[Kojima Daisuke]

DO NOT MISTAKE MY KINDNESS FOR WEAKNESS

A deep breath in, seven seconds, hold, five seconds, exhale, seven seconds. Gray skies above, a chill breeze rolling through the mountains, wind rustling through the trees. The smell of rain was seemingly permanent here. Like earth, cleaned, cleansed, washed away of its impurities. Each and every thought that would come to his mind were like birds flying through the sky, here for a brief moment, and gone the next. Not lingering, dwelling on a single one, but simply allowing them to be.

Meditation was not exactly easy for the young sage apprentice, though making it a routine was at least making it more habitual. Something he felt odd not doing, as the days went by. It was one of the keynotes to being a sage, from what he’d been told. Meditation, mindfulness, allowing things to simply be and giving over control to a power greater, to that of the binding energies between all things. A form of surrender that was far more empowering than what the word implied. Admitting that you could not control everything, admitting your powerlessness over other people, places, and things… It was far easier said than done, of course.

Daisuke was learning, though. It was far more natural for him to impose his will upon the world around him. Use his strength, his power, and white knuckle any given situation until he was given his way. As much as he might not want to admit it, though, acting in such a way was far more harmful than anything else. Always winding him up with more chaos than with what he began with.

Another deep breath, hold, exhale. He had no idea how long he’d been meditating for. How long his eyes had been closed, how long he’d been sitting in that overhang, looking into the mountainous terrain of Kaminari no kuni from his known home of Tsuki no yama.

Another deep breath, his gut pressing outward as his diaphragm pulled in ait. His abs lightly tensed at the held breath, before relaxing once more upon his exhale. Eyes slowly flittering open with a few small drops of rain beginning to fall from the sky. Daisuke would grin slightly, turning upward to the clouds. He quite liked the rain. But, his meditation now over, the young sage would rise from his cross-legged position, collecting his belongings, only to turn and see a beast of enormous proportions standing only a few meters away.

"Don’yokuna.” Daisuke said lightly, bowing to the alpha wolf to acknowledge his presence.

^{FOR THE BEAST IN ME IS BUT SLEEPING}

---

^{Solo Training: 1/12}

Temp By: A

[Kojima Daisuke]

DO NOT MISTAKE MY KINDNESS FOR WEAKNESS

The large wolf growled lightly, nodding his head at the apprentice once he rose from his deep bow.

"I’m surprised to see you. Can’t say I was expecting you, sensei.”

It was quite rare for the large wolf to grace Daisuke with his presence, let alone without Kaede present as well. Don’yokuna was something of a legend among the wolves of these mountains, his strength known far and wide throughout Kaminari no kuni. A master sage as well, who had trained Kaede in everything he knows about senjutsu and natural chakra alike.

"Good to see you in practice, master Daisuke. Meditation is just as important as your physical training. If not more so.” The large wolf’s voice was deep, rasped, his eyes piercing through to Daisuke’s very soul.

"It’s… Still not easy. An on-going practice, to be sure.”

The wolf growled, nodding his head to the young sage’s words. "Indeed. Training the mind can be that way.”

Not wanting to avert his gaze for too long, Daisuke would turn back to meet the wolf’s eyes. A deep breath would come through his nostrils, straightening himself before he spoke once more. "I don’t want to keep you any longer than you mean to stay, Don’yokuna. Was there… Something you needed of me?”

The wolf smirked, his eyebrow raising slightly before he’d stand. "To the point then.” He said with a small graveled hum. "There is, in fact. There is something I have been meaning to give to you for some time now. I had intended to give it to Kaede so he could give it to you instead, but he has been out of my sight, as of late. Come, young Daisuke.”

^{FOR THE BEAST IN ME IS BUT SLEEPING}

---

^{Solo Training: 2/12}

Temp By: A

[Kojima Daisuke]

IF YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT CRUSHING ANTS BENEATH YOUR FEET

Daisuke was never of the mind to disobey the large wolf sage, and this would be no different. The apprentice would simply give a small nod, take his position next to the massive creature, and follow him inside one of the various dens set out across the mountain range they called home. Deeper and deeper into the mountain the two would go, down one of the cave systems Daisuke could not feel he was familiar with.

"Where exactly are we headed, Don'yokuna?” Daisuke asked, his head on a swivel as he looked around the inside of the large cave.

"Patience, Daisuke, patience. You will see soon enough.”

The sage apprentice would let out a small sigh, his brow ruffling with dissatisfaction at Don'yokuna's answer, though he couldn't have really expected anything different. It wouldn't take too long, though, for the duo to find themselves in a rather large opening within the cave. There was a hole in the ceiling letting in a beam of sunlight that reflected off a variety of strange crystals and minerals that grew inside the chamber. Daisuke couldn't help but let his jaw drop at the marvel he saw before him. Stalactites and stalagmites alike filled the area, each one with a growth of prismatic crystals that glinted through nearly every formation of rock that could be seem. The sunlight too bounced through the chamber creating rainbows of colors across the walls of the cave.

"Holy shit...” Daisuke said under his breath, causing a small chuckle to fall from the large wolf that now sat beside him.

"Beautiful, is it not?” The wolf turned its massive head to the young apprentice before Daisuke took a few steps forward.

^{THEN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK}

---

^{Solo Training: 3/12}

Temp By: A

[Kojima Daisuke]

IF YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT CRUSHING ANTS BENEATH YOUR FEET

Beautiful was something of an understatement. In the three years he’d been training with the wolves of Kaminari no kuni, Daisuke had never expected a place like this to be hidden among them.

"What is this place?” The young sage asked, his head still swivelling about, still in awe of what was before him.

"This is the moon stone chamber. It is sacred to us wolves. Much of what we know about natural chakra has come from this place. These crystals hold special properties we still do not know enough about. But, there is a more specific reason I brought you here than just that. There is something I have been meaning to give to you, as I said, and part of that must be something of your choosing.”

Daisuke’s brow furrowed slightly as his curiosity began to rise with the alpha wolf’s statement.

"What do you mean?” He asked, slightly hesitant.

The large wolf smiled, his piercing gaze turning to the sage apprentice with his fangs poking out slightly from the curl of his lips. The wolf soon closed its eyes before a glow of black and red energy began to radiate from hit body, eyes opening only a moment later, glowing gold with an almost burning sense going through Daisuke’s body as he met eyes with the beast.

"Allowing Natural Energy to course through your body is no easy feat, young Daisuke. It took Kaede over a decade to master, and even he still has room to grow. This place will help in your meditation and gathering of natural chakra. But first, a moonstone must be imbued with your signature.”

With seemingly no warning, the massive wolf jolted forward, piercing into Daisuke’s flesh with his large fangs. The young sage did all he could not to be overwhelmed by the pain, but despite his best efforts, he could not contain the scream from escaping him. Shock almost immediately overcame him as blood soon poured from the wound. It seared with an unimaginable pain, causing sweat to bead on his brow, and his entire body to turn pale and flush.

"Don’yokuna, wh-what-”

"Hush, Kodomo. Embrace it. Pull the natural energies around you into your body to relieve the pain. Meditate, listen, and reach for what calls to you.”

^{THEN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK}

---

^{Solo Training: 4/12}

Temp By: A

[Kojima Daisuke]

IF YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT CRUSHING ANTS BENEATH YOUR FEET

His vision began to grow hazy as blood trickled down from his shoulder. Just what on earth was Don'yokuna trying to teach him? Daisuke could hardly focus on the alpha wolf's voice as his hand reach up to his shoulder to clench the wound.

Quick and desperate breaths cycled through his lungs, but as his heart pounded behind his chest something began to take Daisuke by surprise.

"The fuck?” Daisuke mumbled to himself before his hand released from his should, the pain now fading away from his being.

Noticably, there was a dim blue glow around his form which soon grew brighter and brighter as the pain in his shoulder began to fade away. The wound was far from healed, blood barely beginning to clot over the area, but the pain was almost completely nullified by now. It was an incredible feeling as his breathing calmed and his vision cleared, an invigorating stregth flowing through his body and to his finger tips.

'Was this what a sennin's strength felt like?' The young sage questioned as a toothy smirk grew across his face.

"It seems your body has accepted my gift. As you have been unable to retain natural chakra in your body through your own means, I have given you a little push, so to speak. Now, you will need to find a way to balance this energy inside you, and bring yourself back to this state.”

Daisuke clenched his fists, as the energy inside him radiated about his being. It was incredible. This strength was something he never knew could be achieved, but now... Now he wanted to test it.

"Fight me.” Daisuke said, his eyes crackling with a storm behind them as he turned to Don'yokuna. "Let me see what I can do like this, Don'yokuna. Let me challenge you!”

^{THEN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK}

---

^{Ren [Training 6/12]}

Temp By: Akira

[Ren]

The sage arts were hard to learn. They came more naturally to animals than they did to humans, and even though shinobi were naturally gifted in being able to harness the power of their own energy, that interior energy paled in comparison to the sheer potency and complexity of the powers of nature; humans were but a speck of dust in the greater scale of the cosmos, only blatantly ignorant to that fact. And to bring such a lesson on humility, especially to someone as arrogant as Daisuke, sometimes the path requires some pain. Pain is a great instructor, it is also a quite humbling one. Still, the frustration in his tone seemed to have disappeared upon witnessing what natural energy could accomplish, and while the wound was still not completely healed, he was invigorated once again, and could move his body freely. It was a gift indeed, but that gift was but a key opening the door to a larger world, one that the sage apprentice still had to explore, even if he was not going to be alone in that fantastical journey.

The boy seemed awestruck by that power he now felt inside his body, and the alpha wolf could hardly blame him for that. Still, his own arrogance often got the best of him. The alpha wolf looked at the boy unamused and unshaken by his challenge. "Are you sure you are up to the challenge, Kodomo? You've had but a taste of the power of nature. Do not allow it to get to your head. Still, if you are certain, I can indulge in your request. Choose." the wolf said, not moving an inch as he waited for an answer from Daisuke.

---

^{Word Count: 288}

[Kojima Daisuke]

IF YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT CRUSHING ANTS BENEATH YOUR FEET

Though the term Kodomo constantly came off as a term of endearment from the elder wolf, it always made the young chuunin grind his teeth. Calling him a cub was only further putting his pride and ego in charge, making him feel like he had to be so much better. The cub, he thought, was just the little baby, the one that always had so much to learn. It clouded his vision to an extent, even though the name had only ever come from a place of care and compassion.

"I'm certain.” Daisuke said, the energy still radiating over him. He was for more than certain about his challenge. With such primal fire burning through his body now, Daisuke needed to see what he was capable of. He didn't care the way things could go. He felt a need for action, a need to move, like everything in his mind body and spirit was urging him forward. "I have to see, Don'yokuna. I have to feel it.”

Glowing blue eyes turned to match the wolf's gaze. The chuunin's arms whipped from his sides, his hands coming together to let out a clap that boomed between the two. The thunderous sound echoed all around them, and as Daisuke made the motion, it seemed to set the natural energy ablaze around him, enhancing his features. It was the first time he'd ever used natural energy to this extent, but it in turn would seem to change his physical being as well.

His hair quickly grew long and black, his teeth and nails grew sharp, and his ears perked up, mirroring that of a wolf. In addition, the backs of his hands and forearms became covered in black fur, while his feet seemed to elongate, forcing him to stand on the ball of his feet. Finally, it seemed Daisuke had a tail that matched in color to the darkness of his hair.

Daisuke began to feel an overwhelming strength surging from inside him, the natural energy fusing with his chakra, balancing the two in perfect harmony for the first time.

"I am a cub no more, Don'yokuna! Show me what power you claim to hold in full!”

Like an arrogant and foolish child, Daisuke blitzed forward.

^{THEN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK}

---

^{Ren | Training 8/12}

Temp By: Akira

[Ren]

Daisuke showed his resolve not only with his words, but also with his tone. The young boy had much to prove, and the wolf knew that all too well. For humans, Daisuke may have been an adult, but for the wolf, he was just that, a cub, learning the ways of the world, breaking out of his shell of ignorance, so that he could understand nature in a deeper level, one that most humans would never dream of achieving, thus was the way of the sages.

"Very well." the wolf responded with a sagely nod. Don'yokuna watched as Daisuke displayed his feeble understanding of senjutsu, still, his eyes were filled with pride. A journey starts just like that, with a single step, followed by many others, and he knew that the boy had what it took to complete his journey. But he also needed to temper his own patience, for that would the steepest of his challenges in the trainings to come.

"But you are still a cub, Kodomo. And it is fine to be one. As a cub, you have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes. Now... Let's me show you." and with that, Don'yokuna charged forward with an incredible speed. So absurdly fast that Daisuke's eyes couldn't follow. In a blink of an eye, the wolf was already there, in front of the boy, aiming to headbutt his solar plexus with its incredible strength.

---

<sup>Word Count: 240

Kojima Daisuke</sup>

[Kojima Daisuke]

IF YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT CRUSHING ANTS BENEATH YOUR FEET

Daisuke was a fool to challenge the Alpha wolf in such a way. An ignorant child, thinking he might have any chance of matching the great wolf's strength. One might argue that despite his arrogance, that the young sage could have simply been testing his limits. There would be no greater foe to face than Don'yokuna to see just how far he could push himself. As true as those words may be, though, the chuunin was quite far from testing himself. Pushing his limits, sure, but his actions were fueled far more by pride and ego than the calculated thoughts of seeing his capabilities.

The sage apprentice smirked, his hands balling into fists as the wise wolf accepted his challenge, but what came next Daisuke could not have been prepared for. The massive beast moved at blinding speeds, so fast that even in this enhanced state of being Daisuke had no chance of following. Like a boulder crushing into him with the weight and speed of a bullet train, Don'yokuna slammed the crown of his head straight to Daisuke's center mass. He flew backwards, his body crashing into the mountain side, leaving a plume of dust and debris around him.

Ordinarily, a blow like this would have broken bones, he was sure, but much to Daisuke's surprise he was considerably less injured than he'd expected. There was pain, sure enough, but otherwise, only small cuts to his skin and a throbbing pain in his chest where the wolf had made contact. His hands reached up, gripping against the edges of stone he was cratered inside as he pulled himself free. He dusted himself off, small pebbles falling to the ground as he did so before a smile stretched across his face. He could feel the power pulsing through him, and Daisuke couldn't wait to see what he was capable of doing.

His body erupted with lightning as the chuunin made his move. Like a bullet, Daisuke launched himself towards Don'Yokuna using the sacred Lightning Release Chakra Mode. In the blink of an eye, Daisuke was infront of the large wolf with his knee barreling toward the wolfs jaw like a canonball.

^{THEN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK}

---

^{Ren | 10/12 Training}

Temp By: Akira

SPOILER: Click to show

SA’s Active:

Daisuke

---

Sea of Chakra - Chakra Reserves
Thrill of the Hunt - Enhanced Speed and Endurance
Will of Thousands - Enhanced Strength and Durability

Temporary Sage Enhancements - Jutsu Effectiveness, Enhanced Speed, Strength, and Durability

[Ren]

This was by no means a fair fight, and even though Daisuke was channeling nature energy through his body, he was still but a cub when compared to the mighty Don'yokuna, and both of them knew that. And yet, the boy wanted to test his mettle, and the wold would honour him with a proper fight, even if the outcome of it would be humbling. If anything, Daisuke could use a few lessons on humility, after all.

The use of the Lightning Release Armour did help, improving his physicality and speed. That also gave the boy the confidence of throwing himself in front of the wolf, barrelling towards its jaw like a cannonball. An impressive display of strength that could make most enemies cower in fear.

But it was still futile.

The wolf would then display its full speed, matching, and then surpassing what Daisuke had displayed, and with a swift dodge from his attack, an immediate counter came in the form of a ferocious bite to his flank. He wouldn't put all his power into it, as he didn't want to kill the boy, but it was a decisive attack, one to end this fight. A display of how much growing Daisuke still had ahead of him.

---

<sup>Word Count: 211

Kojima Daisuke</sup>

[Kojima Daisuke]

IF YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT CRUSHING ANTS BENEATH YOUR FEET

Despite the incredible speed granted to him from the Lightning release armor, it seemed Don'yokuna was faster still. Never would he have imagined a beast so large, one that rivaled the Kyuubi in size, could move with such swiftness. He was outmatched from the moment this began.

Panic struck Daisuke in the moment. He felt doubt in his abilities. Doubt in himself. He was a fool for making this challenge, and the Alpha wolf was right to put him in his place.

New to the powers of the lightning armor and newer still to the strength of nature chakra, Daisuke could not alter the path he was on. Don'yokuna would no doubt slam his jaws into the young sage and end this little bout within seconds of its beginning. With hardly any time to think Daisuke's hands flickered, and just before the jaws closed around him a puff of smoke burst around the young chuunin. To his surprise, though, Daisuke simply fell to the ground, lightning fizzling out all around him.

"What?” He muttered to himself before turning his eyes upwards towards the large wolf. What he saw, however, shook the apprentice to his core.

What he expected to see was a simple log, or perhaps splinters in the aftermath of the Alpha wolf's bite. Instead, however, it seemed his hands had worked against him, and in his panic, Daisuke summoned a wolf of his contract instead of using the simplest of techniques. Blood slowly trickled down the Don'yokuna's maw, Daisuke's skin turning pale white when he realized that it was his companion Kota who had taken the blow instead of him.

He collapsed at the sight, tears welling in the corners of his eyes as the natural chakra that bolstered him was soon expelled with the loss of focus.

"Kota...” Was all he could manage.

^{THEN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK}

---

^{Ren | 12/12 Training, Complete!}

Temp By: Akira

SPOILER: Click to show

SA’s Active:

Daisuke

---

Sea of Chakra - Chakra Reserves
Thrill of the Hunt - Enhanced Speed and Endurance
Will of Thousands - Enhanced Strength and Durability

Temporary Sage Enhancements - Jutsu Effectiveness, Enhanced Speed, Strength, and Durability

[Ren]

"Do I smell fear, Kodomo? That is good. Fear is not a handicap, but an important tool. The moment you stop feeling fear is the moment you lost the sense of reality. Fear is present in every animal on this world, and it is what help us survive. Fear is natural, much like this energy you want to master... Fear... Is your ally." the wise wolf's words were truthful, for even a creature such as himself felt fear. The difference was that some people would let the fear take the wheel and stir, while others would reign their own fears and use it to break through their own limits, and ascend to become something better. A tool to hone one's self, to alert them to dangers and allow them to prepare in kind.

However, if not used to its benefit, Fear can also induce an individual to commit terrible mistakes, hence the importance of Don'yokuna's words. As his fangs closed in with Daisuke, the sage apprentice used a substitution technique, but due to his duress, he mistakenly change placed with Kota instead, and since the great wolf was already committed to its attack, it couldn't fully stop, and Kota was seriously injured by the sharp fangs of the creature, whining in pain only once before its consciousness faded away.

Don'yokuna would carefully place Kota on the ground, and then glance over to Daisuke. "This is why I preached about fear. But you let it take the wheel, Kodomo. Fear not, Kota is not going to die. But this was thanks to my own control. You need to see this as an important lesson." he warned him.

---

<sup>Word Count: 279

Kojima Daisuke</sup>

[Kojima Daisuke]

IF YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT CRUSHING ANTS BENEATH YOUR FEET

Fear, just as Don'yokuna had mentioned, had gripped and shackled nearly every aspect of his being. The pendant around his neck began to glow, siphoning out what nature energy remained in his being, leaving Daisuke feeling exhausted. The combination of his shock and plumit of his energy levels forced him to his knees.

The massive wolf placed his kin down with care, assuring the young sage that that his companion, though wounded, would be fine in the end. But, it was that constant feeling Don'yokuna admitted to preaching that echoed through the chuunin's very being.

Fear. Fear was indeed a tool. One Daisuke knew full well about after this exchange. As the wolf said, Daisuke let himself go, and let his emotions consume him. He allowed his fear to drive his actions, and because of it, his greatest friend could have been killed.

"Don'yokuna, I-” His voice was low and hushed, like a child who had been scolded and sought sanctuary. His eyes, though, were set on Kota.

Yes, Daisuke had indeed learned something today. More than just how to access sage mode. This was not a day that he would soon forget.

^{THEN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK}

---

^{Ren | 12/12 Training Complete!}

Temp By: Akira

[Ren]

Don'yokuna watched with a taciturn expression as Daisuke, overwhelmed by fear, dropped to his knees before the giant wolf. It exhaled sharply from its nostrils and lowered his gaze so he could look at the face of the young sage apprentice, hoping that his words had reached his heart as a beacon, a light to try and cast away the darkness that comes from those negative feelings.

"While it is fine to feel this way, don't let it consume you. Take this as a valuable lesson, one that will make you better than you are today. And this is what we should strive for, kodomo. To overcome our past selves, one step at the time. Now... Tend to your little friend, and he will be fine. I shall take my leave for today." and with those parting words, the wolf would vanish from the realm, cutting the chakra connection established for the summoning.

Daisuke would grow from this, but this was his cross to bear alone, it was part of the difficult - and painful - process of truly growing up in the shinobi world. Still, Don'yokuna didn't fear for the young chuunin. He knew him enough to know this would only make him stronger.

---

<sup>Word Count: 206

Kojima Daisuke</sup>