted to slow down, but none of it was possible. To a certain extent he knew that slowing down was only his own inherent fear of change, but that didn’t do much to deaden the feeling inside his chest. The Chunin Exams were still here as well. Soon, he would have to fight. There was no avoiding it this time either. No getting lucky with finding a relic, no passing written exams. Just fighting. He would have to fight someone else, and maybe injure them to the point where they couldn’t fight back. The same was true of his opponent, who would be sure to be trying to do the same, or maybe even kill him. Why? Was this worth it?
He wanted to win, but why? That was what he kept on telling himself. That he needed it. That it meant a lot to him, more than it could to anyone else.
Chigetsu unclenched. His body relaxed, and a light sigh would release out from him. Pent up energy.
“I’m no good at this meditation stuff.” He wasn’t saying it to anyone in particular, but at the same time it was something that he needed to say. There was nobody here to listen, or to watch. His legs would be unfurled and he would dip them down into the pond. In an instant his entire body would be transferred down into the pond. His entire body would be merged with it, slurping down into it in an instant. Down in the pond it was easier. When he was a part of the water everything felt clearer. Smoother. It was easier to think and feel without the complications that came from breathing air. Without as much pressure or heat. It was so much more natural.
He swam down to the center, taking his time. There was no rush now, even if there was. The answers didn’t come to him any clearer down here than they did up here, but he felt more at peace. Less like everything was collapsing around him. He could wait here, taking all the time he needed to make peace with the world, and peace with himself.
[893/850- Training Ōhamaguri, Inner Depths, and Water Clone Replacement Technique]
