Round 10: Untapped Potential

[Senkyo Izumida]

Izumida stumbled his way out of bed, ridding his face of all sandman (or as most other people called them, eye-boogers) in the process. It was incredibly early, far earlier than Izumida liked to wake up. But, it was his first day of training with his new sensei, one of the elite of Kirigakure, and he had to make sure he was dressed to impressed.

Opening his dresser, he gave it a quick scan. Of his nearly universally identical wardrobe, he had a single white shirt that seemed to just scream "awesome" above the rest. Same with his pants. Except not white. Donning these awesomeclothes, he left the room on his way to the bathroom.

The moment he entered, he climbed onto the sink and brought his fist back. When he felt enough energy was built up, he sent it forward as fast as he could, shattering a tile just under the ceiling in one swift punch. Today was an extraordinarily special day, and for this very day, he had stored a special item in this tile many years ago...well, not really many years ago. But he snuck it into this little wall-cavity when they first moved in and then replaced the tile over it.

Sticking his hand in, it emerged with the holy grail of all cool. Many thought that Izumida was uncool, or unhip, but how wrong they were! Climbing off the sink, he donned this hipster's accessory with a smile, his reflection looking more awesome than he had ever seen it look. The solid white headband now wrapped around his head would never look as cool on any other human being in existence.

Leaving the bathroom with a swagger in his step, Izumida first went back to his room and donned the leg-pouch-thing that Hanz had given him a couple of days beforehand. It was at the least respectful, and plus, it also looked sicknasty.

"Shikooome," he called in a monotone voice that completely betrayed his insanely cool outer looks. "I'm gonna go train with Hanz now!"

He turned and left the small apartment, but not before rearranging the refrigerator magnets to say the following words:

"i love you 8)"

Since they had no colon magnet...like most normal people.

[so|NY|]

Hood on. One leg up. Weight on the wall. Hands in pockets. Vision on the ground. Hanz was chillin…or posting up on the block fixin’ to push a few packs. Either way, he was quite mindful of the time. There was a reason for this. You see…today was a “special” day. For some, but to him this was business as usual. Hanz was a major player in a dangerous game. Pulling out a small time piece, he watched it change from three fifty-nine to four double o. It was at that moment that he heard the door open and see little Izumida step on the scene. He thought he would actually have to go inside and get him for a minute. Kicking off the wall, Hanz walked toward the boy. Something was different about him. He had a certain swagger to him that just didn’t seem to be there before. Maybe he never noticed it…maybe it was the white headband…whatever the case was…

”You’re late.”

Looking at the boy with a cold stare, it was different from the Hanz that he was used to. The usual smirk was not there. There was no warm greeting. In fact, he would seem to be a completely different person. Today…Hanz was militant. He wasn’t here to play with the girl next door’s little brother; he was training a soldier. As his shoulder bumped into Izumida’s in passing, he began a jog.

”Come on.”

Training was officially underway. He told Izumida that he would be there at 4:00 AM. For some reason, this brought a feeling of nostalgia for him. This was his first apprentice, so naturally, he was reminded of his first experience. The only difference was, this was his mission. He would train Izumida as promised, but he needed information on this underground. Business as usual indeed…

[/color][/blockquote]

[Senkyo Izumida]

'I'm late?'

Izumida looked down at the watch at his wrist. It was exactly 4:00 and a couple of seconds. Did he actually count a couple of seconds late as scold-worthy? If he did...this wasn't gonna be any fun. Scratching his head, Izumida made a mental note to always arrive a minute or so early, to anything Hanz asked him to do.

Not only was Hanz cold as hell, but he also bumped into him on his way past. This was a lot more serious a situation than Izumida had anticipated, but he didn't really care. The usual jokey-laughy-haha Hanz was really awkward to be around 1-on-1. At least now he wouldn't be expected to strike up conversation or anything of the sort.

Taking off in a jog after Hanz, Izumida sighed. At least this would get his heart going a bit.

[so|NY|]

It would be a long day for the boy. Hanz was used to this. It was a weekly thing for him. His hood would lower its self from the bouncing motion of his body from the light jog he had picked up. Looking over his shoulder, he wondered if someone with such a frail body was used to physical conditioning. Size meant nothing honestly. People looked at him and thought he was weak, but he could probably knock out a bear with one blow. Though he never actually tried. You didn't find too many bears in Kiri. His eyes turned back forward as they approached the gates of the village.

"Don't clock me today. I got a student with me."

Those were his words in passing as the guys at the gate nodded to him and then to his apprentice. The run would travel about 2 miles north...2 west...4 south...2 east...and then 2 north. 12 miles total. Izumida probably wouldn't make it. Then again he may. Either way...it wasn't going to be easy.

"Try and keep up. No shunshins. This is about endurance."

[/color][/blockquote]

[Senkyo Izumida]

Izumida struggled to keep up with Hanz the whole time they ran. He could go the 12 miles whenever, but he could never in a million years keep a pace about it. Though he was gradually falling behind more and more, he refused to call for help. It was just kind of beyond him, due to a mix of both ego and embarrassment. However, eventually, he did make it the whole way.

When they finally finished at their starting point, Izumida looked up at Hanz. Though he knew it was just training and (probably) nothing personal, he couldn't help but have a bit of anger at the dude. Running 12 miles at 4 AM wasn't his idea of a good start to a day, at all. "Hanz-sensei," Izumida began, adding the suffix insanely awkwardly. "What're we gonna do next...?"

[so|NY|]

As they came to a halt, Hanz’s hands moved to his hips and his nose pointed toward the sky. The sun was up, despite the mist blocking it out. You could simply tell because of how bright it was. Taking deep breaths, he pulled out 2 water bottles. They could probably hold 2 oz of water each from the looks of them, but a seal in the bottom of each of them meant they could hold about as much as a small lake.

Hanz could feel it. It was the first time he ever felt it, but it was definitely there. Emotion. Finally! There was definitely a dash of anger within the boy’s words. That was a good thing in the long run. The pace that they were moving at caused Hanz to go ahead, but eventually Izumida made it. He was glad. He wasn’t trying to kill the boy.

Handing him a small piece of paper, Hanz sat on the ground and crossed his legs Indian style. They would begin the next part of the training. The jog focused on the body, and the exercises he was about to put him through would focus on the mind. Motioning to the area across from him, he wanted Izu to have a seat.

”First. I want you to focus your chakra into the index card I handed you. That will tell me two things. And then we will go over focus.”

It was something that needed to be done. Both things really. Hanz would train him to be stronger and faster, but he seemed to an intellectual type like himself. Meaning that he may take an inkling to genjutsu…but even if so, he would still need to learn focus when using ninjutsu.

[/color][/blockquote]

[Senkyo Izumida]

Izumida took the bottle of water and attempted to down the whole thing. He was incredibly thirsty, and he was developing a headache from the dehydration. He drank and drank to quench his thirst, but by the end of it he drank so much that he just felt sick. He didn't know about the seal and how much water there was in the bottle. Pulling the still-full bottle away, Izumida held back a burp. Bleeeh.

Sitting across from Hanz, he took the index card. This was probably one of those chakra-sensitive papers that he had read about. Never before had he seen one, though. Putting an elbow on his knee, he rested his head on his palm while holding the index card in front of him in his other hand. It was a very relaxed and tired pose.

With great ease, Izumida began focusing his chakra into his hand and through it, the card. It happened very quickly and very easily, and he even perfectly filled the card with his chakra, rather than letting it loosely flow around it.

"Like this?"

[/size]

[so|NY|]

The paper would begin to drip water as the boy focused his chakra into it. Hanz had found something else that they had in common. With his extensive knowledge of suiton, he could probably help this boy learn a thing or two, but they wouldn't go over jutsu first. It would be a difficult training for Izumida and it would be both physically and mentally strenuous, but that would be for some other time.

"Ah. That makes sense. Suiton Nature. Well that's all for today, I'll let you go early. I got places to be. Tomorrow we do it again. Meet me right here at 5:00 A.M. Here's your homework."

Hanz formed a few handseals in slow motion so that the boy could see them. After they were complete, he broke his hands apart.

"Now in real time."

Flashing through those same seals in the blink of an eye a thick mist filled the air. This was the villages signature jutsu. Mist so thick that he wouldn't be able to see his hand in front of his face. This would also be the last he saw of Hanz as he disappeared within it. At least until tomorrow.

[Exit Thread]

[/color][/blockquote]