It felt good to be once again running through the forest. He had spent far too long on his back recovering from his fight with his cousin. He could only assume that his cousin was recovering as well considering the beating that Manzo had given him that had forced him to escape. He was already working on leads to track down his cousin but for now he still had a mission to complete and it seemed he had unlocked some new abilities that he needed to perfect. He was not going to walk into the fight expecting the same outcome next time. Next time the landscape would change and there was a possibility that there would be others to fight. Manzo wanted to bring in additional ANBU for this but with the ANBU being currently leaderless, he did not think he would get much help. Manzo felt that they were currently a rudderless ship. But despite any turmoil that might exist he still had duties he needed to perform.
Manzo was running back through the forest to cull some of the creatures that were starting to overrun the forest. The problem with the forest was, when the village moved in it screwed up the natural balance between the creatures in it. The natural predators were disrupted by a much more dangerous predator, shinobi. But this allowed for some creatures to become too heavily populated.
This was why the job fell to someone like Manzo to every so often come into the forest and relieve the pressure so that nature could once again return to its natural course. As if anything in this forest was natural.
The last time he had come here he had taken it as a easy job only to end up in the hospital. Today was not the time for such a mistake. It was one he would not make again. Keeping a vigilant eye Manzo continually scanned for threats. He was not turning into a paranoid person just a bit more cautious one.
As he jumped from branch to branch he spotted a small group of giant rats. These rodents certainly seemed to be of unusual size, that was not going to deter Manzo. He had hopped to find something that he would be able to sell the pelts for, no reason he couldn’t double dip his pay, but he really didn’t think rats would sell.
While he had been laying in the hospital bed he had a lot of time to reflect on the nature of his new found power, it was time to test out what he had experimented with before. This power could be activated by emotions that much was obvious but he needed to perfect it without having to use emotions. Using the quiet contemplation he could feel his consciousness going into his chakra network. He could “see” the network and the choke points. There was a total of eight of them. Briefly he wondered if this was what the Byakugan saw but he let that random thought pass by as he forced the first choke point to release and allow the chakra to burst through. He could feel the additional chakra filling his limbs. Taking the opportunity to attack the giant rats he jumped down amongst them, not catching them unaware but lashing out in an attack. The first giant rat went down very quickly but the other three jumped at Manzo. Without having to think about it he dodged out of the way, making a note that this first choke point seemed to add to his reflexes. Using these reflexes he quickly dispatched the giant rats before closing down the choke point.
This would only be the first of many fights for him throughout the day. As he found groups of animals he would open a different choke point of chakra and fight them, testing out exactly what that did and how to best use it. It did not take him long to discover that they did not need to be opened in order but in any order. He even discovered that he could have multiple choke points open at the same time, at this point in the day he only dared to open two, trying out the different combinations of choke points.
Manzo knew that he could not be the only person to have discovered how to unlock these points. Now that he knew what they did and how better to control them, he was going to spend some time in the library doing some research on them. He was starting to wonder if there were downsides to this, otherwise wouldn’t every shinobi work to unlock them?
Undeterred by the potential downsides, Manzo continued to look for creatures for the days culling. Eventually he found himself in a rocky region that could possible be home to many creatures. Not wanting to invade their homes he was about to leave the area when he saw, what looked to be a bear standing on two legs, holding a club? Rubbing his eyes for a second thinking he was either under a genjutsu or just not fully healed and to tired but as his eyes cleared he saw the same thing. It looked like the man-bear? Werebear? Yes werebear, was facing up against a black kitten and running up to save the kitten was a boy. The day was getting weirder, but that did not discharge Manzo from his duties, either for the mission or to protect those of the village. He wasn’t sure if this boy would be able take the werebear, but Manzo wanted to be close enough in case he was needed.
As he jumped forward to get in range he watched as the boy attacked the bear with a ferocity not normally seen in academy students, as he attempted to protect the kitten, who was also trying to attack the werebear, the werebear simple swung the club in a backhanded fashion knocking the boy away.
Seeing enough Manzo opened the the choke points that he thought would be more useful, better reflexes and speed would be important. As he was about to use his favorite ability granted to him from his blood line, the Quicksliver Step he first attempted to draw out his sword, only to find it would not come to his hand. It had been the first time all day he had tried to summon it, this was going to be an issue but not one he had time to deal with right now.
Instantly he was next to the werebear, attacking it with just his hands and feet. Today had been the first time in a while that he had been in a fight utilizing just them but it felt good to once again fight with his own natural weapons, against the natural weapons of the forest. Granted the club that was coming at his face wasn’t exactly the same thing, but as his enhanced reflexes allowed him to dodge it.
Through the haze of the fight he could hear the boy call to his kitten ”Kenji come back here!” It was obvious that the boy cared for his pet but as Manzo once again dodge the club and retaliated with a side kick that seemed to have no effect on the werebear, the kitten just wasn’t budging. Something was telling that kitten it was bigger than it really was and it could take on the world. Maybe that kitten should join the academy it would make a fine shinobi one day. The thought made Manzo chuckle. But the momentary distraction cost Manzo as the club finally connected into him.
Trying to move with the blow he could feel some of his freshly healed stitches start to open again causing a bit of blood to trickle out of his side. Opening up the choke point to heal regenerate Manzo continued his ineffectual attacks. He was fast, he could avoid the attacks but he did not seem to making much of a dent in the creature's hide. Realizing that he had already broken new ground by opening a third choke point, he decided to try another and opened the choke point that allowed him to hit that much harder. As he watched the kitten jump on the bears back, a smart move if ineffectual due to the size of the kitten, Manzo punched the werebear again, this time feeling bones break. As he felt the bones in the werebear break he felt his own arm strain against the pressure. Was this all his body could handle? How many choke points had he opened by instinct when fighting his cousin?
The werebear roared in pain for the first time that fight, thinking that it was the cause of the werebears roar the kitten roared as well as if to say it was the king of the mountain and raked its claws down the werebears back. The boy unable to see his pet fight without him jumped in as well, fighting with an interesting fighting style that used his own nails as claws. Manzo did not mind the help but he knew the boy would not last long if he did not keep the attention on himself.
Knowing that he needed to end this fight Manzo launched into an attack he only recently learned, He started to throw punches so quickly that it wasn’t the punch that was doing the damage to the creature but the air pressure. Chakra leaked out though his fists with each punch until it looked like it was a tiger itself leaping on the werebear.
As the werebear started to fall down from the attack Manzo used his unnatural speed to get behind the werebear and grab the kitten so it would not be crushed. Only to find that the kitten's claws and teeth were now embedded into his arm.
The werebear landed hard enough to shake the ground. Now that the fight was over Manzo attempted to dislodge the kitten by shaking his arm.
”AAHHH really? This is how you thank me for saving you from being crushed?” Manzo asked the kitten, who answered with a growl.
” I am sorry, allow me.” the boy said as he reached up and pulled the kitten off Manzo. ” This is Kenji and my name is Zenko, thank you for helping us.”
”It isn't’ a problem, I was just lucky enough to be in the area. What were you doing fighting that thing, and your kitten is pretty ferocious to try and take it on.”
”We were practicing our tracking skills when we came across it. It charged me and Kenji forgetting he is just a cub thought to protect me. He really isn’t a kitten but a panther cub. Give him a few months and he would be in much better shape to take it on, and with those months with me training him so would I.”
Manzo might silently disbelieve that a few months would help the boy that much but he did not want to get in the way of the boy's dreams.
Looking at the werebear corpse Manzo thought he had done enough for the day. It had been a day full of discovery for him, and plenty of food for the animals that might come across all the corpses he had left.
”Well why don’t we all head back to the village. It is almost sundown and no one should be out in this forest after dark if they do not have to.” The boy agreed, and seemed almost grateful for the company..
”On the way back you can tell me how you got a panther as a pet.”
” Oh he isn’t my pet, he is my bonded companion. But I would be happy to tell you. Zenko said as he picked up Kenji and placed him on his shoulders, where the panther cub seemed to be content to lay down and go to sleep.
This was most definitely a strange way to end the day.
[WC:2030]
Manzo was running back through the forest to cull some of the creatures that were starting to overrun the forest. The problem with the forest was, when the village moved in it screwed up the natural balance between the creatures in it. The natural predators were disrupted by a much more dangerous predator, shinobi. But this allowed for some creatures to become too heavily populated.
This was why the job fell to someone like Manzo to every so often come into the forest and relieve the pressure so that nature could once again return to its natural course. As if anything in this forest was natural.
The last time he had come here he had taken it as a easy job only to end up in the hospital. Today was not the time for such a mistake. It was one he would not make again. Keeping a vigilant eye Manzo continually scanned for threats. He was not turning into a paranoid person just a bit more cautious one.
As he jumped from branch to branch he spotted a small group of giant rats. These rodents certainly seemed to be of unusual size, that was not going to deter Manzo. He had hopped to find something that he would be able to sell the pelts for, no reason he couldn’t double dip his pay, but he really didn’t think rats would sell.
While he had been laying in the hospital bed he had a lot of time to reflect on the nature of his new found power, it was time to test out what he had experimented with before. This power could be activated by emotions that much was obvious but he needed to perfect it without having to use emotions. Using the quiet contemplation he could feel his consciousness going into his chakra network. He could “see” the network and the choke points. There was a total of eight of them. Briefly he wondered if this was what the Byakugan saw but he let that random thought pass by as he forced the first choke point to release and allow the chakra to burst through. He could feel the additional chakra filling his limbs. Taking the opportunity to attack the giant rats he jumped down amongst them, not catching them unaware but lashing out in an attack. The first giant rat went down very quickly but the other three jumped at Manzo. Without having to think about it he dodged out of the way, making a note that this first choke point seemed to add to his reflexes. Using these reflexes he quickly dispatched the giant rats before closing down the choke point.
This would only be the first of many fights for him throughout the day. As he found groups of animals he would open a different choke point of chakra and fight them, testing out exactly what that did and how to best use it. It did not take him long to discover that they did not need to be opened in order but in any order. He even discovered that he could have multiple choke points open at the same time, at this point in the day he only dared to open two, trying out the different combinations of choke points.
Manzo knew that he could not be the only person to have discovered how to unlock these points. Now that he knew what they did and how better to control them, he was going to spend some time in the library doing some research on them. He was starting to wonder if there were downsides to this, otherwise wouldn’t every shinobi work to unlock them?
Undeterred by the potential downsides, Manzo continued to look for creatures for the days culling. Eventually he found himself in a rocky region that could possible be home to many creatures. Not wanting to invade their homes he was about to leave the area when he saw, what looked to be a bear standing on two legs, holding a club? Rubbing his eyes for a second thinking he was either under a genjutsu or just not fully healed and to tired but as his eyes cleared he saw the same thing. It looked like the man-bear? Werebear? Yes werebear, was facing up against a black kitten and running up to save the kitten was a boy. The day was getting weirder, but that did not discharge Manzo from his duties, either for the mission or to protect those of the village. He wasn’t sure if this boy would be able take the werebear, but Manzo wanted to be close enough in case he was needed.
As he jumped forward to get in range he watched as the boy attacked the bear with a ferocity not normally seen in academy students, as he attempted to protect the kitten, who was also trying to attack the werebear, the werebear simple swung the club in a backhanded fashion knocking the boy away.
Seeing enough Manzo opened the the choke points that he thought would be more useful, better reflexes and speed would be important. As he was about to use his favorite ability granted to him from his blood line, the Quicksliver Step he first attempted to draw out his sword, only to find it would not come to his hand. It had been the first time all day he had tried to summon it, this was going to be an issue but not one he had time to deal with right now.
Instantly he was next to the werebear, attacking it with just his hands and feet. Today had been the first time in a while that he had been in a fight utilizing just them but it felt good to once again fight with his own natural weapons, against the natural weapons of the forest. Granted the club that was coming at his face wasn’t exactly the same thing, but as his enhanced reflexes allowed him to dodge it.
Through the haze of the fight he could hear the boy call to his kitten ”Kenji come back here!” It was obvious that the boy cared for his pet but as Manzo once again dodge the club and retaliated with a side kick that seemed to have no effect on the werebear, the kitten just wasn’t budging. Something was telling that kitten it was bigger than it really was and it could take on the world. Maybe that kitten should join the academy it would make a fine shinobi one day. The thought made Manzo chuckle. But the momentary distraction cost Manzo as the club finally connected into him.
Trying to move with the blow he could feel some of his freshly healed stitches start to open again causing a bit of blood to trickle out of his side. Opening up the choke point to heal regenerate Manzo continued his ineffectual attacks. He was fast, he could avoid the attacks but he did not seem to making much of a dent in the creature's hide. Realizing that he had already broken new ground by opening a third choke point, he decided to try another and opened the choke point that allowed him to hit that much harder. As he watched the kitten jump on the bears back, a smart move if ineffectual due to the size of the kitten, Manzo punched the werebear again, this time feeling bones break. As he felt the bones in the werebear break he felt his own arm strain against the pressure. Was this all his body could handle? How many choke points had he opened by instinct when fighting his cousin?
The werebear roared in pain for the first time that fight, thinking that it was the cause of the werebears roar the kitten roared as well as if to say it was the king of the mountain and raked its claws down the werebears back. The boy unable to see his pet fight without him jumped in as well, fighting with an interesting fighting style that used his own nails as claws. Manzo did not mind the help but he knew the boy would not last long if he did not keep the attention on himself.
Knowing that he needed to end this fight Manzo launched into an attack he only recently learned, He started to throw punches so quickly that it wasn’t the punch that was doing the damage to the creature but the air pressure. Chakra leaked out though his fists with each punch until it looked like it was a tiger itself leaping on the werebear.
As the werebear started to fall down from the attack Manzo used his unnatural speed to get behind the werebear and grab the kitten so it would not be crushed. Only to find that the kitten's claws and teeth were now embedded into his arm.
The werebear landed hard enough to shake the ground. Now that the fight was over Manzo attempted to dislodge the kitten by shaking his arm.
”AAHHH really? This is how you thank me for saving you from being crushed?” Manzo asked the kitten, who answered with a growl.
” I am sorry, allow me.” the boy said as he reached up and pulled the kitten off Manzo. ” This is Kenji and my name is Zenko, thank you for helping us.”
”It isn't’ a problem, I was just lucky enough to be in the area. What were you doing fighting that thing, and your kitten is pretty ferocious to try and take it on.”
”We were practicing our tracking skills when we came across it. It charged me and Kenji forgetting he is just a cub thought to protect me. He really isn’t a kitten but a panther cub. Give him a few months and he would be in much better shape to take it on, and with those months with me training him so would I.”
Manzo might silently disbelieve that a few months would help the boy that much but he did not want to get in the way of the boy's dreams.
Looking at the werebear corpse Manzo thought he had done enough for the day. It had been a day full of discovery for him, and plenty of food for the animals that might come across all the corpses he had left.
”Well why don’t we all head back to the village. It is almost sundown and no one should be out in this forest after dark if they do not have to.” The boy agreed, and seemed almost grateful for the company..
”On the way back you can tell me how you got a panther as a pet.”
” Oh he isn’t my pet, he is my bonded companion. But I would be happy to tell you. Zenko said as he picked up Kenji and placed him on his shoulders, where the panther cub seemed to be content to lay down and go to sleep.
This was most definitely a strange way to end the day.
[WC:2030]