Precedence for preparation during peace

Hanabi looked towards the Hokage, taking in everything he said. He was absolutely right and even if it wasn’t towards Hanabi, she took his advice. Panning over to Airi when he put the prime focus on her, Airi seemed to be getting upset or angry. She may have no spoken about it but Hanabi could tell. ‘Maybe I should talk to her..’ Hanabi came up with a brilliant plan and gave a ‘Hmph!’ Agreeing with herself.


As the Hokage turned his focus on to Hanabi, she stiffened up and made a big gulp. As soon as he said her name, she replied with “Yes!”. She was nervous and she didn’t really want to be highly criticized. Instead, she was actually given another opportunity. Keeping her arm extended? Managing her chakra flow to her sword? That seemed to be easy.. Hanabi glanced down at her sword, giving a few blinks to it and maneuvering it around. She sort of tuned the Hokage out but got the gist of what he wanted. Inputting Katon into the blade would make the blade go ablaze. That was smart and Hanabi kinda looked down on herself for not thinking of that. She could be so much more powerful. She unsheathed her blade and took a step back from the group. Not knowing any consequences of failure, she decided to keep a distance from the others. She placed her sheathe on the ground and twirled her swords handle around her fingers, finally catching it in a 90° angle from her arm to torso. ‘Focus Hanabi.’


Hanabi closed her eyes and gave a few deep breaths. For a while Hanabi looked like she was asleep but in reality she was focused on moving her Chakra around before really going to her blade. Her chakra moving up and down, through her chakra channels, feeling it getting hotter. The Katon affinity was starting up. As she felt it get hotter, she slowly moved her chakra from her channels, down to her hand, fingertips and into the hilt of the sword. The chakra took hold and slowly made its way down the blade. A few sparks happen but nothing major. ‘Come on..!’ She thought to herself again. Hanabi’s face became quite distressed, trying to get the flames to grow. Her arm was getting a little tired but she wanted to try and get it with each arm before switching to the other. As she was tempted to switch, she relaxed her face, getting ready to lower her arm. Her blade became engulfed in flames, making a fwoomp sound, like fabric suddenly being engulfed. As quickly as it became, it went out just as quickly. If you blinked, you missed it.

Hanabi’s eyes opened wide and she jumped up with joy. This was the first real expression she really made since the training began. She covered her mouth and cleared her throat before swapping the sword to the other arm. She had a big smile on her face that could light up a room. She began to try once more, now more determined than before.

Tengoku would watch each of them in turn. His sensory passively picking up each of their chakra signatures. He recalled being at that point before. Struggling with the basics to create a foundation for something greater. In due time they would each become their greater selves but for now he needed to toughen them up. A mission would be coming up soon for them as a squad but for now the basics. Airi was the first to comply as she had received her instructions first. He could feel her forcing the chakra to rock back and forth and see her face turning red with effort. He didn't really see why she had been upset before but she would speak up if she took issue with him. Still he would address her first.

"Chakra is a flowing energy. If you were to stand in a river and push against it with your body it would part against you and resist you. Feel the flow of the river and redirect it gradually. Do not force it to swirl by rocking it back and forth...instead feel the direction of its flow and open that path more. Allow it to flow freely in its already set path and give it room. It will begin to circulate itself. This is called chakra refining. A common practice that refines the raw chakra you already know how to tap into. Over time the quality of your chakra will increase and build. Creating more chakra to utilize for techniques."

With that he would rise to his feet. Anyone with sensory would see his continue to circulate. However refined it was though it was almost glowing a dark violet. Tainted by something. Still it was a practice he was so inclined to training he did it passively now. Still he would collect his gold and white sword with the senju wood handle and move to stand across from Hanabi. Holding it up sheathed still as she did. Electricity crackling along the length of the sheath to show his own chakra flow. Little more than a tazer at that point but still he would continue to speak to Hanabi next.

"Thats good. Flow your katon chakra into your blade. The blade is just another limb to a Kenjutsu specialist. Grow accustomed to the weight of your sword. Let your hands feel empty without it. As if a part of yourself is missing. Once it is a part of you flowing chakra through it will be like breathing. It won't matter how you hold the weapon it is just another limb for you. Left or right hand matters not. Even if you must grip it between your teeth you will be able to release flames from your blade to incinerate your foes. An Uchiha is rarely outshined when it comes to Katon. Use your affinity and become one with your weapon and your combat capabilities will rise."

He would tuck the sword into his belt as the electricity would die down. Using the moment to adjust her arm to straight out from her shoulder at her side. Making sure it was perfectly straight before moving on. Even a light weight was exhausting over time at that angle. Still a crack noise would be heard as he shifted his gaze to Taco. Who had just finished imprinting a boulder with his fist. Tengoku would quietly move to his side. His arms behind his back as he activated the arm guards. Increasing his strength as he did. Quietly he would raise his right hand and place his fingers into the fist imprint before with a single heave he would flip the boulder like it was a kids table. The sound of it crashing onto its side was a heavy thump. However he would turn to Taco after.

"A task like this is far from impossible. Instead it takes time, training and often ingenuity. For instance, gear shouldn't be underestimated for a taijutsu specialist. These arm guards do more than allow me to slide an enemy blow to the side. The craftsmanship is superior enough to grant me a drastic increase in strength at no cost beyond ryo. As for your rage. What did it solve? Did destruction make you feel better? Will that rage one day be towards an ally? If you want to be angry than learn to utilize it. Learn to burn that fuel in your heart in a constructive way. Otherwise that path ends in tragedy."

Hanabi glared at Sero and gave him a nod, her eyes slowly closing and her head falling back a little, inhaling deeply. ‘My sword is my arm. My sword is apart of me, my sword is an extension.’ She thought to herself, gripping the handle of her sword, adjusting the grip here and there. Hanabi let her head go forward, her eyes opening, letting out a slow exhale. She began twirling the sword, feeling the weight shift in her hand and on her arm. ‘Feel it become apart of you.’ Each twirl began to get faster, small sparks flying, letting her chakra flow into the handle and into the blade. ‘Feel it be you.’


After a light show of sparks, she caught it and held it still, flowing as much chakra down her arm, pushing it in to the blade. ‘That’s it.. just like that.’ Her sword fluttered with flames, constantly moving down the blade and extinguishing once it hit the tip. ‘More!’ Hanabi gripped tighter, shaking the sword just a little bit, showing a bit of irritation. She gritted her teeth and looked down at her sword, using her other hand to follow the blades side. “Just ignite!” As she called out, her sword flew into flames as her hand met the end of the sword. The flames burned hot and bright with color, flickering every now and then with the oxygen dancing with it. She looked at the flames, noticing it wasn’t the average red/orange hue. It burned blue with the flames fading out to a purple. Hanabi took note of this before a big smile appeared on her face, a slight blush coming across her cheeks. She moved the sword around, flames following behind, amber falling off of the flames here and there, replicating feathers of a bird.


Hanabi swung the sword in a few directions, throwing it up and catching it with her other hand, twirling it and finally, bringing it to a stop. Once the sword stopped, the flames extinguished and she was left with a burning sword, hot like it came out from the furnace. Hanabi twirled the sword once again, igniting the sword once more and extinguishing it with a slight shake. “Yes!”

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*Total CP 110
*CP used 3
*Senju regeneration 2
*Strong fist style 1
*Left CP 107

strong fist stance:

Tengoku would smile as each of his students would quickly find their center. Finding the fluid movement of her chakra for Airi. He could sense its slow but natural churn as she focused inwards. His hands would slip behind his back a moment as he walked between the three. Minutes passed by and soon all of them would likely be exhausted physically and spiritually. To exhaust the body and spirit was to give it room to rejuvenate and grow. Hanabi was a brilliant spark waiting to set a blaze. He control over chakra flow growing as she practiced. But just as it burned her sword it would begin to burn through her chakra. The weight of the sword over time becoming cumbersome. Difficult to keep at arms length more and more so. Even with his taijutsu stance increasing the boys strength it was awkward to get a good position without breaking the rock. For him it was a training in both strength and patience. If he shattered the rock he would accomplish nothing...but how to move it without harming it? Tengoku had found a sturdy spot and shifted the weight without harming it so it was possible...just took an experienced hand...and what the boy lacked was experience.

Finally after they all looked sufficiently exhausted he would move on. However his definition of sufficiently was off. He expected them to be dripping sweat and labored breathing before he would simply let off. They needed to push themselves after all. The world was still spinning and with it the wheel of fate. What would become of this village could very well be tied to these three and their united clans. They would need the power to unite them and to hold them together. Only a unified Konoha could withstand anything. Still when it looked like they were on the verge of giving in Tengoku would speak once more. A smile on his face as he crossed his arms. Like a training coach proud of his kids.

"Alright lets take a breather. I am going to have to return to the office soon but I saw real progress today team. I want you to keep practicing every other day on your own these same practices. Strong core, strong tower. But take the time to recover in between. Know your limits and if you treat your body and chakra right...surpass them. Treat them wrong and you will either die or cripple yourself. No one wants that so do as you are told...please. That said in the next two weeks I want each of you to select at least a C rank scroll from the jutsu library. Study it and master that jutsu. When that two weeks are over we will have ourselves a three way battle. Winner gets either a small ryo prize of ten thousand ryo or my first sword. It was repaired by the previous Senju clan leader so while its durability has weakened...it cuts rock like paper. Any questions? Concerns? Lets start with Airi and Taco will go last since you showed up last."

Hanabi blinked quite a few times from break. Surprisingly so soon but at the same time she was glad. She was getting tired and maybe it was time to head home for a nap. She rubbed the back of her head yawning, expressing the now found tiredness. Her eyes shot towards Tengoku when he mentioned learning a C rank jutsu and studying it for a battle between her comrades. She looked at both of them, making eye contact with Airi at one, realizing she was doing the same as her. Taco had the brute strength and was a prodigy in Taijutsu, he would probably be a problem with her sword, same with Airi. Taco had the strength and the battle mentality while Airi… She was calm and confident, almost like she knows she will win. Airi had elegance and precision from what she saw. Hanabi on her own hand, she was only good with fire and Kenjutsu. Hanabi would surely fall behind, watching them advance. She didn’t have much strength, let alone much confidence.

Hanabi clenched her fists, hoping she would be able to put up a fight when the time came. She would be better, she would be stronger too. A coy smile formed on her face, looking at the other two while picking her sword up and laying the back of it on her should, placing her other hand on her hip. “That’s it? This should be fun.” She glared at the two, her eyes becoming determined and focused on her teammates, soon to be enemies. “Let’s make this battle count! Get stronger for this fight and let’s hope the strongest comes out. Winner takes all and the first one out treats the others to some ramen!” Hanabi started laughing, closing her eyes and walking to her teammates to give them a fist bump. A grin remained after her laughing fit, while changing her glance to Tengoku. “Let’s hope it’s a battle worth while, yeah?”

Tengoku would listen to all three of them. Confidence was filling all of them after a successful training session. There was a reason though he was asking them to fight each other first. They needed to get used to fighting with something on the line. Experience actual combat before their lives were on the line. After all with what was coming after that...they would need the practice. For now he would let them all finish though his gaze didn't miss the two women glancing at Tako. So they both considered the Senju the biggest threat. That tracked with his taijutsu style and the sheer endurance of the Senju. If he had regeneration mastered than taking him down with C rank jutsu would be difficult. They were certainly going to have to step up their game. Still for now Tengoku would shake his head at the comfort they each had in how simple the homework was. The three way battle was an interesting practice. You had two threats and two potential allies at all times. You never knew when they would coordinate with you or when they would turn on you. Still he would speak up once they were all finished.

"We are done for today indeed Taco. As for you two....avoid asking things like is that all until you experience that fight. If you ended up losing it sure would taste foul to eat those words. And since you both said it...someone's gonna have to. Go home for today and rest. Keep up on your practices and in two weeks we will meet at the same time in the coliseum room. Do not underestimate your opponents. I have other duties to attend to now so see yourselves home and I look forward to a good show. Oh and Taco, Try not to make such uncouth comments. It isn't befitting a clan leader."

It was a simple look of disapproval at the hard comment but for now he would go collect all 3 of his swords and the hero water. He wondered who would really end up on top here...though at this level against a Senju.....those two girls had a mountain to climb. Once they matured more they would have equipment or techniques to deal with such issues. Tengoku however wouldn't stick around for anything else. He had ignored his duties too long and now he was off back to the office.

exit

10x30 = 300

Hanabi nodded to Tengoku, appreciating the words and wisdom of what he had to say. It was a bit cocky to just say is that all and Hanabi would be disappointed to lose after saying such a thing. She twirled her sword and pointed it towards the Hokage. “This isn’t a proposal! I’ll get that blade of yours! Just you wait! Whether I lose or win, I will get it!” Hanabi called out to him, not stopping him from leaving but just as a heads up. She wanted to be stronger and she appreciated the help the Hokage has given them. For Hanabi, it was more than an honor to be under him. She grew up without mentors, let alone anyone to watch her. She twirled her sword once more, placing it on her back and looking towards her teammates. Airi was definitely an issue and so was Taco. If she had any chance to be better, she would have to work hard.

Hanabi bowed to both before Airi left, giving thanks to the two and waved softly to them. “See you guys soon! Hopefully we meet up once again! You better be stronger than when we started.” Hanabi smiled to Taco, giving a snicker to him. She followed shortly behind Airi, leaving the training grounds to go home. From the start of the training and to the end, she was more lively with them and more open. It almost felt natural. She looked up to the sky, placing her arms and hands behind her head, smiling big. Friends.. This feels nice.

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Exit thread