Flashback into the Future [Training]

Age : 33 Posts : 308

*Flashback...*

"Welcome home son!" He said. He was more plump then originally imagined.
The man stood and accused himself of being his father, and though he was excited to for once meet his real family, his real parents, for some reason he was apprehensive now. It didn't seem real to him, to leave behind and find himself in an entirely new world in what seemed to be only a days time. He had, after all, been brought up in Konohagakure. He was always told that this was his destiny; to train here and abandon it. That they were using them for their resources and that his purpose was something greater than what they could understand. He understood this, and accepted it. But still, as any person would, he couldn't help but form relationships. He made friends, and bonds with people. Some closer than others but in the back of his mind, he knew that he would one day have to leave them all behind.

He didn't want them to know that he was a deserter, that he was anyone but the person that they had grown up to know. There he was Taiki Yamamoto, though he was informed of his real name... Genryu. It would take some time getting used to his new name, and his new family. He hoped that they all mourned the death of Taiki Yamamoto, and thought that he was lost to the chaos of the battle. He hoped that it would end quickly, and that they would go on with life, if only a glimmer of the a memory of him. He too was losing Taiki; in his mind, Taiki had died that day, yesterday. He would miss that man, just as he assumed everyone else would. And he wished above all that he would never again cross paths with them, as he would hate to look one of his friends in the eye and tell them that he is not Taiki, but instead Genryu, and that they must simply be mistakening his looks.

He was young after all.. perhaps he would grow a beard or something.

"H-hey... Father." he said, with a smile, looking to the corner of his eyes, his posture slightly defeated. Emotions weren't easily shaken, and growing into a new life so quickly would be more difficult on his emotions than anything else.
"Come now! I've heard great things from Jinmaru and Maya! You have done great my boy, I am proud. A real Kuromatsu, a survivor!" He said, walking forward and embracing Genryu, and after a moment, Genryu hugged the man that he had just called his Father, for the first time.

He let loose a jovial smile, lifting his arms above him and looked about. His father was taller than him, and dressed neatly in a black suit, red tie, white shirt, black dress pants, and black dress shoes. Even from the embrace, the smell of smoke clung to his clothing; something that he would in time get used to, "What say it boys?! My son has returned to me, healthy as the day he was born and strong as an ox! Call off all jobs, I want a banquet tonight!" He shouted, announcing to everyone who after shouts of congradulations quickly dropped what they were doing and began shuffling around; busy to work.

It was like a beehive or something...

He had done everything as they had asked of him. There wasn't a command he wasn't able to somehow pull off. He was a problem solver, and of the abilities he had gained, one of them was the art of survival. It had nothing to do with being a shinobi, and less to do with being human.

It said to hide when you can't run, to run when you can't fight, and fight when you can't run or hide. And by surviving, he was able to overcome many challenges. The Chunnin exams was just one of the many examples. As he sat about the mansion of an undergound house, he was tended to like a prince. And though he was caught in the reality of it all, he couldn't help but to day dream about those things he was leaving behing...

The Chunnin Exams.

Held that year in the Hidden Rock village, he would have had to travel far just to take place in the exams; him and his team, along with others would pack up and leave. This was also the first time he would have been close enough to the Hokage to see him speak, as their caravan traveled as one unit. He was told it was going to be the ride of his life, and that it would be lucky if he survived. Genryu smiled at the idea. Luck? Survival? Those were the only things that he could really count on. He was caught off gaurd by his own thoughts, after all, he could depend on his teammates... right?

The preliminary stages was something of a mind game. The user was pitted against everyone else in what was literally a written test. They were told that the top half that passed the test would advance, while the bottom half would fail. The questions were impossibly difficult, some of them held riddles and others contradictory statements that made them impossible to solve. There were many rules, including the fact that they weren't allowed to speak or cheat, or anything else, however with a single proctor, they couldn't possibly watch everyone? A room full of accomplished genin could pull off cheating right? And the proctor was nothing more than a chunnin academy teacher. Not that he was underestimating him, it just seemed odd...

If they didn't want the to cheat they would have separated them better. As the test started, he couldn't help but notice that one person was ripping through the test like butter. This person wasn't exactly the same as everyone else, in fact the people had tended to sit close to their own team mates, and they were all in the same holding room before; he hadn't even noticed this person until just now when they were starting the test. Genryu read over the questions, cringing to himself as he knew not how circuits worked, or how to solve a question on thermodynamics or differential equations. He didn't even know where to start...

He looked about, and saw some other looking about as well, questioning the validity of the test with their own facial expressions and looks of dismay and doubt. But still, there were a few that had some clue on some of the questions, and were diligently working, or trying to, though the beeds of anime sweat would already be working at their temples. Still, the one person working smoothly and calmly. They either knew everything on the test already, or had accepted their fate and were casually drawing squiggles...

Taking something of a leap of faith, he decided to attempt to cheat. As soon as the thought came into mind, the ground opened up from under one of the desks. The desk and the person sitting in it fell into the hole and then the whole itself closed over the person. Where he had disappeared to, there was no way of knowing.

The proctor stood from his chair, pushing his glasses up on his nose as he spoke, "Along with me, there are two cameras located somewhere in the room. If I, or the other survaillance people think you are cheating, we will not hesitate to "expell" you from the test, and the chunnin exams. It's best you follow instructions, and keep your eyes on your own papers to inssure that you are suspected of attempting to cheat." As he finished, he returned to his chair.

Two camera?! That made things much more difficult. Everyone seemed scared straight by the idea of being eliminated, and there was only an hour left in the test. Genryu attempted to work on the test itself, but he knew he was wasting his time. Instead he just began considering his options. In some respects it was a game of numbers... He just had to get one right, and then if everyone failed to answer even one question then he could be in the top half by default.

Then startling to all, two more people were dropped into the ground. He checked the time to see that ten minutes had passed. It was probably the longest ten minutes ever. Then another ten minutes, and four more had dropped. With only 30minutes left, 12 of the 60 people in the room had been dropped as failure.

Then he realized. It WAS a game of numbers. To be in the top half he would have to rank in the top thirty. The bottom thirty was already in habited by 12 people, meaning if 18 more people dropped out, he would be default be in the top half, right? It was either that or the top half of the people that were still in the running would make up the passing population in which case, he would be screwed.

There was still the one person that had destroyed the test by now, and were sitting contently, almost half asleep. He was looking for some sort of distraction, and then realized, that people only ever dropped at ever ten minutes. Every ten minutes some supposed cheaters would drop, and the chaos of it happening was quite a distraction. He could possibly sneak a peak, but to be safe, he would do it at the ten minute mark, so that when the ten passed, time would be up, and he most likely wouldn't be expelled. However, he considered doing it the sooner the better, simply because the early he did it, there would be more people to keep track of, and thus a better chance of success.

The test was grueling in that it turned into a waiting game. He dare not even look up and around to see how everyone else was taking it. When the time did come first he was too hesitant to look, and with only one try left, the next ten minutes were even worse. When the time came, he didn't know whether or not to risk it. Again he flinched, hesitating. The pattern continued as he assumed that it would, that ever ten minutes there would be a drop, but now that the last ten minute incrimate had passed, he had run out of chances. He hadn't any clue how many people had dropped sine the last twelve, though he only had to wait at this point. Even if he failed this time around, he could wait until next year... he was already accepting failing. So when the time ended and the sound of at least two more people were heard dropping, he was slightly more at ease about his decision not to cheat.

The proctor stood and walked around his desk as he took his glasses off, "Alright, pencils down, pass your papers forward." He said, and everyone did. There wasn't anyone that seemed relieved about finishing the test, in fact it was a room of empty face. It seemed weird that they would make a test that was impossible to do well in, but as he looked about, there were exactly... 37 people still in the room. After the papers were all collected and stacked, the proctor pushed them together and stacked them.

"Well, the top thirty were supposed to pass, but there are only thirty-seven of you. You need all three of your team mates to get to the next round, and so... the seven of you that dont have team mates still here... well you are unfortunately disqualified. It just so happens that only leaves exactly thirty... so you are all fortune to pass. Congrats." he said. Everyone looked up, astonished, and in disbelief, but he was most certainly serious. Sure it wasn't very climactic of an ending, but it worked out.

"In reality this was a test of integrity. If you are going to be shinobi each and every one of you must be true to yourself and to your loyalties. You must be unmovable in your resolve, like a rock, and follow instructions exactly. You were not permitted to cheat. Thus for those who would go against authority to cut corners, were removed. That was the real test, and all whose complete groups passed would be allowed to the next round. For those of you who are failing because of losing your team mates, better luck next year." A few people grumbled and slummed themselves from their chairs and marched out, already complaining on their way out. Genryu himself slumped down into his chair as he sighed, though this was in relaxation. Him, and his two team mates were still there.

He instantly thought back to his earlier though; of how all he needed was Luck and Survival... though here he was just as dependent on his two ally as anything else. He came to appreciate them much more as a result of that one instance. They body even admitted to being almost powerless to the test, and just toughed it out their own way. They were all pretty gutsy back then.

...though he was quickly snapped back to reality.

"We've received numerous progress reports from the Konoha Fosters. They say you have been doing quite well. We were able to watch you earn chunnin and were quite impressed. But we need to do some assessments of your ability now so that we know where is best to place you within the organization. We assume you will be right at the top from the get-go." One of his father's overseers said. The Overseers were like managers, they did the paper work, they came up with the plans, organized the maps. They were accountants, mathematicians, statisticians, historians. They weren't fighters, but they were the brains behind the operation. As for his father, he was a Don, or a territory owner. Each city had it's own Don, and there were six cities in which their clan was involved, all under the Head Don, or Kingpin. It was actually pretty well designed, but in any case, he had to pass a new kind of test in order to be assigned.

He was aware of assignment, not because he had seen it or experienced it himself, but because he was told of it from Jinmaru and Maya, his 'foster' parents. Power and position was determined by qualification, not time. Thus one could come in from the beginning, extremely powerful and obtain a high ranking position in the clan right off the bat. Of course there was room for promotion, but only for the ambitious and the gutsy.

"But no rush, Genryu! We know this is all new to you. Come! The Banquet is almost ready, there will be food and women unlike anything you'd see in Konoha! The Kuromatsu are nothing more than the highest of quality." He said.

"Yeah... alright thanks." Genryu finally said, stirring from his day dream and standing to make his way to a large room. He was usually much more talkative. He still wasn't used to being called Genryu.

He couldn't help but be appreciative for his past. While he was well aware that his time in Konoha was to prepare him for his future with the clan's mafia, the tools he did gain were invaluable. His training with his fosters over time build up his toughness, as countless explosions at close range and near death experiences would force him to be sturdy and steadfast. It turned out he had a particular talent for chakra. From his younger days he had something of a sixth sense. He could sense peoples 'aura' and when he brought this up to his fosters, they came to the conclusion that he was possibly a chakra sensor; someone capable to feeling the chakra around him.

They were the ones that made him cultivate this ability. Meditating hour upon hour on the ability to see the world around him; traveling about blindfolded from place to place with only the chakra of others around him to map the way. As consequently, as he learned to read the chakra of others, he would come to know himself better, and his own ability. He would even unlock further chakra and depts. of strength that he didn't know he could tap into. The better he could extend his senses outward, the better he came to know himself, and his own strength. This ability was one that would later save his skin in the chunnin exams, when he would find himself lost in a labyrinth of rock and stone.

...

The second round. They were in the flying rock fields of Iwagakure. This was a place of impressive rock formation, in part, thanks to the many magnetic rocks that exist in the area. The natural ores that settled caused some rocks, taking negative alignment and others to take positive alignment and as a result some repelled and attracted each other causing odd formations, and in some cases, rocks and boulders that simply floated in the air itself, hovering feet off the ground. This was a very classic battle royal. They had to obtain an opposing scroll form another team, and make their way to the safe point, however the deeper they would go into the flying rock fields, the more confusing it became; like a forest of rocks, and because they had to find another groups scroll, the would be forced to play hide and seek before they could pass.

There plan was simple. Ambush someone. Literally, when they thought about "what is our plan going to be" they all agreed that 'ambushing someone' was the way to go. But it wasn't them that would do the ambushing. In fact, they themselves found themselves cornered as they walked into the wedge of a dead end with enemies close behind. Genryu was even disappointed that he failed to notice that they were coming; as his sensory abilities were still only developing. During this battle, he was unfortunately blinded due to an enemy poison and was separated from the rest of his three man squad. While they had the scroll, he was lost, and blind, and in the middle of the chunnin exams. With no way to see, simply feeling his way around was quickly getting tiresome.

While he hopped that he would be found by his team mates, he was concerned that he would be found by an opposing enemy. Thus, he had no choice but to stay still and meditate to monitor his surroundings. Now, if you've ever heard of someone hallucinating due to fatigue and having some sort of natural awakening, this was more or less one of those moments. They had to make it to the safehouse at the middle before midnight, and the heat that scorched the flying rock fields had been replaced with the chill of cold. The sun had most likely set. He was desperate, tired, hurt... he had no eyes and running out of time. All he could do was feel the world around him, and besides the small lizards and bugs, he could sense no chakra of a living thing...

That’s when he looked inward, instead of outward; to what HE had left, and looked deeper into himself. The same way as he had come to realize the smallest of living things with enough peace, he seeked for more of his potential. It took awhile, but in his very core there was a glimmer; a small light as if walking through a tunnel grew larger. It was almost as though he was making chakra by will alone, though he knew better. This was the potential that his fosters was talking about. It was almost as though ascension, as soon as he brought it to light, it came forth and he saw with more clarity, a wider view even. There was a single chakra in his scope though further away, and it was heading away from him.

In a scurry, he jumped to his feet and using his outstretched hands, guided he way toward the single chakra, and then chakra turned into two. He had no idea whether or not these were his team mates, but had to take a leap of faith. Forming a few hand signs with the last of his chakra he produced a firework with Blackpowder. Keep in mind, he wasn't supposed to be allowed to use his Hijutsu, but in this case, he was desperate. He fired it into the air, and only moments later, the two chakras came toward him, and soon the voices of his ally could be heard. It was an amazing relief to him that they were here. To make a long story short, the scooped him up by his shoulders and made their way to the safe house together. It was yet another time that he was dependent on his team mates... and this time, the were carrying him literally. He survived through others, and they would survive the second round of the chunnin exams just hardly, as they were the last team of the 5 allowed teams to make it to the safe house.

Chakra Capacity

Spoiler:

Age : 33 Posts : 308

There would be a two week period between the final stage and the survival stage, in which they would be allowed to heal and rest. Once his eyes were healed and he was returned to normalcy he seemed to loose control of the expanse of chakra that he had tapped into earlier. He was a bit upset that it was him that was supposedly holding his team back, and now that he was moving on to the last stage, he would have to fight solo. What if he wasn't prepared with his own power in order to progress? He went to his two foster parents, those that had trained him this far, to see what they could consult. Jinmaru, his foster father, was curious at first. There were many with potential that was unlocked and would slowly grow with them. It was like knowing how tall you would become based on your shoe size, eventually his chakra would grow into his potential... however Jinmaru and Maya alike came to an idea. There was a psychic of an old woman who could apparently unlock the potential in ones heart. If Genryu had touched on it himself, then perhaps she could bring it out in him completely.

The next day the took a trip just outside the hidden village together to meet Baba, an old witch of a woman, who had apparently done work for the Kuromatsu clan, and had even done business with them. Baba was a friend of Maya and Jinmaru and Baba was happy to help. It seemed as though it was a fuuinjutsu technique of some sort, though Baba, by putting her old wrinkly hand on Genryu's forehead and tapping into his own sixth sense was able to unlock his potential. The massive pool of chakra that he had felt once before was exposed to him. Baba then continued to note that Genryu had even more potential stored deep within him, that his body was not ready for...

This power was something that would certainly come in handy in the future, as in the next three days, he would be fighting in the Chunnin exams final rounds!

It was one thing to have access to chakra, however, whether he had chakra or not, if he couldn't control it then it wouldn't be any good to him. In fact, it would potentially become a burden to have uncontrollable raw power. The family, if you can call it that, returned to the walls of Konoha that evening and immediately began intensive training. This was a bit different however then what he was used to. He would be meditating for 24hours straight in what would be known as a Lucid dream state. The Maya was capable of using sleep based genjutsu, in which she could control his mind while he was sleeping. She would literally train him in his mind while he was asleep! The Lucid dream state as so powerful that it made minutes seem like hours. He would have multiple days worth of chakra control training compacted into only a few hours. This was limited only to the amount of chakra that she had to maintain the illusion. Because the actions took place in his mind, the majority of the 'muscle memory' of the chakra would stick as though it were real.

The training was seemingly simple itself. It was a practice makes perfect sort of training technique in which he simply had to move chakra from one tenketsu point at a time through his body. It was like having control of ones circulatory system and controlling the movement of blood through the body. The pressure, flow, direction, etc., would only come through practice of this movement of the chakra through the body. It was like dumping a flood of water into a river, more damns had to be created in order to control the flow of the water, otherwise the river would become wild. Eight hours a day for the next three days, he would be spent in restless sleep where he would be able to train his ability to use the chakra that had been unlocked.

Come the day of the final round, it was time for him to put what he hoped to have to real life practice, not just a dream. While both of his fosters were a little bit skeptical, they could only assume that he, as a shinobi, would be able to pull off mastery of his own chakra capacity in time to really put it to use. The third round of the chunnin exams would begin in only hours from then!

There were only 14 shinobi left, and they would compete in a series of tournament style one versus one matches. These weren't to be to the death, and so a higher ranking official was in the 'ring' at the same to, to prevent someone from potentially scoring a blow that could be fatal. This time, the battle arena was state of the art. The hidden Rock wasted no efforts on displaying how they could shift entire plates of the earth, and had literally imported different terrain and different battle fields, that the could quickly and easily exchange for one another using Doton. This way, no arena grew old, no place was ever destroyed without being replaced, and no two battles were distinctly the same. This was perfect for Genryu, simply because he enjoyed the ability to adapt and change. If ever there was a motif that fit him and the kuromatsu, it was the ability to survive against the odds.

Because there were 14 people, there were two brackets that would eventually come together for a final. He was told that there were representatives from the Kuromatsu clan that would be watching over his progress in the tournament as a sort of fail safe to make sure that he was in fact getting better. After all, Genryu was something of a clan investment, and he understood that. The first battle was against some poor shumck from the hidden mist. At first glance, this would seem like a disadvantage, as he was going up against someone that was accustom to using water, and him, only capable of fire techniques, and incapable of using his BlackPowder, would be limited in the uses of his techniques. Luckily, his opponents first move was the "Kirigakure no jutsu". A simple yet intuitive technique that shrouded the battle field in mist. It was unfortunate for his opponent that he didn't realize that he had the ability to use sensory techniques, and so as the coward of a shinobi attempted to sneak up on him, he would counter-ambush his unsuspecting opponent, catching the poor genin wide open. When the mist cleared on the first round, it was Genryu that was standing.

The second round was just as simple, though he used his own variation of the same technique using smoke. The hidden cloud shinobi would have no choice but to go on the defensive, but from within the smoke cloud, he could use the Blackpowder techniques without anyone in the stands seeing him do it. He was able to blow down his opponents defenses and steamroll his way into the next round. This would be the semifinals! Though, his foster parents told him to make a statement and then throw the fight, as if he was in the finals, he might attract too much attention that his clan didn't want to have. The representatives that were there were already impressed, and so in the semi-finals, he showcased every single fire technique in his arsenal, eventually turning the battle field in a blazing wasteland. He was able to push the limits of his chakra, and this was what his foster parents were waiting for. As the limits of his original chakra were pushed, would he be able to contain the rest of the potential that had been unlocked? Long story short, yes. In fact, he used the rest of his chakra, pushing his limits to eventually pass out himself, and throw the fight. His opponent would go on to the finals, and everyone was for the most part satisfied. So much so, that Genryu would be announced to become a chunnin not days later.

Chakra Capacity

Spoiler:

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