[ginjima kita]

A mature and sound mind would take satisfaction in the effort it has made and look to reflect on if more would be rewarding. Kita however is an emotionally immature teenager, the idea of people his age being so far ahead of him filled him with fire, one that burns him as much as it fuels him.


After spending the day burning himself out in various ways, unguided but somewhat fruitful steps towards his goal, he found himself at a quiet patch of grass at the rear end of the academy. It was late and a weekend, so he couldn't see anyone or hear anyone near. A few kids might be wrapping up extracurricular training inside. 

On this patch of grass, he sat alone, wrapped in a thick black hoodie, with some dark sweatpants on. His mind and body crudely imitated a meditative state, The "full lotus" was the name of his pose, something he saw a glimpse of once somewhere. 

The concept of a clear and tidy mind is completely foreign to Kita, that was not the purpose of this. But growing to his age without any proper chakra exercises meant he was a little less malleable internally, took a bit more care to funnel and distribute chakra properly. 

Various patterns and concepts were being engraved, boring and monotonous if done slow and steady, so of course Kita is rushing, exerting and pushing himself unnecessarily. Off in his own world, alone, clearly distressed and restless. 

Kaguya Toru

MADE BY MINNIE OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world ginjima kita

A weekend did not always mean that the training fields were empty, in fact that was when they were often the most busy. Shinobi and students of all types trying to sharpen their skills to get better, to impress someone, to prove that they were good enough to go up a rank or in the case of the young man sitting trying to meditate, trying to prove that he was better than the rest enough to graduate.

Toru trained most often, on his own, setting up specific meet-ups with others so his coming to this training ground was less about training and more academy inspection with the head instructor. Things seemed to be running smoothly, no longer were things like when he had been attending as a child. There was organization, and the curriculum was kept to just as the young Mizukage had delegated when he had first come into office almost two years ago.

Once he dismissed the head instructor he wandered out into the dewy, warm training field where a few individuals were scattered. There was one, who was seated in an attempt to meditate it seemed. But it was an ineffective stance to Toru who approached as silent as a ghost from behind.

"If you slouch, the chakra will not properly circulate in your body, if that is the intention of your practice." He commented dryly - Toru knew of this boy, because he had been one of the very few exceptions in the academy... Older than most others, a late entry for one reason or another and with a troubled history. Toru and made higher-ups did keep a closer eye on him in concern of his dedication.

OWL

[ginjima kita]

"If you slouch, the chakra will not properly circulate in your body, if that is the intention of your practice."

If Kita had actually been meditating or even close to being somewhat immersed in the practice, he probably would've been startled. But he was so far removed from anything resembling that, he just sighed instead. 

Standing up and turning around, he wanted to eye up whoever had just come along. After all it was hard to sneak up on Kita, the guy's usually pretty on edge, and this was awfully close for nothing to have given him away. 

A quiet moment passed after Toru had spoken. Visibly, he was of a similar age. Beyond that, they felt worlds apart. No airs, no concern, no jitters. In fact, he felt more like this was him being observed rather than approached, and the statement that was let loose was Toru was speaking to himself, rather than Kita. He wasn't another kid from the academy, that much was clear.

"You any good at this stuff? Sitting round, magically getting stronger? When I first came here, I thought this shit was for the kids who couldn't cut it doing real training. So I been cutting corners with it, favouring the... well y'know, real stuff. Jutsu, sparring, the works."

"Now it's biting in me in the ass, apparently it aint too shabby for getting your insides - er, your 'chakra pathways' all cushty."

The approach of meditation, or any quiet and introspective actions in general, were the antithesis to Kita's approach to anything. Fundamentally, it doesn't mesh to the point where he's not even able to verbalize what sort of questions he needs to be asking.

If this were another kid from the academy, Kita probably would've lorded his height over him, poked fun at his build and told him to kick rocks this little place was his. But he'd seen some real beasts before who'll bite your head off for speaking out of line like that, while it's probably a little different in this world, he knew when not to push his luck.

Kaguya Toru

MADE BY MINNIE OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world ginjima kita

Chakra control was a mostly foreign thing to Toru who had grown up with huge reserves, and had them expanded exponentially now by being a jinchuuriki. But simply by being a jinchuuriki, and a kenjutsu practitioner he knew how to still his mind well, to become so immersed with himself that he might as well have become the mist that lingered in the village - though less so in these warmer summer months.

Kita stood, and Toru blinked at him once, slowly. The other was taller, but Toru's height never bothered Toru and he was still growing accustomed to having his most recent growth spurt. It was possible if Kita was particularly attentive to politics - most were not - that he might know who Toru was. But the young leader also had no indication about him to being a leader. He wore a summer yukata in a light blue, tucked into some basic straight-legged light cotton trousers.

No kage hat, no robes, and no headband currently in sight.

There was a crude way that Kita spoke, and it reminded Toru immediately of how he had been when he had been an orphan on the streets. His superiors were of no concern to him, he hated those that had any modicum of wealth. He had entered the academy because he had no other tools of trade to fall back on if he ever wanted to make money and not be homeless when he left the orphanage.

Things ended up different, his opinions changed but ultimately what happened was he took the bull by the horns and dragged it through the mud. The nation he grew up in was not the same one when he had taken charge, poverty was rapidly decreasing and those with lesser means could afford a place to live, and food on the table. By becoming a leader, he had distributed from the rich without killing them as he had once wanted to, his mind molded now to love and care for the nation unlike ever before.

"It is not magic, nor is it quick. But if you are honest with the internal process, you will see results almost immediately." Toru shared, a hand tucked into the pocket of his pant, the other simply by his side.

"To meditate is to face oneself, it can be difficult to look upon the things one does not like about oneself, but if you are not in harmony with yourself, then your chakra won't be either. Focus on your breath, lose everything that is on your mind. Jutsu can give you the means to be strong, sparring may give you the physical, meditation and thought it will give you a cool mind to weave the other two together in combat to survive against others."

Perhaps Kita thought otherwise, but he had never fought against real shinobi and Toru knew that sometimes there were only seconds to act sometimes in the heat of battle when someone has created a play and trap so well-crafted against you, that if you are not thinking clearly you could die.

OWL

[ginjima kita]

"It is not magic, nor is it quick. But if you are honest with the internal process, you will see results almost immediately."

The sound of Kita kissing his teeth followed. His mouth and nose would scrunch towards each other, a bitter face showing that Toru happens to be hitting some soft spots. 

A stirring going on within Kita's head could practically be heard, gears clunking and churning. There was clearly some truths he was starting to realise about himself that even admitting to himself right now might be a bit much, let alone to this strange pale kid. 

"To meditate is to face oneself ... in combat to survive against others."


The outer corners of Kita's eyes sank a little, giving his face a more mellow demeanour. A conversation like this was one he had an easy time focusing his mind towards, but an internal monologue spawns more and more Kitas, all wanting to interject and have their voice heard.

After another brief silence, Kita would reply:

"The thing you just said right there. Meditation is meant to weave the jutsu and physical together right? How you meant to know when there's an imbalance? And aren't some people inherently imbalanced? Like you got people who are chuunin or jounin who'd lose in an arm wrestle to me right now but could put this whole fuckin' country underwater or something."

It was clear from his tone that there was a large world in front of Kita that was still sinking in. It seemed like there were many paths he could take but it didn't seem clear what twists and turns he should follow down his current path.


Kaguya Toru

MADE BY MINNIE OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world ginjima kita

Toru's only mild change in expression was that of a head tilt.

"There is no chunin or jounin who could lose in an arm wrestle to you."

Lacking in taijutsu was one thing, but to be a chunin or a jounin was to be well-rounded, especially a jounin. There was no academy student in all the nations, even one who had trained in taijutsu and arm strength alone that could put down a jounin.

Toru's words were cold though in some manner as if to remind the other of the gravity of his words with which he spoke. He had made a huge and extreme claim one that he could never attempt to uphold.

"An area of focus does not denote an internal imbalance." Toru continued then the tilt of his head neutralizing as he continued to stand there unwavering staring at Kita.

"A good shinobi is never out of balance even with inherent weaknesses. They learn to make those weaknesses into strengths. All good shinobi know the basic tenants of meditation, physical prowess and jutsu use. All."

Of course there were many different ways to approach all three of those facets in shinobihood but everyone had an approach, especially if they hoped to become a jounin.

"But weaknesses are inherent to us all, it is why we are put on three person teams. Even with weaknesses we can rely on our comrades, and uphold the will of the nation, because at our back there is always the strength of hundreds, of thousands."

It was a comforting thing to know, in Toru's mind. To know that no matter what, he had many who would stand with him against those that would threaten the lives of those they loved.

OWL

[ginjima kita]

The pale haired lad seemed to hold a high opinion of Shinobi, there wasn't much of a clear idea to Kita what a shinobi was. It's not like he lacked the information, it was akin to how a child doesn't have a clear idea of what the bogeyman is. 

Part of this was due to the fact Kita still did not see himself as part of the shinobi world yet, in spite of the fact he was currently within the system. 

As someone who grew up as a civilian, surrounded by other civilians, as well as Kita being one not to hold honor or patriotism to a high regard, all a shinobi was to him was just someone strong with a license to exercise that right.  

While in the academy what a shinobi's role is has been discussed, the context of it being a shinobi telling future shinobi what they're meant to be feels inauthentic. However the context he was currently in, along with Toru's voice, demeanour and mannerisms when talking about what it is to be a shinobi, opened his mind a little. 

Internally, he scoffed at the idea that there wasn't at least ONE chuunin he could beat in an arm wrestle, he figured it to be moot to try and argue. After all, this guy doesn't know what sort of prodigy is standing before him. 

An upwards pursing of the lips accompanied by a gesture looking for a fist bump, a form of acknowledgement from Kita. 


"Most people who talk as much as you are usually peddling some serious bullshit. But you're alright. I'm Kita. Show me how you go about this whole meditation thing. Then you helping a future comrade who can compensate for your weaknesses"


A smirk washed across his face, even when asking for help, he couldn't help but show his confidence.

Kaguya Toru

MADE BY MINNIE OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world ginjima kita

Toru did not usually talk much, unless prompted and this was just the case. He stared quietly at the young man, taller, about the same age. But Toru could feel the distance between them, it was enormous, a chasm of years lost. There had not been much prospect for the boy growing up, he had only seen the nation torn up before he was sent to the academy a last ditch effort to get him some skills. It was luck, a miracle he stood where he was now. The position, following Kaguya Minako's disappearance, had saved him from utter demise.

In the past Toru might have taken the fist bump, or at least acknowledged it and sneered. But right now he didn't. His hands remained still as he gazed at Kita in silence for a few beats longer before he went to sit down in the damp grass. His legs were crossed and his hands were relaxed along his thighs, a connection made between thumbs and index fingers so the energy inside of his body did not circulate outward.

Then the world grew still and Toru did too, more than he had been moments ago. He was already quite stoic, now it was as if he had disappeared entirely. Not a muscle twitched, it was as if he had stopped breathing too. But no, his breathing was just that clear and steady.

Perhaps it might seem boring to an untrained mind, but Toru was in his mind facing himself, and his demons as he had many times before.

OWL

[ginjima kita]

There had been many a response from sour to sweet when Kita had offered his hand out for a fistbump. This was a first. An eyebrow raised as Toru plopped onto the grass without word. To be able to disregard the world around him, the person he was talking to and disengage like that. Kita had found someone who could do something he couldn't. 


Walking on over, Kita would squat, his heels planted on the ground, roughly arms distance and some change away from Toru. Tilting his head like a dog presented with a command it doesn't understand. This began a rapid pace of questioning and deconstruction in Kita's head.

"How's he snapped into it so quick? What's he going through? Can he even tell I'm here? Do you just ignore the outside world? Be conscious of it but don't let it take up your mind?"

There was a few minutes of quiet, the gears audibly turning in Kita's head. The feeling he got was that while you can get advice to help you find your way, it's not like a jutsu where you can make technical corrections until it works as intended. 

Before he gave it a shot himself, Kita had one idea he had to see the result of. After scraping the floor with his hand, a pebble would find its way onto his thumb, at a reactable distance, he'd ping the pebble at an inert pace to Toru's head, in a position where all it would take is a tilt to dodge. 

Kaguya Toru

MADE BY MINNIE OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world ginjima kita

Toru connected with the interior makeup of his mind, firstly wandering in a swirl of mist and darkness. There were thoughts, but they were pushed aside in favor of the calm movement of water, lapping at a shore. There were different manners of meditation, some cultivated a fire in their core, others the crackling of electricity. For Toru the symbol of his country and village was perhaps the most soothing and it was the most standard element to teach to focus on in Mizu no Kuni - water. The water salty, and he inhaled it deeply reflecting to his exterior as he breathed though it was quiet. Not silent, as he felt no need to be silent in the moment, but definitely quiet.

At some point he wandered by Isobu, his fingertips brushing along the smooth glass bowl that kept the chakra and the tailed creature inside. They acknowledged each other, spoke briefly but nothing of note came on the outside in this interaction either.

There was a breeze, sea spray, a shift as the pebble came flying. Between something strange coming towards him that disturbed not only the air nearby, but the scent pathways, and Toru's reflexes he seemed to move out of the way in a sway.

It didn't really disturb his meditation though, and he let a few more minutes move by before his eyes opened and looked towards Kita.

"The best way to tell results is through your ability to think critically in stressful situations after meditation. Try it now. Sit, close your eyes, and begin to breathe." He would not yet introduce the concept of water at the core yet.

"Don't grab onto thoughts, but don't fight to get rid of them. Let them slip by you, walk through your mind."

OWL

[ginjima kita]

Holy shit. I gotta learn that. His fuckin' eyes are closed...

Toru dodging the pebble instinctively with his eyes closed was the most awe inspiring part of the whole process for Kita. Not the ability to so suddenly become tranquil and surrender his senses, the significance of that was partially recognised but it lacked the "wow" factor. 

""The best way ... walk through your mind"

Quiet. A rare state for Kita. He was digesting what he had just seen, this was the real deal.

All I was doing earlier was a cheap imitation of this...shit even that might be too generous to me...

Digesting all that he had been told, his eye contact with Toru didn't break, but it went from looking at him, to looking through him. Lost in thought about the differences here. An unfamiliar territory where things become subjective rather than a matter of breaking down and understanding. 

From his squat, he'd let his legs swing down into a cross legged position, across from Toru. 

Walk through my mind eh?

The things that had been exposed to Kita were unfamiliar and abstract, how would you even begin to go about grasping onto these concepts? Rather than getting lost in a loop, action was needed. 

First I'll just get rid of any tension, he looked crazy loose just now. Eh, that'll do. No pushing anything out but no looking for anything either? What sort of state is that huh?

Gradually, a steady breath, a well supported seated stance, Kita began to visibly release tension from his body, a result of a small step made in the right direction by his mind. 

Kaguya Toru

MADE BY MINNIE OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world ginjima kita

In a manner of speaking, meditation was abstract. It was not innate to some, but it helped calm the mind and it helped progress forward as a shinobi, and not just as a shinobi - as a person as well. Shinobi were warriors, fighters, soldiers, assassins. But they were all born as people, no matter what any of them believed of themselves. Meditation was something that could benefit everyone, not just those that relied on their bodies and minds to push through difficult situations to protect a nation.

Toru remained seated, though he did shift so that he could loop his arm around one knee and press it closer to his chest as he stared at Kita observing the other teenager.

There was some tension that was released, but it would take a lot more than one session to perfect this. It took years to be truly good at meditation and many more years after to master. Being a shinobi was a lot about patience, nobody could master something in one day and those that could, were often considered to be true geniuses in the world.

Perhaps Kita would realize that he would need a drop of patience to get ahead, perhaps not... Toru hoped that this was a step in the direction of patience and for now remained still, watching Kita and only watching, saying nothing.

OWL