The Pinnacle

It was always surreal watching Tōri learn his techniques. Hibiki and Kaori might have been his peers, but it was all the more affirming for one as talented as the Senju to make use of them. His smile widened with each testing of the jutsu's capabilities.

“Well, now it’s my turn. This one might feel a bit strange as well, honestly. Requiring just the Monkey hand seal you want to focus a rather sizable amount of chakra into your hair to accelerate its growth and maintain a certain threshold of power.”

Hair growth? Natsuki glanced to the side, eyeing his wild hair as it flowed to the side of his head. He had always let it grow out; more out of apathy than style, granted; but interweaving it into jutsu was most odd. Still, he couldn't deny the usefulness of this application; four separate limb-like appendages capable of propelling their user at great speeds was most impressive.

“It might not be a doton technique, but it’s a handy one. I call it the Lions Pride.”

Natsuki expected this, based on, Tōri's earlier statement, but non-doton was always such a struggle. "I'll give it a shot!" He shouted up, but was quite down on his chances. Forming Monkey, Natsuki struggled in forced effort as he sent chakra through his scalp and down his locks. He held his breath at the struggle, the hair extending, albeit slowly. With four limbs of his own, he staggered his way towards the pillar, crashing them into the stone and hoisting himself up the side. He'd move up, just about as quickly as he could otherwise- the disparity between his speed and coordination not quite as intense.

He arrived at the top, beads of sweat clearly evident on his brow and a pained look that accompanied a serious migraine at the effort this was taking. While it was useful to know, and it opened up a previously unconsidered aspect of ninjutsu, this was probably not something he'd use himself. "It's, heh, it's great!" He'd pant, clearly more exhausted than those other techniques called, but not wanting to be rude. "I like... heh... the name... heh..." The name was cool, though.

[Learned Techniques]
Lion's Pride - A rank - 30 CP (Non-Elemental Weakness) - 301/300 words

CP: CP: 182 / 260

Natsuki seemed to struggle with the technique more than he’d thought, perhaps he had just been accustomed to the lads affinity for doton techniques but it sure looked to be something more than just that. With great effort he was able to replicate the technique, though his concentration seemed to be waning. Unsure how challenging the further application of this technique would prove for Natsuki Tōri decided to press forward with full confidence in his student.

“Now with that technique, it can be taken a step further to crush or trap a target within the hair’s grasp using an additional release of chakra. It requires only the Ram hand seal, however, it must be held to maintain the effect.”

Commanding one of his limbs to wrap around one of the leftover trees from their day of training he demonstrated its baseline strength by crushing the mokuton creation before forming the Ram seal. With the additional chakra the make-shift fist of hair crunched the remaining section of the tree in its grip, releasing its hold as a sawdust-like powder was carried by the wind through its fingers.

Used:
- Lions Pride (A-Rank Custom) | 10 CP Upkeep
- Lions Pride: Sovereign Grip (A-Rank Custom) | 10 CP

Chakra: 215 / 320

Lions Pride: Sovereign Grip:

Additional chakra?! The boy was dreading maintaining this technique, but to apply another?!

"Heh, okay!" Panting and sweating despite his relatively large reserves, Natsuki was so very rapidly being drained by this; but he was determined not to give up. Even if he might not use these techniques that often, they might come in handy- he would trust Tōri on that. As well, who knows, maybe he'll make his own techniques that aren't as chakra intensive for him.

He formed the Ram seal, as instructed, but did not utilize his chakra just yet- at least, not more of it. One of his "limb locks" (lock limbs?) of hair reached towards another one of the trees and wrapped tightly around its trunk. He concentrated hard to crush it, though the struggle was real. Like in those disconcerting moments where one's grip seemed to fail, as if one had no strength at all, Natsuki strained to crush as effectively as the Senju had. He let out an explosive "byah" as the tree began to give. He didn't realize even realize that he had been holding his breath

"Heh, heh," he continued to pant in incredible effort, though his breath immediately halted once he began to utilize his chakra, molded by the effects of the Ram seal. His treeth gritted as he felt his chakra surging through his hair. As he did, he felt his energy leaving him even faster. He would not be able to maintain these sorts of techniques for long, but he would not give up. He's held back before, but he would not do so for Tōri.

It wasn't long, then, that this additional chakra crushed the tree with one last additional crunch. The familiar sawdust-like powder that had accompanied his sensei's usage puffed between the locks of his grip. Just as soon as it did, so too did Natsuki losen that grip and fall to his hands and knees. He had never used such a tremendous amount of his chakra so quickly.

[Used and Learned Techniques]
Lion's Pride - A rank - 20 CP (Unrealized Prodigy)
Lions Pride: Sovereign Grip  - A rank - 20 CP - 334/300 words

CP: 142 / 260

With tremendous effort Natsuki was able to triumph over the secondary application of the technique, while it looked a technique that would be too taxing for much extended use it could provide a stepping stone for the lad to make it his own. If nothing else it was a way for him to ensure the earthen focused boy had something potent in his back pocket if taken out of an advantageous environment for such techniques.

Offering him a hand he hoped the techniques hadn’t been too horrendously taxing, he had a feeling that even though they were massive expenditures that he was still kicking pretty well internally. Call it his intuition from seeing his stupendous progress of late.

“Should we call it with some snacks on the go? I'm thinking a round of okonomiyaki and dango for dessert. Though we gotta take our time making it to ‘Dango Good Eats’ to enjoy the meal.”

With that Tōri would wait for a response, hoping that Natsuki to be amendable after such a taxing series of techniques that they had helped one another with.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: Attempting Exit

It was true that the boy had more to give, but god damn were those techniques difficult.

“Should we call it with some snacks on the go? I'm thinking a round of okonomiyaki and dango for dessert. Though we gotta take our time making it to ‘Dango Good Eats’ to enjoy the meal.”

As soon as the words "call it" were uttered, Natsuki would give his answer in the form of the hair technique receding. "Heh," he panted, "Yeah, heh, yes please!" Taking the Senju's hand, Natsuki pulled himself to his feet and stumbled slightly before making his way out of there for some pleasant treats.