The Value of "Strength" [Open]

[davy1]

Growth is to learn from one's mistakes and pushing forward to never make the same.

Just like any other day, the solemn ridges of the glorious village in the clouds made more brilliant with the sight of a rising orange glowing ball. The world around one's nature made clear that it could be nothing more than an endless dream if reality wasn't so dominant in keeping back the spirits of those who wished to elevate themselves into a peaceful existence. Yet, with war came malice and with malice came death. So reality never stopped working, developing a road where if one had no strength then they'd have died for nothing. It would seem that this was a simple fact.

There he was however, trying to transcend such an existence in order to make peace with himself. The ever-growing wind's of the future pushed against him with every movement of his fists into the stone statue showed such diligence. Clank. Clank. Clank. The arms of the dummy pushed back, smacking inwardly with every stroke of his hands and legs as he actively practiced the thoroughness of his reflexive movements. The trick of being strong alleviated by way of his subtle nature, his arms and legs blanketed in lead beams holding back his true strength.

It was a silent morning, yet clear. His ever-so-strong spirit once more showcasing his drive to become a better martial artist discounting his inability to use ninja arts the way shinobi should be capable of. It was a painful existence while he was young, but he had gained a certain respect in the village for his deeds as a combatant leading to him being seen as more than just a useless individual who could not keep up with the strongest combatants. He had her to think for training him, alas, still curious and young yet so powerful for his age. But this didn't deter him, he was strong but he wasn't strong enough, fast but not fast enough. He wished for more, to become something greater.

Time never stopped as the sweat poured through his pores, and his body never stopped moving. His speed increased, timing and reactions moving faster as he increased the interval of his attacks and made full use of his skills as a fighter instead of allowing himself to get caught up in his own arrogance. A true martial artist never saw himself as "superior" because superiority was relative. Strength was nothing more than a tool, the use of such a tool depended on the one who fought for it, the one who lead themselves to the training and wanted to get stronger not to gain a reputation. But to become better, to increase their power by way of diligence.

The craggy rocks rumbled as he attacked, his eyes stayed on the wooden statue. The dents made from the over stimulated attacks he'd led forward into the lone statue, and the constantly high-speeds he'd strike it with. His palms went against the wooden arms as he'd moved in for one last attack. Smacking forward his hands as he'd stopped, and thought to himself. Another day would begin, as he continued his training moving into a stance and leading the way for his strikes once again in this lonely space.

[koga]

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Tink, tink, tink.. the sounds of the old mans cane traveled, bouncing off the stone.

He glanced his eyes towards the shinobi, ahhh, he said under his breath. It was the young Chunin Ganbare, he walked closer towards the boy before finally taking his seat. After taking his seat he spread some scrolls flat across the ground, looking them over he set one aside from the rest.

Performing some hand seals he spoke a few words under his breath and with a puff of smoke a tea pot appeared above the scroll still piping hot.

oh, ohh, he said as he brought out a small cup from his pocket, pouring tea into the cup he set his pipe down. Steam rose from the cup wafting a sweet smell of fruit and honey into the air.

Looking towards his scrolls he started speaking, I have found that no matter how long you strike, it will never strike back, he said with a smile.

Would you join me for some tea, he asked pulling out another tea cup from his pocket.

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[davy1]

The shifting tides of his limbs as the cackling branches of dead trees in the distance made the sound against the wind seem as though it was a "scary" atmosphere to most. But to him, it was another day at a mountainous region, with such high elevation and the comfort of the long striding stone pillars made for excellent company and atmosphere with the oceans on the other side being a deep hue of azure. It made for the best place to him, in his element at least.

He felt the presence, the presence of an old man long before he'd actually been seen in sight despite his focus on his training. But it wasn't a malevolent presence, thus he showed no fear or change in his motions keeping his limbs moving and striking against the stone taking his time as the accuracy of his blows stayed on point and intact. After a few minutes, it seemed the man had finally showed himself. The ticking of the cane against the ground gave way for the young male. He didn't turn to him, focusing on his training even still.

The commentary that he'd begun to speak had led Ganbare to change his focus towards the old man with his left eye for a split-second. "Yet, training cannot be done without diligence and able-bodied martial artists in this village who can fight at my level aren't as many as you may think." He'd told him, switching his footing as he'd attacked the stone dummy once more, with fast blows topping off with a singular kick towards its leg regions.

He'd been asked to have tea with the old man before Ganbare could say much of anything. Ganbare wasn't one for utmost respect for the older or younger generation and thus showed a great deal less "control" towards his tone and actions in the process. Because of this, people usually didn't care for him; nor did he much care for them however. But, he'd taken the offer to sit on the other side of the old-man, cross legs and eyes on him.

"Yes, please." He told him, his face was opened, with his emotions open-ended as a result. He had crossed his arms as he'd closed his eyes now, waiting for the man to begin placing the finishing tea or talking, not that it mattered.

[koga]

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These stones have seen much, he said as he handed the young man a cup of hot tea. Though the stones rarely speak, if you calm yourself and let the sound flow through you, sometimes there are whispers.

Koga had heard and seen the strength of the young chunin, which is why he had shown such interest in his training routine this morning.

After a moment of silence from koga he reached for his pipe puffing it back to life. Taking gentle droughts from his own cup between breathes of his pipe, he waited with an elders patience to see how the young man would react to his words.

Koga had known for sometime that there were young driven chunin in the village, but none of them seemed to have close to the amount of determination that he saw in this young man.

He wondered how long the young man had been here training, all morning, all night? Such an interesting young shinobi he thought.

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[davy1]

Never had he heard such a metaphor used, the stones had voices of their own? Could this really be true... he didn't believe it, all the stones were, were inanimate objects used to build houses, sculpt or in Ganbare's case train. He'd taken his eyes towards the man as he saw them closed, and with a slow sigh to himself and a great urge in his stomach, he'd begin to tell him with a clear cut idea of what he felt.

"What you're saying makes no sense, these stones have been here, because they don't live nor do they die, they are here in order to be walked upon in order to advance further, they don't have experiences because they don't actually "exist" all they are are objects." He crossed his arms rather frustrated at the man's keen sense of spiritual advice towards him. Ganbare wasn't someone who had at lot of people cheering him on to say the least, so his laid-back style though apparent, he still had a few idiosyncrasies about him. Rather blunt in how he spoke, he moved to place in a matter-of-factly tone, but still showed at least some respect towards the man in question, just stating his honest opinion.

This may have been more due to inexperience, because, though power as a combatant he was still sixteen years old and didn't know as much about the world as this man before him. No, what he wished for was the advancement of his martial arts to become something stronger than anything and everything. That determination spread through his body, his mother's words about his father and their experiences coming to aid him in order to make his spirited "voice" even more spirited not that he was special. On the contrary, he trained because he wasn't special; because he had no talent and the best help he got was from his old sensei... It was a fierce road for him.

This old man looked familiar though, he remembered some words said by another seemingly like him. Was it during his genin years, or... "Who are you, and why do I think I know you?" He asked as his right arm went against his leg and his elbow pushed as his right hand caught his chin. His eyes in a puzzled state waited for the old man as he tried to strike conversation with him. But really, he remembered him from somewhere... But where?

[koga]

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The young man had an interesting perspective. Koga was unsure if the young man was sometimes harsh in his tone because he believed he was better then others, or because of inner turmoil.

It is not rare for people who have suffered to grow callous or to have a rough demeanor, but koga was not intimately familiar with the Chunins life, so he was left only to assume.

It would seem you did more of your training in private then others Ganbare San.He said in a calm voice looking towards the tea as he poured another glass for himself and Ganbare.

I am Akimoto Koga or also known to many as Koga Sensei, i spend much of my time helping young chunin and jonin younger then myself.

Sometimes we just talk and other times.. well other times let us just say i help them, he said being enigmatic purposefully trying to see if he could spark the young mans curiosity.

With another drink of his tea he refilled his pipe slowly and quietly, then bringing the pipe to his mouth he brought life to it with a spark and smoked quietly. Looking to the stones of the mountain he quietly waited for the Chunins retort.

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[davy1]

As he talked about his loneliness aspect of his demeanor, he would chuckle a bit in response putting on a sarcastic front. He put his hands against his tea cup and grasped it towards his mouth. "When you're borne with an illness you can't control, and you're picked on for not being like everyone else; then you can patronize my habits on friends, old man." Though what's more how did he know his name, he didn't look surprise on it showing a very calm demeanor but either this man knew him or he was a high-ranking ninja or official in the village. Who was to say. "At any rate, you never answered my question, old timer." He pressed on with his question.

As he told him his name, he knew he did know him as the young male chuckled a bit. "Oh, you're that man I saw being the leader of that other team at the chunin exams two years ago." He told him putting down the cup after drinking it. "Should I see it as ironic that you came to see me in the badlands of the mountains, or should I just cut the crap and ask why you're here?" He asked him in a nonchalant voice as he'd poured more tea for him to drink and bowing his head in thanks he'd started to sip it once again.

What was this old guys angle, was he really trying to speak in tongues or was there something he truly wanted to say. Ganbare sighed, shuttering his eyes. "You're just full o' "Sage Wisdom", but I need to understand why you wish to help me, as you can see I've been doing things myself just fine." Well he did get a little (a lot of) help from his teacher, but she only sparred against him a lot and he learned as he went against the grain in that. Besides, his style was a style of adaption and learning, not one that someone could just pick up and use whenever they pleased.

"At any rate cut to the chase, I still have a lot of training to do, unlike you "normal" ninja I have no talent in using ninja arts, so I have to work ten times harder." With his incredible balance skills, he began to roll the cup of tea on his fingertip from the sloped surface with great ease watching the old man in the process, waiting for his own retort. "So, what's your game?"

[koga]

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The ignorance of youth koga thought to himself, young men always in a hurry to get somewhere and never experiencing the journey to their destination.

Whom may i ask is your Sensei? koga asked with a gentle tone.

Koga thought deeply about the qualities he was seeing from this Chunin's demeanor, rough around the edges, impatient, a little rude, definitely a temper. Though he was interested in the good qualities firstly, his polite thankfulness when being offered the tea, his dedication to his ambitions, there was definitely more to this Chunin then meets the eye.

Normal Shinobi, koga thought, what is a normal shinobi. He had met many Shinobi in his life time, and was unsure how many of them could be considered normal. Maybe he means in demeanor, no that could not be it, Shinobi come in all shapes and sizes from all walks of life. A normal Shinobi? He was unsure how to ask such a question to the young man, maybe not sure how he would think that so many with such great power and skill could be considered normal.

Maybe he was putting to much thought into it, maybe this young Chunin had not met very many other Shinobi and so he assumed all the others were like his sensei and the limited few he had met.

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[davy1]

Noticeably his demeanor got calmer, and his poise was one of synchronicity towards his voice contemplating the question he'd received. Immediately capturing the tea cup and calmly placing it towards the scroll. "Inaba Hiyori." His eyes gestured towards the old man who had noticeably also had a gentle demeanor in his eyes. Maybe he wasn't so bad, at any rate he didn't seem to have any malignant thoughts or gestures towards Ganbare so he guessed it could be OK.

"Inaba-sensei had sparred with me multiple times, and was willing to teach me her style of martial arts so that I could get a leg up, but I declined her..." His right and left arms went up with his palms outstretched from sitting around before yawning a bit. "...That's when she said instead she'd be teaching me by not teaching me, but sparring with me." She was a powerful fighter, even to this day Ganbare can barely catch her, that speed allowing for full motion movement and a barrage of attacks in an instant. She was definitely someone who could match up with him in terms of taijutsu prowess, leading Ganbare to try to become stronger.

As the rocks rolled against the wind, he'd taken his eyes to one of the pebbles rolling near him, and had began to grasp and look at it. "As I grew older, I had decided to become my own martial artist creating my own style of fighting in battle instead of relying on everyone else's. Once an outcast always an outcast; so I trudged forward with all my training in order to make my own style." Flicking the rock in mid-air as he'd watched him. "Vision Fist." Ganbare had outstretched his hand once more capturing it before smiling. "It will be my life's work, and possibly the strongest hard fist style in the world." It was his dream, as he'd pressed the pebble back into the ground, a dream that he'd go through any length of broken bounds, and battered body to achieve.

"Anyway, Inaba-sensei has been busy with the situations regarding the other countries and the constant interruptions of the order of things, so she said she'll be much busier as a result." He snuffed from his nose closing his eyes. "It should be interesting to see, if what the rumors say are true I mean..." He told him. "Is it true, Akimoto-sensei; their may be war in the horizon?" He asked him with a pair of piercing eyes, though he didn't like war Ganbare knew that it was an inevitability. Whether it be for power, or for protection. Ninja would probably never really get along; and the aspect of fighting stronger opponents intrigued the "hot-blooded" Ganbare.

[koga]

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Just as one pebble does not build a mountain, so to does not one tree make a forest Ganbare-San. He said while he continued smoking his pipe.

We cannot change what happens tomorrow, he said drinking his tea, we can only change how we prepare for tomorrow.

Understanding that he had not necessarily answered the Chunins question directly, he wondered how he would react.

It seemed his Sensei had done a great deal to teach him to fight but had done little else towards preparing him for the life of a Shinobi.

A life of servitude to ones country and village was the life of a Shinobi, these young Shinobi did not see the horrors of the last great war. So they get excited for war not realizing that the acts committed in these wars will change someone. The only tether to not becoming a monster yourself was the connections you formed.

Your friends and your family kept you fighting for something worth fighting for, without that love and friendship it was inevitable what sort of Shinobi one would become.

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[davy1]

There it was again, did this man say nothing but metaphors and haiku's with his lips. Was he trying to crack him, like the waves hitting the stones for days on end slightly curving the rock to their desired form. Was this man nothing more than a poet in his mind. The male could only sigh to what he'd said towards him next, he wasn't going to get anything out of him it seemed other than a lackluster and pointless squabble over different ideals towards life, something that the young boy though tolerant towards wasn't very caring for. As he was him, just like everyone else was themselves and he accepted that reality, that you couldn't completely change someones ideals.

"You think everyone has time to prepare for tomorrow, how do we know if there aren't any wars in the home front, how do we understand what to prepare for if we just sit on our asses and contemplate..." One of the things he dislikes most about societies rules was the proclamation of authority. He was to listen to what others say based on word of mouth and not on his personal knowledge. Considering the fact that people that controlled the countries who didn't know a damn thing about the true struggles of society had came and showed their true colors. It made him wary of what true authority was, and for that reason rarely did he trust the words in politics. "Do you realize how many lives could be taken just by us sitting hear and doing nothing, old man... your years of experience could be what saves you but your lackluster view on the world to just sit and wait... I can't begin to fathom how that would be appropriate for all the unneeded bloodshed in this world." He told him clinching his right fist, tighter with each word as his eyes closed.

This conversation began to make him angry; not only because the old man seemed to be patronizing him. But because of his life in fighting and trying to become stronger to protect himself and this village. Should he really try though, if not for only a single person wasn't he seen as nothing more than useless in the populaces eyes because he wasn't capable of two essential skills of shinobi. Yet this man, this man in front of him who probably gained his abilities by recognition of his immediate talents tried to tell him what to do and how to accomplish his goals best by his "sage advice". He'd begin to stand with the tea-cup in his left hand showing noticeable anger.

"Listen to yourself speak, are you truly sure that you care about how the forest grows? What makes up a forest are the roots, and the roots are the people, what makes up the mountains are the plates that shift them underneath the earth, the people." He started to show more anger. "And yet... you say that preparation, getting ready by allowing people to become martyr's in war is the best way to become prepared for the enemy?" Immediately, he had thrown the tea cup in his left hand to the side, into a nearby small stone face, and as it smashed it created an enlarged crater as the rock face began to fall in the opposite direction of the teacup. "Even if their voices were only loud and obnoxious, this is a home that I wish to have the least bloodshed possible, old man... to just sit and wait is an atrocity towards that rule and I won't allow it as long as I have fists that can fight!" His hotblooded nature began to show, boiling over as he clenched his teeth. "Now answer me, is war on the horizon or not?!"

[koga]

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Koga collected his scrolls gently and quietly, when he finished he stood up giving the mountains a smile.

No matter how the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it, he said calmly to the Chunin.

With those words a few hand seals and a puff of smoke Koga disappeared.

Tactical Information:
Instantaneous Body Skill-Shunshin no Jutsu

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[davy1]

His anger was clear and the rage in his voice at the man's constant metaphors had only shown him that he wasn't as calm about the situation as he'd first thought. Noticeably rallied with a fierce look in his eye as he'd seen him beginning to shuffle his stuff back together. The man named Koga seemed to have one last piece of advice towards Ganbare. With his last sigh, and a smile on his face he'd say...

"No matter how the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it."

Then with the sudden disappearance of himself, the young chunin had watched in shock towards these words. What did they mean, what was he saying dammit. On and on in his head did Koga go deeper and with no help whatsoever did he try to console his anger. Was he toying with him, picking at him as if he was some sort of toy. All the hard work, the power he had gained, did he know nothing about the world at all. He grasped his head, and growled deeply as his diaphragm had begun to shake with a scream bellowing outward he'd risen his fists into the air.

"What the hell are you saying," His fists had begun onto a collision course into the ground as he'd smashed his fist into the ground growling more and more, as he smashed fist against and again. Smash. Smash. Smash. BURST! These motions culminated into a multitude of deeper and deeper craters forming from his singular punches. He'd pushed his knees into the ground and began to cry, his stone statue falling into the deepness of the craggy hole. "What are you saying, you don't understand me or what I've been through! I've had to rise, to become stronger just to protect myself from all the hate given towards me, they said I was weak! And I showed them my spirit, they said I was nothing, and I showed something! But you, what the fuck are you trying to say!"

He put his hands against the ground, as he began to gasp deeply. He clenched his fists once more, before standing up. "Whatever... if there is a war coming, all the more reason to get ready..." He started to chuckle. "After I show my true strength in battle, after I show that I am one of the strongest in the village, then I will prove myself!" What was he truly trying to prove, Ganbare's heart tearing to shreds from the revelation. Did he really see himself as weak still. Could he truly not understand the world itself. What could he accomplish. As always, Ganbare with an unseen force driving him would train, because maybe that training would become his only "friend" in this world. To gain strength, in the abyss of loneliness...