If you can't fly

Thu Jan 26, 2023 2:28 pm

Today was the day Naoki was officially going to begin his journey as a ninja. After a few minutes of talking with his family and you'd realise quickly that they were proud of him. He wasn't one to disappoint those he cared about. He adjusted his garb to make it easier to move his arms. He rolled up his sleeve - he was still dressed like a civilian.

His chakra nodes were on fire today, he felt good about his chances of completing this on his first try. "Inexperienced yet malleable" is how his teacher described him and his fellow classmates on their first day at the academy. If that was the case, then maybe even someone like him could amount to something. He concentrated on his breathing, hand preparation and even his foot placement. He needed to do so much before he could even begin to manipulate his chakra. Did naturally talented kids have to deal with this?.... Never mind that, it was time to focus.

He could feel it, a spark had been lit inside his core. All he had to do was harness the flames it produced to receive the desired eff- THERE! Ram → Snake → Do- no tiger. POOF!

A clone appeared before him but it was obviously not the result he was looking for. It looked like him to a certain extent but it was kind of..goofy. He looked at his failure in shame and decided to try for it once again but this time he practised the handseals to make sure he would get them right at the perfect moment. Why did he have this much trouble with this? He wasn't going to graduate if he didn't master this so he would have to keep trying till he physically and spiritually couldn't do it anymore.

Once again he planted his feet and controlled his breathing this time with more haste as he didn't want to forget his muscle memories. Ram → Snake → Tiger. POOF!

It was like looking in a mirror, Naoki had succeeded in his "first" attempt at ninjutsu and he has now gone from completely clueless and naive to kinda sorta maybe experienced. He would celebrate but his family would crucify him for being satisfied with just this. He needed to do more or he might as well have done nothing. He knew the road wasn't easy but the fact he was able to take a single step along it might make it possible.

The chunin exams were coming up, if he could somehow graduate before that then maybe he could knock it down all in his first year. That would be his goal if you can't hit the moon shoot for the stars and if you miss at least you made it that far.

He smiled to himself slightly, today would be the day he would judge himself and tomorrow might be the day he might be judged by others.

"If you can't fly then run if you can't run then walk if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

[WC 520]