[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

Rocks slick with clear running water, fish ambling idly in a deep basin, and a roaring waterfall. A peaceful scene in the wilderness of Hi no Kuni and in its center sat a young man beneath the ever-moving wall of water.

As still as can be, eyes closed, with both of his hands clasped. Fingertips touching to aid in a form of meditation he oft practiced. Having only just adopted this posture within the waters he did his best to steady his breathing and his body, but the constant pressure made that goal rather  difficult. Which was entirely the point of it all.

Discomfort, sporadic shifting weight bearing down on his body, a slight but growing aching in his muscles... all part of an exercise to strengthen his physicality. Or more accurately to make himself more durable in the end.

Years of intense training had already granted him a level of physical strength that was unreasonable, but that sort of gift was dangerous without an equal level of endurance to use it properly. Many small scars riddled his hands and feet, all mementos of his endeavors. He'd fractured and cracked his own bones more times than he could count utilizing his own might. With any luck, this would help stop that from ever happening again.

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[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

As the weight of the crashing waters bore down fully upon his shoulders, his form swayed slightly underneath. Still, he did his best to steady his movements.

Eyelids shut tight, his breathing as constant as ever. As he sat, his lips pursed slightly. "Inhale..." He spoke calmly, his words all but inaudible even to himself. A long, deep breath through the nose followed soon after. Lungs filling with air, chest heaving.

The sheer velocity of the waters were deafening and made it impossible for him to hear anything other than the sound of the fall smacking against the rocks. Against him. He spoke to himself nonetheless. "Exhale." This time he breathed out through his mouth. Expelling all of his gathered air in one go.

Attempting to center himself under the raging falls, appearing as if were closing his senses to the outside world entirely. A falsity... as in reality he was trying to open his mind to everything around him. The subtle movement of the fish in the pool before him, his own body's minute motions, the flow of the water itself. The young man's legs remained crossed but soon began to tense. Meditation was only the first part of this exercise. Soon enough, he would need to move.

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[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

While the muscles in his thighs tensed, so too did his fingertips against one another. Positioned before his face, it almost looked like a hand seal although the gesture was different.

Mudras were formed to help one focus and concentrate, for him they were as common as the seals required to perform jutsu. But instead of using them to mold chakra he held them to steady his mind. Similar concepts, differing results.

Slowly but surely his legs uncrossed themselves as he sat, the soles of his feet finding the wet stone beneath himself. "Om..." A mantra, chanted aloud to himself as he began his steady rise. Each of his movements deliberate, every one performed with a great deal of consciousness. Of mindfulness. The waters above never stopped their flow, an opposite force acting upon his shirtless form the entire time. Despite the unending resistance he carefully stood to his feet.

Holding his mudra all the while until he stood to his full height. Once he had, his eyes slowly opened to take in his surroundings. It was a calming sight, nature in all of its undisturbed glory. Without a word, lowered his hands just beneath his chin, and began the next step. 

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[googlefont=Karla]

[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

Any humming that came from his throat was effectively drowned out by the sound of the rushing waters. It and his pose had effectively served their purpose though, and now he was centered.

Calm, collected, and as steady as one could manage beneath the weight of an active waterfall. A light smile dancing across his lips, the young man moved slowly. Hands reaching for the string of wooden juzu that adorned his neck, lifting them carefully overtop of his head and sliding them over his right wrist. Wrapping them several times over until they clung closely to his forearm and he could hold them firmly in hand. Preparation for what was next.

Three hand seals followed, Tora → Inu → Mi in careful succession, helping him to mold his own chakra as wooden, formless masses began to form out of his back. Soon enough two exact duplicates of himself stood on either side of him via his Moku Bunshin no Jutsu.

Both clones wore knowing grins as they were all of the same mind, and knew that they would play the better roles of three. Their purpose? To aid in his toughening up. Which unfortunately meant for him that he was in for more than a bit of punishment. 

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[googlefont=Karla]

[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

Pain was all a part of the process. A normal occurrence for most shinobi and for him in particular... something he knew intimately.

Those around the village who knew of him might also know of his ludicrous training methods. On multiple occasions his very sanity having been called into question. Isolating himself for months at a time, returning from stints of 'practice' battered from head to toe and in varying states of undress. To him, there was no point in doing something if you were going to do it only half way. 

So one clone walked in front of him and another behind, both taking their respective stances as his real body continued its mediation. As thumb moved along the first bead of his juzu he said a silent prayer.

Just as a fist lashed out to strike him in the left side of his abdomen, the hard, flat packing sound almost inaudible over the roar of the falls. With the Moku Bunshin possessing the same crazed strength as himself, it hurt. A lot. But that was exactly the point of it all.

To be able to bear whatever sort of punishment was meted out to him. If he wasn't able to stand his own strength... he had no hopes of withstanding anything else. So he would have to bear it all.

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[googlefont=Karla]

[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

Flinching slightly from the blow, he maintained his pose as best he could.

Already the skin where the bunshin's fist impacted had reddened and was dangerously close to bruising... but that was only the beginning. The second doppelganger stepped forth and spaced its feet apart in a rigid kata stance. Another wind backwards, another swift punch.

Thudding once again against his midsection. Over and over the clones went through their kata, drawing their fists inwards towards their hips and lashing out with fierce strikes. Soon enough building to a ryhtym of raining fists. On his abdomen, his pectoral muscles, his hips, even a few stray blows crashing into his thighs. Each time he was struck the young man recoiled before re-centering himself. And with each attack another juzu was counted between his clasped fingers, the necklace shifting as he went down the line.

An odd sight to be sure, but then, his methods had always been highly irregular. "I have to bear it." He thought as he a fresh pair of fists rained down on his torso. "I must." For him it wasn't even a question. His clones would serve their purpose and he would stay true to his. All of this was necessary.

MADE BY MIZO

[googlefont=Karla]

[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

Several minutes of punishment were brought to bear against his stationary form and all the while he remained silent.

Reeling back occasionally from the sheer force of the attacks, wincing every so often, but otherwise allowing it to continue. The cool water helped to soothe the throbbing of his skin where the wooden fists had impacted. A welcome balm... but in truth it did little to help the pain. "Put it out of your mind." He thought.

Enduring it all with no complaint and continuing to count his wooden beads with each strike. After some time fifty-four beads had been counted, and finally his eyes opened. "Alright, you two..." The young man spoke to his clones, the beginnings of a knowing grin forming on his lips. "Halfway done!" Nearly snickering he turned on his heels so that his back was to them. The frontside of his body already riddled with aching red welts. He took a deep breath...

And prayed again. The Moku Bunshins only shrugging as they proceeded with their task. Two fists caught him on either side of his spine and he nearly stumbled forward... until he steadied himself and counted two more beads. Fifty-six down. Fifty-two to go.

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[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

Aside from the solar plexus, the front of one's body was relatively sturdy. Sure the odd strike to the ribcage or the collarbone hurt... but the fat and muscle kept vital organs relatively shielded from harm.

The same could not be said for one's back. Easy access to the kidneys could drop even the sturdiest of people. And of course the spine was especially vulnerable. Plenty of vertebrae just waiting to be knocked loose. Needless to say this was the truly grueling part of his self-imposed trial. Multiple times the young man nearly keeled over in pain as his wooden clones delivered strike after solid strike to his exposed flesh. Nearly, but not quite.

That is until the sixty-second punch struck the kidney on his right side and took him down to one knee. By this point his breathing had grown heavy. If it wasn't for the constant falls crashing down atop his shoulder sweat would've covered his entirety. Though not particularly worried, his duplicates paused for a moment and looked on. Thirty seconds passed, he took a few deep breaths, and rose back to his feet. Adopting his stance of prayer once more.

A slight hum could be heard over the roar of falls, at first almost inaudible but eventually growing more distinct. Laughter. "Again!"

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[googlefont=Karla]

[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

More dull thudding commenced, punctuated each time by short laughs. No sane person could call this exercise 'fun'... but then, there was a reason he was considered unusual amongst his clan.

In truth, he found it funny not because of the pain but because of what would come next. "You better soften me up while you—" A sudden blow cut off his warning, followed by a slight groan and a moment of recovery. "...can!" For a moment the young man imagined how this must look to an outsider. Stares of disbelief, mumbled words of concern, mouths hanging open in shock.

For some reason the idea only made him chuckle more. Before long one hundred and two strikes had fallen on his sturdy frame, and the same number of beads had been counted. He clutched the juzu tightly in his hand and grit his teeth to bear the final six blows. Each one seeming longer and more pronounced than all of the others combined. Probably because of the aching that wracked his body.

By the time the final attack landed he stumbled forward deeper into the falls, his breathing heavy and strained. It looked like he had just been hit by some impossibly heavy horse-led wagon. Welts and bruises covering his now-reddened skin. Several deep breaths followed, a slow turn ensued, and then... a grin. "My turn."

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[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

Water streamed down his face which was now contorted into some knowing, mischievous grin. Looking like some sort of madman.

And maybe he was... but that didn't matter now. He had proven to himself that he was able to withstand even his own strength crashing into him and still stand back up. His knees were a bit wobbly, and it hurt to breathe... but he was still standing. The Moku Bunshins looked to each other and one opened its mouth to speak—

Only to have an open palm suddenly smash into the side of its head, a Keimou Shou Ouda halting any hopes of communication and sending it skittering backwards across the water like some kind of human-sized rock being skipped. The other bunshin's mouth fell open as it turned to see its original staring back at it. Still beaming.

First came the limit testing... but now? Now was time for a proper spar. "What?" He asked, spacing his feet apart atop the slick rocks he stood on. "Thought I was just gonna take it?" Before the duplicate could respond he moved again, sending a knee crashing into its midsection with his Keimou Ni'i Ouda. It sputtered and was also sent flying, landing in the pool of water with a prompt splash.

Payback... but it wasn't over yet. Moku Bunshins were more durable than other clones, so they weren't going down that easily. The young man re-centered his stance and waited. Ready for their counter.

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[googlefont=Karla]

[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

Being clones of himself, they were no fools and so both used of the Suimen Hokou no Waza to right themselves on the water's surface.

One catching itself after being palmed away, and the other clambering out from underneath the water to stand properly. He allowed them a moment to ready themselves as his own gaze narrowed just slightly. The time for self-flagellation was over and done with, now it was a two-on-one with himself. And himself.

Steadying his own legs' shaking, the young man leapt forward, funneling chakra to the soles of his feet so that he would have a foothold when he landed. Using the momentum from his jump he attacked the closest of the clones, his swift punch being quickly deflected by its wooden arm. Water shot upwards from the pool's surface tension, his brown eyes shifting between his two targets as a split-second standoff ensued. Then... movement. The other clone rushing him as both attacked him from opposite sides.

Aside from trying to overwhelm his foes with Ninjutsu, close combat was his bread and butter. Still, he was only human, and when faced with poor odds he was almost instantly put on the defensive. Parrying a few swift palm strikes, he checked a leg kick as he backpedaled. Having no choice but to hop away to create distance.

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[googlefont=Karla]

[Senju Michizane]

"Om... abogya... beiroshanō... makabodara... mani... handoma..."

TAG - n/a

NOTES Meditatin' and trainin'.

The skirmish was as hectic as it was painful, every movement of his body came with the throbbing of his fresh injuries, and being struck by his own strength fortified with Mokuton was far from pleasant.

Fortunately they were still only bunshins in the end, and so despite their advantage in numbers he still had the edge when it came to efficacy. On the ropes for the meantime, he focused his efforts on defense. Deflecting the myriad of strikes thrown his way or otherwise weaving, ducking, or hopping out of the way. Both of the duplicates reeled back and sought to deliver dual punches at his collarbone. The young man grit his teeth and threw his arms up.

Catching the tandem straights with his forearms near their wrists, and shrugging them both outward and away harshly. "Bad move!" A taunt as his grin returned, dropping low and swinging his entire body around on one heel to deliver a sweep with his right leg. The swift Konoha Senpu catching both of the clones off guard and tripping one while throwing the other off-balance. "One down."

Neither had dispersed yet... but that was quickly rectified when another Keimou Shou Ouda slammed into the prone bunshin's stomach. The other managed to steady itself and moved to launch a roundhouse kick at his head. He rose and caught it, but the wooden shin still smashed into his ribs. "And that's two!" Half-grinning and half-wincing he jumped. Delivering a crushing Keimou Ni'i Ouda to the clone's chin as it vanished into a plume of smoke.

Exhausted and thoroughly battered, the young man fell to his hands and knees and tried to catch his breath. For a time only the sounds of rushing water and his own panting could be heard, then... "Ha-ha!"

Doubtless, he'd be sore for a while after this... but he managed to endure in the end. And really that was all that mattered to him. After taking a few minutes to regain his composure, he placed his palms together, said a quiet prayer, and rose to collect his things. A trip to the hospital was most certainly in his very immediate future. A short one, he hoped. "I don't think I broke anything..."

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