[Nōhime Ouritsu]

bleed it out

The reasoning was one shared by many in this village even if it may have come from opposing ideals. Those old enough to remember --or partake-- in the civil war were doomed to hold those memories for life and they were more painful than any mission could even hope to produce. Villager against villager, spilling the blood of those you had once fought side by side with (and perhaps still did) left a tense air over Iwa that possibly wouldn't let up. Ouritsu had been young but not too young to fight for what he believed was right for the village and to a more personal degree, his family. Things hadn't gone well and similar to Sukikyo that became a driving force for him to improve his skills as a shinobi, so that if there was a next time he'd be able to make a difference.

"Hmm, well I definitely can't fault you for wanting to keep people safe. We've got a unique burden on our backs having to deal with that lingering dread of if we'll ever have to face our fellow villagers on the battlefield again, but maintaining the thought of keeping those we care for out of harms way centered is key to not letting that reality creep in too much." It was an unfortunate reality for these few generation of shinobi who had experienced the civil war but there was a way to let those events fuel progress without allowing them to control one's mindset.

"But you should be alright. Got a good head on your shoulders and you're willing to learn, can't say the same for some of these stubborn old folks. At the very least you've got a base understanding of the tenketsu and how to start manuevering chakra through them so just keep up the practice and I'm sure you'll be blasting open those gates in no time." Ouritsu added. Aside from having the genin repeat the process over and over again until he passed out there wasn't much more the Nohime could offer at this stage in Sukikyo's training, but he'd always be willing to lend a hand in the future.

words - Yutakako Sūkikyō - notes

(C) ELLIE @ GANGNAM STYLE