Post by KANE on Dec 11, 2011 21:47:57 GMT -5
Who Said Becoming a Genin Was Easy?
The Test to Prove Ones Worth
Flashback 19 Years
The Test to Prove Ones Worth
Flashback 19 Years
Time and Date: 9:00 AM, the day after Academy Graduation
Location: Kumogakure no Stato
Age: 11 years old
Darui's eyes snapped open as he felt his body becoming more aware of its surroundings during the process of waking up. A rush of energy coursed through him as he sat up, a bit of a grin that remained from last night plastered on his face. Last night he had graduated, and proven to any onlooker as well as his opponent that he would not back down from a fight, and that training alone could prove to be one of the most useful tools in a shinobi's arsenal. The boy that had bullied him for a while had finally learned the lesson Darui had to give, and that was a feeling of success that Darui would never let go. Dropping to the ground, his bare feet thumped quietly against the wooden floor as he went about with his chores. How many more hours was it until sundown? He had been assigned to meet his new sensei on the Northernmost mountain in Kumogakure. He couldnt wait, and his limbs were practically tingling with anticipation as he packed his bag, determined to prepare everything. He re-packed it at least twice, every now and then adding a kunai or shuriken. That was something of a surprise - being allowed to use tools like that on their first day. It was a privilege, actually.
The same grin that he had basically awoken with stayed with him as he went about this day.
About ten minutes until sundown, Darui was practically twitching with the eager energy running through his body. He bolted out his door and onto the rooftop, before concentrating chakra in his feet to run faster and swiftly across the houses and buildings in order to get to the Northernmost mountain. He arrived, panting from his sprint, at the base of the mountain just as the big, round ball of orange fire disappeared behind the surrounding mountain range, tinging the clouds purple-pink with the dying light.
The first person he saw was his sensei, there was no way Darui could have missed him. He was huge, Darui had to guess about six and one-half feet tall, and he was built as though he could move mountains – he had more muscle than Darui’s father. That was something that made the young boy's jaw drop - more muscle than his father was next to an impossible feat. Their sensei had long, white-yellow hair that reached beneath his shoulders, a tattoo with the kanji for “lightning” on his right shoulder, and a lightning-bolt shaped scar on the side of his chest that was open to the air beneath his flak jacket. His jaw was set in a scowl and his dark eyes seemed to rake through Darui as soon as he arrived, judging him on the spot. Darui was almost too petrified to say anything to his teammates – two kunoichi named Shigure Takahashi and O. Shigure had dark skin and blonde hair like Darui, while O had light skin and black hair. Before they could do anything besides look each other over and create first-impression opinions about each other, Ikkoku snapped their attention to him with his gruff voice ripping through the silence. He instructed them to each give quick introductions stating their name, strengths, and main goals as a shinobi. Looking at each other, Darui nodded to Shigure and O to go first.
Ladies first, right? That's what dad always said...at least for most things.
A soft, but unwavering voice broke through the intimidated silence that had set between the two girls and the boy. “My name is O. I’ve already learned how to use two basic Genjutsu, and I want to be the best Genjutsu and sensory-type kunoichi Kumogakure has ever seen.” Darui held back his words and what could have been called a scoff. He saw no use for Genjutsu other than disorienting and confusing an opponent. However, those that actively persued it must have had some reason for doing so, right?
A stronger, sharper voice cut through only a few seconds after silence fell again. “I’m Shigure. I like weapons. They’re useful in almost any situation. I’ll surpass my mother and become the next Weapons Mistress of Kumo.” Darui didn't turn his head to look at her, but instead looked out of the corner of his eyes. Biting his lip, he felt a strange, unfamiliar warmth rise into his cheeks that took two full swallows and a blink to push back.
What was that?
Darui's confusion settled and slowly began taking a bit more time than he would have previously preferred. All I thought was that she's....kind of cute... A poke in the side of the arm brought his dark gaze from Shigure's well-kept hair to O, who was looking at him with a bit of a worried expression, glancing between their sensei and Darui.
Oh crap, right!
Finally, it was his turn. “Well, this is dull...call me Darui. Taijutsu is what I seem to have taken to, but Ninjutsu is easier for me to get a hold on. I’m going to learn the secrets of Ranton techniques from my father and clan to become a Jounin the Raikage will be proud of!” His jaw was set in a determined glare as he sized up his sensei, attempting to get some sort of reaction. But, much to his disappointment, each of the introductions received a nearly stone-faced reaction from the man before them. He took a moment before introducing himself.
"Call me Sandaime. I am proficient in the use of Ninjutsu, Taijutsu and Genjutsu. Your fate as shinobi rests with me. I will determine if you are worth training from here on out. You have until sunrise to meet my expectations. Use this mountain as range for whatever you might do. Begin!”
The shocked expressions of the three Genin all read the same thing - Wait...what?!
Before they knew it, the three young shinobi felt themselves get picked up by their ankles before they were thrown with an almost unmatchable strength into the side of the mountain they had gathered beside.