[IC] Naruto - Konoha's Squad Thirteen

[vancexentan]

"You can't do it. You'll fail. You're not good enough to be a genin." Akihiko said simply as he started to poke Masatake with his fingers. He poked his neck, his back, and the check. He kept poking him and if Masatake gave a response he simply ignored him and kept poking him. After a few moments he moved over to Mikone and poked her shoulders and the back of her head. "Are you good enough? Can you match up to your family? Can you even catch up to your team mates? Are you good enough to be my student? Are you going to cry?" Akihiko said dully as he kept poking her.

[Jangel13]

Masatake ignored the pokes and jeers given by his sensei if anything Masatake was staring off into space and ignoring him as he kept his concentration on balancing. Masatake kept doing the same trick each time using the time to practice the Chakra control on his palm...

[GrandzHelios]

Fukusho took the kunai wondering if he should be afraid of cutting himself. No a ninja does not shy from a little blood so he pressed it right into his finger causing blood to spill a small stream right down his finger. The only thing is the knife did not stay and soon fell to the ground. That did not go the way he planned so Fukusho gently placed it back on his hand. Maybe if he tried to hold still but the knife fell before it even took balance. Fukusho picked up the knife again and did the same thing but pushed his wrist back forth trying to keep the kunai on his finger but after so many tries it still fell right off. "That trick is pointless. Doing it with chakra would benefit a ninja better." Fukusho focused as much chakra as he could to his finger but it wouldn't go. He tried to thin out the amount and found he could send a limited amount that way. He tried to place the knife on the tip but it stayed for a moment and fell down. Then Fukusho saw the stream of blood and wiped it away to see a mark on his finger. "Maybe a visual point would help." Fukusho said. He focused his chakra straight to the tip of the cut and placed the knife at that point. He was able to hold it straight for a moment and then it fell into his other hand. "He tried the same trick again but on the side of the kunai. It was much easier because it was a flatter surface. "Sensei, do I pass like this or is it cheating." Fukusho asked.

[vancexentan]

"Cheating is a metaphorical word meant to make people shy away from doing something unorthodox or cheap. The only rules you set are the rules that the situation, society, and those around you set. That being said it does the trick the same doesn't it?" Akihiko said without emotion as he pushed the kunai out of Fukusho's hat and then poked his forehead. "Now pick it up and get back to work." Akihiko said bluntly as he went over to Masatake and ripped up some grass and poured it all on the hand that he was using to balance it with before putting it on top of his hat and on top of his head. "Come on do better stop being a little girl and do it right."

[Jangel13]

Masatake finally groaned as he stopped balancing the Kunai and threw it next to his foot annoyed. Masatake then grabbed it again before balancing it on his finger like before but this time he kept it balanced on his finger using his Chakra. Masatake then uped the anti and took two senbon from his sleeve and balanced them both on his index and middle finger on his other hand "is this what you were referring to?" Masatake asked a little annoyed still

[vancexentan]

Kuro was struggling to keep the tip balanced on his finger but he had a little easier time since he had learned how to control his chakra for his growing up ceremony. The Fireball jutsu was no ordinary jutsu and it was learned by young Uchiha to grow up which required some fair amount of chakra control training. However even still he struggled with it and he just about had it balanced using chakra when Akihiko slapped him on the back of the head causing his anger to flood in but he managed to hold on as Akihiko told him to pick it back up. He did it this time focusing on what was told to be the first step, "Famed Uchiha my ass." Akihiko grunted at Kuro as he lost balance of his kunai again thanks to that comment and he was forced to pick it back up. This sort of thing was annoying but it served it's purpose. He knew what his sensei was trying to do. Simple really all Uchiha who were dreaming of going to the police corps heard the stories of how they trained new recruits. "Oh did someone say something I wasn't listening try to speak louder."

[SiliconColt]

Mikone kept her chakra under control while her sensei poked and prodded at her with more than just a finger. Of all things this seemed to be something she could do that the other's couldn't. The kunai was not exactly perfectly still while the teacher talked to her about family, her teammates, and crying. She wasn't about to at all, if anything she was getting pumped by this kind of training. For once she wasn't the one going to fail at it.

Looking over she could see that the others were having a tougher time as their teacher was testing their limits. Oooh those are some sick burns. I bet he's read more than just our files. The way he talks about us is like he knows are secrets... well I guess we did introduce ourselves. The young women caught her sensei telling someone not to be a little girl.

"Hey, the little girl is doing pretty well at this!" She said without thinking. Her sensei would probably put her under more pressure by flipping her upside down or something like that. "Uh.. I mean." She covered her mouth with he free hand. The kunai seemed to wobble but she reacted just in time to keep it from falling.

[vancexentan]

"Alright you know what? Just put those things back where you got them and stop it." grumbled Akihiko as he sat down next to a tree. "Can anyone of you four tell me what I'm doing this for? I'm curious if you guys got what I was trying to do." Akihiko asked tiredly as he rubbed his forehead. "My father employed similar techniques to new members of the Uchiha Police Force. He tries to anger them and get them as mad as possible. He gives them orders and tests their will to see if they're more focused on their emotions rather than their mission. You were trying to piss us off for lack of a better apt description. By doing that you're trying to see if we can do a task while under pressure from taunts and other distractions." Kuro said as he put his kunai back into it's holster. Akihiko nodded but raised a finger, "Yeah but you're also looking too far out there Kuro. I was also checking for how well you could use your chakra. The test wasn't that hard in my own opinion but you are all genin so I'll let it pass for now. Likewise balancing a plain old kunai on your finger hurts a bit doesn't it? Well then you need to practice on balance so you can hold the thing on the tip of your fingers so it won't hurt you. Anyone else got something throw at me in terms of questioning?" Akihiko asked the group as a whole.

[Jangel13]

Masatake groaned a little as he dropped the kunai and the threw the senbon into the air making sure they landed back into the sleeve as he listened to his reasoning behind annoying us all. Masatake got the grass off his hat and sighed a little calming down is the next test going to be as annoying? Masatake said knowing he passed the chakra and balancing part but when it came down to the taunting Masatake threw a Kunai next to Sensei's foot so that part was a bust so hopefully he will do better in the next test whatever it may be...

[SiliconColt]

Listening to Kuro made her wonder if her father would have trained her. Imagination took hold with Mikone thinking of doing push ups and other physical exorcises. Knowing that she'd done not so well in the other tests was getting to her, that was until she heard her teacher speak. Realizing that when her teacher said this test was supposed to be painful, Mikone was embarrassed as she had her pointed upward instead. letting it fall in her palm, she held it losly. Its weight felt very different compared to keeping it stable with chakra. Maybe she could use that to her advantage one day.

"No sensei." She said trying to stay on her teacher's good side. She wanted to ask about his reason for taking on another genin but she waited, patiently.

[GrandzHelios]

Fukusho continued to practice after his sensei had urged him to continue. It was not that interesting since it was either painful or simple. Either way Fukusho wanted to be able to control his chakra so he could balance the kunai perfectly without pain. He took the knife and continued to practice making absolutely no progress at all. Maybe he was trying to hard and it was ruining his concentration. Either way the sensei called them together for an explanation soon. Fukusho heard what Kuro was getting at but he really didn't get why this would be that complicated as improving your concentration. Then again Fukusho didn't really get most of these exercises as much as he trusted his sensei would use them to make him a stronger ninja. "Sensei, what's the next test, are we fighting a grizzly bear with pine cones?" Fukusho asked.

[vancexentan]

Akihiko grumbled and put his hand flat over his face and wiped it down across his face. Exasperation at the students impatience was something he expected but really? Who wanted to be bossed around. "You know what? I'm tempted to go to the last exercise just to take some of the wind out of you but I'll hold off. Just to tick you four off a little more than usual." Akihiko said as he walked over to a tree and looked at it. It was one of the ones he had marked earlier and he then rubbed his chin. "Not sure if you're ready for this one yet...it's a pretty complicated process to learn how to do it properly for newly graduated genin. Hell I haven't taught you moderate level chakra control yet..." Akihiko grumbled as he then grunted and turned to the three of them. "These trees are pretty god damn tall aren't they? Well guess what you slackers...you're going to be climbing them. Without your hands." Akihiko said as Kuro frowned. "I suppose that means we need to either run really fast or know some fancy jutsu don't we?" Kuro asked as he had tried to do similar exercises in the past. Run up the tree and then try to grab the branches to catch yourself. Training running speed, and grip strength. "Yeah something like that. See how far you can run up that tree and then mark it with a kunai if possible. If not fall flat on your face. I don't care how you do it but you can't use your hands, you can't jump on other trees, and you can use ninja tools except to mark your place. Your goal is to get to the top of the tree."

[Jangel13]

Masatake heard of his exercise before and he thought he would do great at it. So Masatake soon took out a Kunai and he picked a tree before he started to run towards it and when he got close enough he put his first leg against the tree and he was able to take 4 steps against the tree before he felt himself start slipping and he quickly cut his Kunai against the tree to mark his first run doing this. Masatake didn't want to ruin his hat when he did this so he put it next to the tree using a Senbon to nail a part of it to the tree in case it gets windy later. Masatake walked back a few paces and proceeded to run again. This time Masatake was able to get up to 6 steps before slipping, Masatake would be able to get to the top before dinner time at this rate...

[SiliconColt]

Mikone's eyes sparkled in the light. This was another moment to prove herself and outdo her peers. But at the same time she felt nervous. Walking up a tree was way different than holding a kunai still. Nonetheless she was gunna try and fail at the very least. Looking at Masatake run up and mark his spot, she wondered how he was going to get to the top, or rather when.

"Ok. So no tools except to mark the spot. Got it." She pulled out a shuriken from her pocket. It was obvious that she wasn't planning on using it for a fight, proved the earlier test. However, this was one of those moments when it was gunna be useful to her for once.

Mikone remembered that feeling of holding the kunai. It was similar in application but now reversed since she would be the one sticking to something.

Breathing in a moment before attempting, Mikone picked a tree then tried clearing her mind. She closed her eyes to channel chakra through her thighs, then knees, then shins, and last her feet. The flow moved inside her like a stream ending at pools in the soles of her feet. When she took a step forward she connected to the earth underneath her. Just like using one of her ninjutsu, the feel of the earth below her extended outward like pressing down on a sponge and seeing the earth wrinkle with each step. When she raised her leg up she opened her eyes. The ground wasn't the same as the tree at all but similar, like cousins to each other.

This was a moment of faith more than anything. Picturing her actions before she made them, it seemed like she wasn't going to do it, but then she let her weight sit on her raised leg. A surprising amount of strength went into just transition from one surface to another. Yet there she was able to anchor herself to the wall, slowly but surely taking the second step onto the bark. She could look directly into the air, like star gazing but instead a the clouds. Not trying to scare herself she pictured the world turned on it side. The tree was right side up and she was walking forward and not up. Keeping her pace slow she was able to move, higher and high a single step at a time until she reached nearly ten feet from the ground.

However, the earth pulled at her. Like a cautious mother it wasn't going to let its child stray from its side. But there Mikone was defying the earth's pull. Only ten steps until the top. Moving around a tree branch she was able to keep herself anchored. Then the top of the tree was in view. Holding up her arm she had the shuriken ready. With a little hole in the center she would place it on the tip of the tree.

Inches away from the very top her footing was comparable to standing at the end of a plank. The tree swayed as she walked closer. Bending forward and closer to the tree Mikone was able to place the item at the top. All that was left to do was walk back down. Turning her head slightly she kept the image in her head. Running back into the arms of earth's pull wasn't a good idea unless she planned on breaking a bone. So she took it slowly careful not to move too quickly this time. When she turned around she could see the bend of the tree. Her weight pulled on the top of the tree so that it was curved.

Breathing in again she paused just long enough to feel the slipping. If she didn't keep it then her chakra would cause her to fall instead of stick. Bringing in the reins of control, she moved down the tree slowly, less quickly than walking up. Getting to the middle allowed the tree to unbend. She felt safer in the center where the width was considerable compared to the top.

"And now... turn." Mikone reached one foot forward to step on the dirt. Without letting go of her chakra she stuck to the dirt too and felt it soak up the stream flowing through her body. Angling her body back up and letting gravity tilt her she released her chakra control. Her muscles ached with a sudden heaviness. The whole time she was tense and serious but getting out of the mindset and feeling relaxed revealed how difficult it was.

"I'll.. I'll have to get that down later, won't I?"

[GrandzHelios]

Fukusho looked at Akihiko-sensei like he was crazy. Since he mentioned chakr control then climbing these trees had something to do with their chakra. Wait it probably worked something like balancing the kunai on their fingers but it sounded a bit more complex. Fukusho knew he would have to send the chakra to the bottom of his feet which was a bit further than sending it to his finger tip. Either way it would require him and his feet to reach the top of the tree. Fukusho put his hands together so that he could build up as much chakra as he could. The more for this exercise the better his result would be. He took his kunai n his hand and he dashed up the tree at full speed. As Fukusho climbed he could feel that he relied on the momentum of his speed to go the first three steps and then he needed his chakra to help stay on the trees. After his second step doing it the proper way his chakra propelled him off of the tree instead of hooking onto it and knocked hi away. Fukusho marked his spot and then landed gently on the ground. "Man that is hard." He said to himself.

[vancexentan]

Kuro backed up slightly and slowly started to sync his breathing so that he would be able to hold his breath as he ran. Concentrate...feel the chakra flow through your body...understand the nature of it and don't force it...think...understand...breath... Kuro thought to himself remembering his uncle's instructions when it came to chakra control. He gripped his kunai tightly in his hand as he made a run for the tree. Kuro's feet had chakra concentrated towards the bottom of the soles of his feet. As he started to run up the tree Kuro made some progress. About four steps when he suddenly felt something give way and he was forced to jump backward as the bark shattered like crayons in a child's fist.

"So...that's the difference between just running full force and using chakra to climb..." Kuro said to himself quietly as Akihiko grunted bluntly. "I see that you all had some form of progress. Kuro has the form down but he can't keep the raw power under control. Masatake has technique but I don't see him getting to the top of the tree anytime soon. Mikone has the right mind set down but she doesn't have the ability to run like the boys. And Fukusho...at least you stuck the landing." Akihiko said as he looked around. "Now I'll be willing to help you through this exercise a bit better if the majority of you desire to do so. Otherwise you can do it on your own time or I can help you with it personally after we're done with missions. I can also show you how to do it properly. Now do I need to go on or do you want you next and final test." Ahikhiko asked as he looked at the three of them all of them young and full of potential to varying degrees.

[Jangel13]

"we can go onto the final test" Masatake called to him as he made another run and this time he made sure to try and concentrate some chakra into the soles of his feet as he ran. As he got his first foot against the tree he started climbing a few more steps each time but this time he was able to get up to 13 steps before he had to mark his spot before he made the fall. Masatake will make sure he gets to the end of the tree by the end of the day that was a promise no matter what he will get to the top of the tree soon...

[SiliconColt]

"I think that's a good idea." Mikone said, wondering what could be next with tests like these. She became worried that her chakra would be exhausted if she tried climbing a tree all day like her teacher suggested.

A part of her wanted to help them but she knew a real shinobi was there for them. In many ways she needed help just to keep up with how things were unfolding. Touching her headband she rubbed on the metal. This was a symbol of her graduation into adult hood but so far it only looked like she was just a child. [b][i]I'm going to train myself too, not with just chakra but also throwing kunai and my strength. I want to do something important so I need to be able to do these things.[/b][/i] She imagined working with the Hokage in his office, leading her own team through a dangerous forest, and infiltrating a castle with by walking up a stone wall. Any of those things could be in her future but Mikone dind't know which of them she liked more. Would I be useful or be important?

[GrandzHelios]

Fukusho was starting to get frustrated with the tree climbing exercise. He loves running like it was the force behind his existence but controlling his chakra was not something he was a master of yet. For some reason he could feel that it would take some intense effort for him to completely gain control of this particular jutsu. Then he thought of all the ninjutsu his parents could do. Compared to all of that then this little trick was child's play. Then again Fukusho was a child and this exercise was his first hurtle to becoming a great ninja. Then he looked over at Kuro's tree. "Jeez, you killed that tree." Fukusho joked to him as Fukusho heard he sensei say he was moving on with the next test. "Sensei how many more of these are we going to do today?" Fukusho asked.

[vancexentan]

"Alright then your last test is a deceptively simple one." Akihiko said as he walked away from the group after telling them to stay put. After getting a fair bit of distance away he stood in the middle of a clearing with trees surrounding him on each side. Akihiko stood still and put his hands together and breathed in quietly but deeply. "I want you four to try and touch me in some way shape or form. Jutsu, violence, ninja tools, whatever I don't care your job is to try and hit me. I will stand still to give you an extra handicap. I will also not use any ninja tools. Do you understand your objective?" Akihiko said as he kept his hands clutched together firmly in a strange stance. Kuro looked at the man and decided to activate his sharingan but he made sure the others didn't notice he did so. What he saw didn't surprise him. "I have no questions."