[(OOC: After the Christmas event giveaway, I've increased my second specialty, Summoning, to A-Rank. The roll can be found here. This thread will be taking me from A-Rank to S-Rank. Let me know if this isn't accepted sooner than later.)]

Takuya traveled out to the small forest to begin some of his training. Before he developed his own style and perfected different jutsu, he wanted to first make sure he knew the basics. He stumbled upon a small clearing, surrounded by high rising trees that only allowed the sun to shine directly in the center of the area. As he looked around, he realized his ears didn’t deceive him. The sound of water was attributed to a nearby stream that ran close by. Takuya decided that this area would be his training grounds, kept secret and off the beaten path.

Takuya kneeled on the ground, and was reminded of the notes he had found on summoning. He had always wanted to be able to have a summoning clan join him in battle, and knew this was the only way to find the clan that was right for him. Takuya was about ready to attempt the summoning jutsu without any clan contracts, which as he read, would hopefully take him to his affinity, or the best summoning clan for Takuya. He placed his thumb in between his teeth and bit, causing a slight cut on his thumb. He rubbed the fingers of his hand along his thumb, as each was now thinly covered with the red substance. Takuya focused his chakra carefully into his hand as he placed it on the ground. “Summoning Jutsu!” he said loudly.

Birds left their perches in the trees due to the loud noise caused by the young ninja, but the ninja remained in the exact same location. The only thing that had changed was this ninja’s hopes at becoming a master of summoning. Takuya slumped down on the ground, wondering how he could fail such an easy jutsu. It wasn’t that difficult of a technique, even though he knew very few people used the summoning technique in his villages. With that Takuya picked himself back up, and walked over to the stream to wash himself off, especially since it became quite warm, and his brow was coated with sweat.

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Takuya slowly made his way over towards the stream, taking his hands that were lightly tainted with his own blood, and washed them off. The cool stream pricked his small open wound on his thumb, but he quickly brushed off the pain. His hands, now cleaned with the cool water, clenched up with frustration. Takuya was an A-Rank summoning ninja without even a summoning clan. It would have been simple for him to put generic seals on his arms and get weapons to appear, and probably more fun than this, but Takuya dreamed of summoning companions.

Takuya’s mind drifted back to his personal library at his home. It was filled with scrolls upon scrolls that he copied from other texts around the leaf village. Some contained his notes from the academy, or different jutsu and techniques he wanted to master, but the majority were all about techniques and summoning clans. Takuya knew Master Jiraiya and all of his techniques, including most of the toads he summoned into battle with him, as well as all of his many accomplishments. When Jiraiya was learning summoning, he attempted the same jutsu Takuya tried without any contracts, and that led him to Mount Myoboku, home of the toads. Takuya hoped that he could have the same results if he tried the technique.

Takuya walked back into the clearing again, and knealed back down along the wild and untrimmed grass. He focused first on remaining still and controlling the flow of chakra in is body. After tuning his mind to his goals, Takuya once again reopened the small gash on his thumb with his teeth, and thinly coated the tips of fingers with his own blood. Takuya then preformed a few hand seals before placing his hand on the ground, “Summoning Jutsu!” As he looked around once again, the scenery remained stationary, and with no animals around him, he failed to perform the jutsu again.

Takuya was so frustrated that his eyes began to get puffy. He rubbed the tips of his fingers again over the blood on his thumb, wove hand seals again and shouted, “Summoning Jutsu!” Nothing, he quickly wove hand seals again and yelled, “Summoning Jutsu.” His eyes began to slowly close as he slammed his hand flat on the ground, and tried focusing his chakra again, “Summoning Jutsu, Summoning Jutsu, Summoning Jutsu!” He didn’t hear anything, and he felt his failures growing bigger in his head again. He opened his eyes and lifted himself off the ground and prepared to walk back home. However, after looking around, Takuya quickly thought to himself, “I’m not in Konoha anymore.”

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When Takuya opened his eyes, the scenery completely differed from the shady clearing in the small forest. Takuya now peered along a large path, and along the side were the oddest shaped trees. They had trunks that went just above Takuya’s height, and had huge red and green leaves. In the distance, Takuya noticed multiple mountains, some were like the mountains he had seen before, and some looked like giant golden horns with water pouring out of their tips towards the ground below. Takuya sat in what seemed like an odd paradise. The climate was much warmer and more humid than the area around Konoha.

Takuya began to walk down the pathway, or what seemed like a large entrance. As he approached, he noticed that the golden horns with water flowed into large ponds, which were covered with large lily pads and reeds. Takuya kept going down this pathway, which opened up into a large clearing, dotted with little dwellings. Beyond the clearing, built into the side of what seemed like the largest mountain of the group, was what looked like a temple or a shrine. Takuya was fascinated with the large structure, and began to walk through the clearing, and up the large rocky steps. The place seemed deserted, and there had to be someone in this large temple.

Takuya finally came to the top of the steps and entered. In front of him was a large toad sitting in a chair with a large black hat on. This toad seemed quite weathered and old, and his red skin was extremely wrinkly and faded. Around his large neck was a necklace with an odd character on it, oil. He sat high up on a large stone throne, with tassels from his hat swaying as he moved his head. Without any hesitation, Takuya opened his mouth, “Where am I?” he asked. “Am I dreaming?”

“I don’t think you are, my boy” the old toad chuckled, moving his head again to fully see Takuya. “This is Mount Myoboku, home of the toads.” Takuya couldn’t believe it. After he was so frustrated, to end up in Mount Myoboku, where a clan he could summon was located. Takuya felt a mix of emotions. Since he didn’t have a contract with any summons, the Summoning Jutsu was supposed to show him his affinity for summoning. Takuya figured he would have Ninken dogs like previous Hatake members, or another animal, but toads were not up on his list. Takuya respected Master Jirayia, but he would prefer another summon. Takuya thought to himself, “How do I get out of this one.”

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Takuya wondered what this meant, if he was summoned here then this meant his affinity for summoning was the oily toads that called this strange place home. “Who are you?” Takuya wondered. Maybe this toad could sort things out for Takuya. “I’m the Great Toad Sage. I oversee all of the affairs for our toads that live here.” Takuya thought this toad, for being extremely old, could help him improve in his summoning techniques. “Toad Sage, do you know anything about summoning? I’m struggling with the technique and would like to become better,” questioned Takuya. “Of course I do,” the old toad cackled. “We’ll get you to be a master in no time.”

“First thing’s first about summoning, you have to be in tune with your chakra. It requires great control and the right amount for your summon you want at that time.” The Toad Sage made a slight cough before continuing. “Go out to one of the ponds, and use your chakra to stay afloat on the lily pads. If you can get the hang of it sitting, then you’ll want to try standing on them next.” Takuya tried to visualize the steps the old toad was saying and then left the small building.

As Takuya stepped back out on to the steps, he could see all of the toads around the area. There were many more than he originally thought, moving around between dwellings and the ponds. They came in all sorts of different sizes and colors, from magenta giants that were as tall as some of the buildings in the village, to petite yellow and orange toads who were young a leaping about, to elder red toads who were just as small, hobbling with wooden canes. Takuya raced towards the closest pond, dodging toads playing around the center of the area. Some of the toads even waved, if that’s what toads do, at Takuya as he wondered by.

Takuya took off his shirt, and set his shirt aside as he dove into the pond. The water was surprisingly temperate, and Takuya thought it had to be something with the water pouring out of the odd shaped mountains. Takuya swam out to the nearest lily pad and attempted to jump out of the water and sit on it, but to no luck. He got part of himself on the lily pad as it sank to the bottom of the pond. Takuya would have to try a new strategy. He focus the chakra into his legs as he jumped, leaping him out of the water. As he was in the air, he flipped his legs so he could sit pretzel style, and targeted the next lily pad. Just before he landed, he focused all of the chakra he could to his legs and thighs, hoping to carefully land on the lily pad.

Instead, Takuya ripped through the lily pad, leaving him wet, and the poor plant tattered to shreds. Takuya flipped through all of the ideas in his head about how to sit on this lily pad and not let it sink to the bottom. He knew the old toad wanted him to focus on the amount of chakra needed and the flow of his chakra, but how did that all relate to floating on a lily pad. Takuya knew that on land, all he would have to do is walk out and sit, but how could he sit on the lily pad on water?

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Takuya knew how to walk along solid surfaces like trees or buildings, but he never tried something moving like water. The Toad Sage must have tricked him, he knew the only way to stand on the lily pad was to walk on the water. Takuya stood on the edge of the pond, with most of the lily pads moving towards the center. It was at least 20 feet across the open stretch of water to get there. Takuya placed his hand together as he focused his chakra in his feet. After he felt an ample amount of chakra, he moved his foot till it hovered over the water, and then started to put weight on it.

Takuya, now on both of his feet walking on water, stood at the edge. He took another step, managing to keep himself above the water. Takuya thought to himself, “This isn’t too difficult,” but at that thought, Takuya instantly became drenched again. With his loss of focus in his feet, his chakra flow became unstable, and he sunk to the bottom of the pond. Takuya swam over to the edge of the pond and pulled himself out. After he shook off, he placed his hands together again, and remained there much longer than before he made his way back on to the water again. This time his focus would not be distracted.

Takuya then began taking step after step, relaxed and controlling his breath, and began to make his way closer and closer to the middle of the pond where the lily pads were. He was just a few steps away when ripples in the water began to form. He wouldn’t let his focus deter him now, and he began to take step after step. As soon as he was one or two steps away, a huge wave was quickly approaching. Takuya didn’t know what to do and made huge strides to try to stand on the lily pads, but he was too late. Takuya was swept away by the large wave that came very quickly.

After being washed away, Takuya came up for air and looked for the cause of the wave. A large toad entered on the other side of the pond, and Takuya figured when the toad jumped in, he caused the large tidal wave. This large, mountainous toad towered over Takuya as he approached the toad. Takuya was so frustrated with the toad, his meager size didn’t matter. He was so close to reaching the lily pad that he wanted to give this toad a piece of his mind. “What’s the big idea?” Takuya yelled, wanting the toad to hear every word he said. “I was this close to reaching the lily pad!” The toad chuckled for a moment before opening his mouth, “The big Geezer told me to help you out. He didn’t want the challenge to be too easy for you.” The toad just continued to laugh while Takuya yelled back, “How are you helping me when you’re making all these splashes!”

The toad seemed to become way more serious now, “Takuya, if you’re in battle, you won’t have time to focus and use your chakra. You need to make this seem natural for you. Your opponents won’t give second chances out for you so easily. I’m here to shake up the pond so you have to constantly monitor your chakra flow. With all these waves in the pool, you’ll have to keep your chakra flow quite static.” Takuya thought this made quite a lot of sense after the big toad smartened up. Now he only hoped the toad wouldn’t take any aggression out on him.

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Takuya’s aggression was replaced with a sense of competitiveness. He couldn’t let the toads win over him, even if this giant toad was going to make some ripples in the pond. Takuya walked to the opposite side of the pond and got his feet back on the water, focusing the energy into the soles of his feet. The same large toad was on the opposite edge, and grinned as he saw Takuya attempting to gain his balance. Takuya was ready, and nothing could stop him now. “Bring it on toad, let’s see those waves!” he yelled. “You asked for it,” the toad laughed.

The toad began to moves his body out of the water, and plunge it right back down, causing huge ripples in the water. Takuya told himself that he needed to focus. He ran towards the waves, with his balance being quite good. He placed his feet towards the side, in a surfer type position, as he braced himself against the wave. Takuya tried to keep himself above the water, but his feet began to fail him, and he barely kept himself upright as he sank into the water. The toad began to chuckle as the soggy Takuya climbed back out so he could start fresh.

Once again Takuya placed his feet on top of the water, but with a new sense of bravery as he felt his chakra pour into his feet. “One more time,” Takuya yelled. With this new energy he felt, Takuya began to walk towards the lily pads, slower than before, but steady and unwavering. The huge toad once again began to create waves that soon dominated the pool, but this time Takuya was unchanged. It almost looked like Takuya walked on a piece of glass that stretched across the entire pond, and these waves would splash against him, but he did not fluctuate up and down. This new energy Takuya felt had allowed him to overcome the waves.

The toad began to create more waves at even more staggering heights. Takuya kept his pace and made his way closer to the pads in the middle of the pond. These ways may have soaked him from head to toe, but Takuya remained flat footed through the water. Finally after hours and hours of training, Takuya stood upright on one of the lily pads. The toad quickly chuckled and stopped making waves, settling in a relaxing position in the pond. Takuya walked over to the large toad with a huge smile on his face, he was one step closer to mastering the summoning techniques.

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The large toad began to chuckle once again as Takuya made his way towards him, “I always knew you could do it. It was only just a matter of time.” Takuya took his hand and scratched the back of his head, trying not to show off to the poor toad. This latest challenge was quite the task for Takuya, even he wasn’t sure he could be able to accomplish what the Great Toad Sage said. Yet here he was, and it looked like the toad wasn’t finished with him.

“Alright I’ve got a challenge. Walking on water was fun, and you should have pretty good control in your feet, but this should reinforce what you’ve learned. See the geyser that fills this pool,” he said while pointing to the odd shaped golden horn that Takuya saw on his way in, “climb that while doing a handstand,” the toad chuckled. Takuya felt like the toad was just trying to embarrass him at first. He didn’t see the point of scaling the curved cliff side while constantly maintaining a handstand. “Are you serious!” yelled Takuya. “There’s no way.” The toad merely smiled bigger, "I know, no one has ever done it before. Besides, the summoning jutsu is performed with your hands, not your feet. Having the right control to handstand along the side of a mountain will be essential.”

Takuya hated to admit it, but the toad was right. If he could scale the side of this mountain, or whatever the golden horn thing was, it would give him great control to use the summoning jutsu. Takuya groaned slightly as he made his way towards the side of the mountain. He quickly turned around and caught the large toad laughing, and he agreed with the toad. He felt ridiculous. The only thing guiding Takuya was his want to prove the large toad wrong.

Takuya had brought his shirt with him and threw it at the side of the large golden peak, and went into a handstand. Once there he shut his eyes, and tried to focus chakra into his hands, and attempted to keep that same focus away from the blood pooling in his head. He began to slowly walk towards the side of the mountain, until his back was touching the golden peak. Takuya then wondered how he could become parallel and resist gravity for that long, this mountain easily towered over the toad. He tried to focus his chakra and hop up onto the mountain, but quickly fell flat on his face, and as you can imagine, the toad could not stop laughing. “Try again tomorrow Takuya, I’ll come back to check on you after some sleep,” he croaked.

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While the large toad began to walk away, and the sun began to set around Mount Myoboku, Takuya did not give up his training. As the toad began to leave the area, Takuya tried again, but this time he had a better idea. He laid flat on his stomach, with his hands touching the golden mountain, and began to focus his chakra into his hands. He took a few moments before trying to work his hands up the first part of the mountain, as with great difficulty. Takuya had to resist the great strain in his arms as gravity tugged on the rest of his body, but his entire body was off the ground now, as he slowly placed one hand above the other and made his way up the golden mountain.

Takuya knew the large toad didn’t believe in him, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He chose being a ninja or the safety of an easy life because of the adventure and the grit. As soon as he became a ninja, he felt needed by his village, and he sought to become stronger because of it. His parent believed in him, his fellow ninja believed in him, and he wouldn’t give up now. His hands soon worked their way up the side of the horn, and the high he got, the more is body became more parallel. Gravity soon began to help him more than it hurt as he cleared almost half of the mountain now.

Hand after hand, Takuya’s efforts became more visible, he was just about to reach the top of the mountain. His strength began to fail him, but he would not give up so close to his goal. He quickly followed hand after hand until he had reached the top of the golden peak. After making it to the large flat space on the top, he flipped over on to his back and looked up at the sky, tired from the intense training he had just finished.

As Takuya looked to the stars he wondered about his new friends who had helped him become stronger, the toads. At first he was quite disappointed, slowly realizing that the affinity for his summoning were these oily amphibians, and not something more practical. After spending a lot of time at Mount Myoboku, he grew a new appreciation for the toads. He just hoped if this really was his affinity, he could find a good group of toads who he could call into battle to aid him.

Takuya slowly drifted into sleep that night on top of the golden mountain. He thought about climbing down, but wanted to prove his point that he made it to the top. As the sun came up over the horizon and into the valley, the large toad came back to check up on Takuya. Takuya was hoping to sleep in a bit, since he spent most of the night trying to climb up the mountain, but the loud toad woke him up when he croaked, “Takuya, did you give up?” Takuya opened his eyes and sat on the edge, looking down at the toad, “I’m up here!” he laughed. “You think I gave up now?”

The toad smiled, as did Takuya. “Well come on down, the big geezer will want to talk to you after you completed your training!” the toad yelled. Takuya decided he was right, and leaped off of the golden mountain into the pond where his training had begun. He quickly dried himself off, waved the toad goodbye, and approached the large steps. This time he took his time, especially since his whole body felt tired after last night. He walked in to the large temple to speak with the Great Toad Sage once again. The old toad looked as if he hadn’t moved, with his hat and tassels resting in the same position as Takuya remembered.

“Have you completed your training?” the old toad croaked. “I have,” Takuya replied. “Takuya, let me tell you something. The toads have been quite the summoning clan decades ago, but the toads haven’t had a ninja sign the summoning contract in years.” Takuya thought he saw the old geezer get a little misty eyed. “The Summoning Jutsu led you here to Mount Myoboku, which means the toads are your affinity for summoning, but the world is always full of choices.” He motioned to a few other toads that carried in a massive scroll.

This scroll was at least two feet tall, and was as wide as a tree trunk. Fortunate for Takuya, this scroll was in some kind of holder with straps, which made up for its massive size. As the toads brought the scroll towards Takuya, he wondered what this scroll was for. “What is this scroll for?” he questioned. The old toad adjusted himself in his chair, which was the first time Takuya had seen the geezer toad move.

“This is the summoning contract for the toads here. Once you sign your name and place your fingers on the scroll, using your blood, you’ll be able to start summoning the toads that reside here. As I said before, I can’t make choices for you Takuya. If you don’t sign it, hopefully someone else will in the Leaf village.” Takuya slung the giant scroll over his back, resting horizontally in along his lower back, and thanked the Toad Sage. Unfortunately, the Toad Sage made it extremely hard on Takuya earlier case, and he would have to consider the toads as being good partners in battle.

As Takuya approached the stairs, he wondered for a second, and then turned around, “Toad Sage, how do I return back to Konoha?” The elderly toad couldn’t help but laugh for a moment before he responded, “How did you get here Takuya?” Takuya placed his hands together, focused his chakra, wove the hand seals, and yelled, “Summoning Jutsu!”

As he looked around, all of the toads, the ponds, the mountains, the geysers and springs, were all replaced by the comfort of the forest. Takuya took his hand off of the cool grass as the sun shined through into the same clearing. As he stood up, he felt the weight of the scroll resist him, making it more difficult than usual. Takuya knew that he was entrusted by the Toad Sage to keep this scroll safe, and with that, he returned to his home in Konoha, feeling stronger than ever before. With his new training with the toads, Takuya felt like a summoning master after mastering the basics.

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