Need For Improvement [Closed/Invite]

[Uchiha Kuzuri]

[ Eight Months Ago - Training Courtyard ]

The Uchiha compound was its usual bustling self, with all sorts of clan members of various ages and experience going about their day-to-day tasks. A lot of them were shinobi, some weren't, or at least some had been; either way it didn't matter, because at the end of the day they were all Uchiha and they all had a reputation to maintain.

So it was that Kuzuri, a troubled young Genin who had been given a drunk for a father and a curse on his name by that very man, sat in one of the many training courtyards. He sat cross-legged, his black eyes intent as he stared down at his hands. Both limbs were in front of his chest, held together as the fingers and palms moved with surprising speed.

"Bird, boar, dog, dragon, ox, tiger,"

Each hand seal was performed in rapid succession, the boy's fingers almost blurring as he listed off the names for each. Despite the sweat that beaded on his forehead, he continued.

"Snake, rat, horse, monkey, hare, ram,"

Jaw clenched, eyes narrowed, Kuzuri made himself continue the pattern, forming the seals with precision and swiftness. He knew each of them by heart, he could do them perfectly with his eyes closed simply from repetition and feel; but, that didn't matter when he wanted to increase his fingers forming speed.

I need to be faster, Kuzuri thought, his own inner voice overly aggressive. Always faster!

He mixed up the seal order, not wanting to pollute his mind with a pointless pattern that was the same over and over - no, he had to be able to use any combination, with as much speed as possible, whenever he needed to.

"Tiger, rat, ram, ox..."

After what seemed like hours, which it likely had been, Kuzuri took a breath and finished the last seal. With his hands still in the position for the ox, the Genin looked at his fingers; they were worn, the skin smoothed and even some blistering had started. There was some blood from where the skin had split through constant friction and increased movement.

It was a small price to pay for becoming one of the best.

Letting the seal unfold, before giving his fingers a good stretch, Kuzuri looked to his right and grasped the water bottle beside him. He took a few mouthfuls, feeling completely worn out from mental concentration. He could feel his chakra pumping, knowing that practicing seals was the method for channeling it for Genjutsu and Ninjutsu, but with his not letting the chakra progress beyond being prepared... it almost made him feel light-headed and sick.

He didn't mind too much, however, as he always channeled his chakra whenever he trained hand seals; Kuzuri felt it helped him exercise his chakra circulatory system, improving it at the same time.

"I guess I have to send it somewhere," He muttered to himself, before he began forming hand seals once again - ram, snake, tiger. "Bunshin no Jutsu!"

With a puff, a clone appeared beside the Genin, cross-legged and looking back at him. It was an exact duplicate, Kuzuri having learned that particular jutsu back in the Academy before his graduation.

He sighed.

"Go away..." Kuzuri said, releasing his control of the clone, watching as it disappeared just as suddenly as it had materialized.

I wish someone was around to help me with my Genjutsu, Kuzuri thought, not for the first time. I want to start learning advanced techniques... I believe I'm ready.

Yet, not having anyone on hand to ask, Kuzuri took one last sip of water before returning to his hand seals...

[Uchiha Kuzuri]

[ Eight Months Ago - Behind Kuzuri's Home ]

It was a new day, Kuzuri having woken early so he could get a better start on his training. Even with a full nights sleep he felt tired, having worked to the bone the day before. Yet, in the long run, all the pain and discomfort would be well worth it; and once Kuzuri had become one of the best with Genjutsu, everyone would see how far he had come. Today, however, he planned to work on the Katon: Gōkakyuu no Jutsu*, known as the clan's method of judging whether an Uchiha child could be called a man.

...Kuzuri had failed for far too long, and he couldn't take any more of his father's vile words about how his son would remain a child in the clan's eyes forever.

He makes me push myself, even if he doesn't intend to, Kuzuri thought to himself, steeling his resolve. I'll make it work today. Today is the day I prove myself.

Taking a deep breath, Kuzuri closed his eyes and centered himself. He listened to the calming wind, the distant chirp of birds, the swishing of trees; and with a mental command he instantly tuned all of those sounds out, leaving nothing but focus and concentration.

His hands moved in a blur, forming the Horse then Tiger.

"Katon: Gōkakyuu no Jutsu!"

As the chakra channeled through him, Kuzuri knew that it was doing what it was supposed to - mostly. There was something slightly off about the attempt, something even he couldn't put his finger on. Despite his lessons and training with Genjutsu giving him an impressive understanding of chakra manipulation, there was just something that wasn't fitting into place.

Maybe it was the hand seals? Or something wrong with his focus? Perhaps the mental stress of constantly being berated by his father?

Kuzuri suddenly started coughing, the strain in his chest causing him to double over and spew smoke from his mouth. The chakra receded, returning to its normal state even as the boy reached for his water and took a mouthful. He almost gagged, the taste horrible, kind of like ash.

"Ugh," He muttered, spitting the fluid onto the ground. "Gross. Completely gross."

"That was pathetic..."

Kuzuri's eyes widened, his head spinning as he saw his father standing in the rear doorway of the house. His expression was that of annoyance, his face still covered in the seemingly constant five o'clock shadow he kept. He looked gaunt, drawn out and withering from his alcoholism; even this early in the morning Hagane had a bottle of sake in hand, the top removed and ready for drinking.

"Why bother? You keep trying and you keep failing. Your brother did it early in his life, at least," Hagane growled, his voice coarse from all the drink over the years. He mumbled something under his breath about resting in peace. "You? You're just... you're just not him."

Kuzuri looked down to his hands, his fingers entwined as he set his narrow jaw. It looked as though his father hadn't finished drinking last night, already being drunk - he was even swaying, now that Kuzuri looked closely enough, bracing himself against the door jam.

"I'll get it," Kuzuri said, his voice low, his eyes still downcast.

"What did you say, boy?" Hagane shouted, standing straight as he took a menacing step forward. "Did you just talk back to me?"

"I said: I'll get it," Kuzuri repeated, his eyebrows lowered in a scowl as he looked up to his father. The boy's voice was strained, his eye twitching slightly out of nervousness.

"Why you ungrateful little--," Hagane crossed the distance between the two in several large strides, rearing back his hand and raising it for a swift back-hand...

Kuzuri didn't move, but inwardly he braced for what he wished wouldn't come. His father had never actually hit him before, but from what he understood it had only been a matter of time. First the shouting, the insults, with the mental abuse... then it was physical.

"Heh," Hagane grunted, lowering his hand as he looked to the bottle of sake. He shook his head, turning and walking back to the house, as he took a long swig of the alcoholic beverage. "Keep trying all you want, boy, it won't work. Nothing you'll do will work out."

Kuzuri took a sharp intake of breath, forming the seals for the Body Flicker Technique; and with a flash he was gone, leaving his bitter father to his own hate and loathing...

[ Later, Not Far Away ]

Kuzuri sat beside one of the water fountains in the Uchiha compound, watching the water ripple and splash. His eyes were half-closed, his hand dipped into the water as he moved his fingers through it lazily...

I hate this...

* - Fire Release: Grand Fireball Technique

[Uchiha Kuzuri]

[ One Month Later - Behind Kuzuri's Home ]

The day was breezy, with scattered clouds high above, helping to block out the burning sun. The wind made the day cool, rather than humid like it might have been. Either way, it was a good day to train, with freshness and light. Not only that, but Kuzuri's father wasn't home, having left for the sake bar early; this meant his son could train without being harassed for being useless or failing in his attempts.

Kuzuri, stained in sweat, formed seals, racing through the positions as he channeled his chakra. He felt the circulation, feeling it flow how he suspected it should move up through his body and into his chest, but his focus seemed off still and the chakra began to warp under his control.

Not again, He thought, berating himself inwardly. I just can't... there's too much pressure on me!

As the chakra flow returned to normal, Kuzuri slumped to the ground, sighing. He had always found elemental techniques hard, despite showing significant promise with Genjutsu, and he was finding that learning something solo was increasingly difficult. Part of him wondered if he was holding back, trying to avoid having his mouth and lungs filled with horrible tasting ash again...

That hadn't been a good experience.

Kuzuri looked down and grabbed his bottle of water. He took a mouthful, almost tasting the horrible black dryness from a month ago. It had lasted several days, making him gag whenever he ate or drank. But, at the end of the day, until Kuzuri could master the Katon: Gōkakyuu no Jutsu*, he would be unable to take his place in the clan as a recognized man.

So, rolling his neck on his shoulders, the Genin stood and prepared to try again. Despite the fact he was having trouble infusing his chakra with the fire element, which was integral to successfully completing the Jutsu, he would continue to work on it. Despite knowing that a number of shinobi, some even younger than him, had mastered it by now, he would continue to work on it. And despite knowing that his father had no real support for his son, instead only seeming to rile and insult, he would continue to work on it...

And he would beat it.

Taking a breath, Kuzuri began to work through the hand seals. He knew he did them right, allowing him to concentrate on channeling his chakra. Once again it went where it was supposed to go. Yet, as it swirled and kneaded in his chest, the Genin couldn't manage to alter its form to include the fire element... something just wasn't allowing him to make that transition, some lack of knowledge or know-how that made the effort result in failure.

Letting out a drawn out exhale, Kuzuri dispersed the buildup of chakra once more, crouching down as he caught his breath. He punched the ground, growling to himself as he thought about how close, yet how far, he had come.

It was beyond infuriating.

Deciding that he needed time to calm down, Kuzuri turned around and walked back into the house. He felt as though he had been punched in the stomach, his lungs feeling heavy from the strain of having inhaled and held his chakra in place for so long while attempting the Jutsu. Right now Kuzuri needed something to eat, perhaps some sushi, followed by some relaxation - perhaps a game of chess, or maybe a walk through the compound to clear his head.

Either way, today was a step forward, but the Genin tried to forget about how many steps remained...