Nozomi had become aware that as strong as she was, she was starting to flag behind some other powerful shinobi in terms of sheer versatility. Sure, her petals were incredibly powerful, and she had a wide array of Suiton and Raiton jutsu, she was lacking in terms of elemental power and diversity. She'd already learned and mastered her Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Bukijutsu to high degrees, and her Suiton and Raiton were powerful in their own right, but when it came down to it, she knew there was something more that she could do in order to increase her aptitude for other elements.

Now, Nozomi knew that her elemental prowess was probably geared towards Fuuton and Katon, but she didn't really know many Fuuton users, and would prefer to work on Katon instead. Out of the people she knew in Kirigakure, she could think of nobody better to learn how to harness Katon chakra from than her former and sometimes current squad mate, Sero Osada.

Being one of the strongest shinobi in Kirigakure, and a member of the famed clan Osada, Sero's natural ability with Katon was unrivaled as far as Kirigakure's clans were concerned. It was a natural part of his advanced element, and as such, he would have the greatest working understanding of it naturally. Besides, Nozomi had formed something of a bond with him, and he'd be the best teacher she could think of when it came to harnessing the energy. With his sage mode, his understanding of chakra natures was almost unparalleled, and that was what she really needed.

In her interest to learn, she'd sent Sero a message, asking him to meet her by the lake if he was willing to help her learn how to harness and control her latent Katon chakra faster than she could do it by herself. She didn't need him, but having him help would make the process much smoother, and quite a deal safer. She'd chosen the lake because it was much easier to practice with fire natures there without worry of burning something down on accident. Of course, she had plenty of suiton jutsu to put out fire, but she didn't necessarily want to waste chakra on doing that when it was better suited to helping her master Katon chakra.

That said, she wasn't sure if Sero would even come. She'd been waiting for a while, having arrived much earlier than she'd asked him to come, and was sitting cross legged by the lake side, staring out over the vast expanse of water. It was always such a peaceful view, and she enjoyed the moments she could get where she didn't have to worry about anything else. They were few and far between these days, her job as a Kiri Hunter-nin Captain and trainer of shinobi taking much of her available time. Regardless, if Sero was going to come, or if he chose not to, she was still going to enjoy some peace before she started training.

The sun started to come up, the dawn hitting the lake and lighting up the lake-side as if it was already on fire. To some, the display was dazzlingly bright, but Nozomi had long since gotten used to it, having come out here since she was a little girl. It was a surprisingly beautiful sight, and an equally beautiful day, considering Kiri's usual weather. For once, there wasn't a single cloud to be seen in the morning sky, a break from the usual dreary weather they had. The morning air was slightly cold, and dew had formed on the grass from the night, but the sun twinkled against it, Nozomi running her had through some next to her, watching the small water droplets fall the inch or so to the ground.

To her ears, the splash was audible and loud, heightened as her senses were. She was focusing more intently on sounds, waiting to hear approaching footsteps, small shifts in the grass, drops of water, anything out of the ordinary to see if Sero would be coming, but there were times she couldn't tell. He'd had the same training as she had, and he did have fun being in the shadows and unnoticeable.

WC: 701

Sero had been tending to his manor as it was filled with new faces for a time now. His own desires fulfilled he had turned to training his own new members of a hit squad. A new ideal forming in his mind that these children would grow into something feared by name outside of the country itself. Each of them potent in their own way and together a force even he could not stop. He had his doubts though. Two were promising should they remain. The first was Miyu. His daughter via exchange of chakra. Her lack of being born human worked wonderfully for not clinging to some sense of humanity. She was a spider that could assume human form and her loyalty could not be brought to question as of yet in his mind. She held promise for she was his kin. The second was the most recent addition. Jihi entertained him. Her anger and drive only fueled by her fear and stolen years. Her heart was as dark as his own. Given time she would be a punishing entity unto those that would take lives either with a blade or through their chains. She had the potential to be his most deadly slayer. The next was the eldest of those from the manor technically. He had been there the longest and yet was still far from having requested anything further of Sero. The young man rumored to be called the dragon of the lake. Rogue was a potent young man but hardly around. Of course there was always Fuyuko. Out of place when surrounded by monsters. He was willing to bet she would be the first to leave. More human than the rest by far.

Still it had been a welcome distraction from his lesson preparations when he sensed a familiar chakra blowing on the winds. A simple breeze carried what in any other place was unassuming petals. However there wasn't a living tree for some distance. Sero had been wandering the overgrown garden for a time when his eyes shifted up to the source of the chakra. Grey eyes of the grave waiting and watching. The petals would seem to steer towards him and fall in a group. Only once they were just in front of him did they stop and form into a solid piece. A letter with Nozomi's hand writing on it requesting his assistance at the lake. She had wished to learn one of the two elements he could teach. An interesting proposition. He of course would not turn it down. He owed her a great deal after all. Still he would reach out to touch the letter. At his touch it dispersed into powder and fell. However where he had touched it a tiny cut was on his finger. A drop of blood dripping onto the flowers below. Even her messages were as deadly as a razors edge. He hardly minded though as the bleeding stopped quickly. Instead he would turn his attention to the direction of the lake. She was playing it safe training by a body of water.

Still without a word he would burst from his position faster than any of his genin students would be able to even perceive. For him this was just a comfortable step for him for quick travel. Each step launching him several meters as he seemed to almost float across the land. Clearing the river separating his island from the rest with ease. His snow white robes trailing behind him making him appear as a phantom. wooden sandals keeping his feet from touching the ground with a clack each time. A single katana on his left hip with fur running around his shoulders. His long white hair flowing behind him as well revealing the half moon on his forehead. That aside he made no effort to hide his presence. Challenging the head of the hunter nin to a battle of stealth was a fools errand. He wouldn't bother underestimating her. Still she would feel him as the shadows would seem to stretch on around her unusually and a mist would pick up off the ground and coat the lakes shore. Like a beast approaching her unseen until she would easily here the clacks of his sandals from far away. Much like wearing a bell around his neck. He would stop standing next to her. Looking almost like a spirit of the lake. Still he would look out over it as he spoke in his usual dull tone.

"I received your message. I would be happy to teach you of course. However if you feel up to it, there is a quick way to unlock your latent ability with katon and begin. Keeping in mind should you fail to unlock it, this method could cause burns on your internals."

807

The sounds of footsteps alerted her to Sero's presence, the water dropping to the ground with every step. It appeared he wasn't even going to bother trying to sneak up on her. Not that he really could, the dark and tainted aura that clung to him almost always gave him away, and there was very little he could do to reign it in. It was just the sort of feeling that most people started to get clammy and anxious, but Nozomi didn't have such a reaction. Instead, she relaxed, knowing for certain it was him. As he approached even closer, to the point he was right next to her, Nozomi stared off at the lake. Standing up, Nozomi turned to face Sero, a smile on her face as he spoke to her. "I'm glad you're willing to do so. I'm feeling like I don't have enough strength lately." she said.

"To be honest, the fight with Bao was.... enlightening to me. I'm not strong enough yet. I was... terrified more than anyone of my position has a right to be. But I refuse to step down from any sort of challenge, and if I get hurt by your process, then so be it. If I can't do it, then maybe I shouldn't belong anyhow." she said somewhat somberly. It had really shook her seeing the full strength of Ayakashi, of Bao, and of Sero. She wasn't really able to compete against power like that where she currently was. Granted, she had an immense amount of power, and wasn't to be underestimated, but there was an obvious power gap between them.

Wearing a simple white jumpsuit and white shinobi sandals, uncharacteristic of her usual attire, which was often times black, Nozomi looked pale as a block of marble. She was always pale, of course, given her sickness, but the white uniform really put it into perspective just how much paler than most she was. The few spots of color on her were her eyes, the light blue and green luminescence almost permeating from them as if to contrast the relative lack of color she had, her blonde hair, equally as bright and luscious, more like gold in the early morning sun than anything else, and the few freckles that dotted her nose and cheeks.

Uncharacteristic of her as well, she had no weapons on her, something that she rarely had ever done, even before becoming a Bukijutsu utilizer. Nozomi had almost always carried some form of her ninja gear, or at least her tanto's, but now she had nothing. She wore no armor, and had even forgone her Shinobi headband. It was a bit of a tradition in the Himitsu clan, something that Nozomi still abided by, that when learning the new purity of an element, and refining it as a new part of you, that a Himitsu would do it all without the tainting impurities of weapons or gear, or of clothes that had seen blood on them.

Nozomi herself, being formerly the Heiress of the Himitsu clan, still enjoyed these small little formalities, and was expected to be the most pure, having only white clothing to show off that pureness. In any case, that's about where it ended for her there, as having Sero be the one to help her learn to harness her Katon energy might even be considered a taint in it's own right, especially considering his own tainted chakra.

WC: 594
TWC: 1295

Sero would await her to address him. Together they remained on the shore staring over the lake. The two of them together were perhaps the most fearsome thing Kirigakure had to offer. He could not think of a single being in the world they couldn't take down. Even Ayakashi would be hard pressed to take them down without grievous injury. They had each surpassed their old mentor some time ago and now were the right and left hand of the village. Each the heir and heiress to their clans and each having surpassed the believed height of their clans abilities. Together they stood overlooking the lake with her in snow white clothes and his own shifting to a midnight black. A contrast to hers as he wished it to be. He was widely considered the yang while she was considered yin. A balance of sorts. If one were ever to tread against the village it would be up to the other to take them out if it cost them their life. However the wide assumption with that was that Nozomi would kill Sero when his madness finally overtook him. Since she was considered purity it only made sense that his tainted mind would falter first.

Still she would rise to face him. Turning as she stood and spoke. She was being honest with him. Expressing her feelings and acknowledging what she felt and her need for growth. However his lips split into a frown. She continued to speak of how the fight with the assassin had caused fear in her. How she was not about to back down from any challenge. However her words were like wounds to him. She considered herself weak? The fight with Bao was enough to stir sensations of inadequacy within her? It was almost blasphemous. He would cut others down for speaking those words about her. As it was he waited until she was finished and his dull grey eyes studied hers for a moment. In silence they stood before suddenly and without warning or harmful intent his right hand would flash out. He measured some restraint as he didn't wish to do any lasting damage but if his palm connected with her left cheek it would send out ripples across the water behind her with a resounding crash. They were both powerful physically and he needed to do at least that much for her to even feel it. Still he would speak as he lowered his hand again.

"I wish for you to remember two things. The first being that you are the left hand to the Mizukage and leader of the hunter nin. As well as one of the seven swords. In the village you are considered my equal. As such words such as acknowledging any weakness are not to be accepted. The second is that you have been my rival since we were genin. We have risen together and you are my rival still. How you reflect on yourself is also reflecting on me. The next time you wish to call yourself something like being weak I will draw steel and have no rival. If you wish to gain strength do so to surpass me."

With that said he folded his hands before himself. Watching her and waiting. His shoulders were stiff though and his feet were slightly spread apart and dug into the loose shore. He was ready to move for her retaliation if she did. He wasn't underestimating her. An open handed blow at anything less than full power from him would hardly do much to her. Without having a blade in his hand he was hardly a match for her. He knew it and was fully prepared to create some distance between them.

1434

It was truly the slap that was shocking to Nozomi. She saw it coming, the hand moving through the air at high speeds, but her mind didn't make the connection that he was about to slap her. The Shockwave from the slap and the loud echo of it emanated all around the lake, disturbing the early morning silence. Nozomi's eyes widened as part of her face turned slightly red, contrasting to her usual pale skin.

Then he spoke. Angered by Nozomi's declaration that she had been scared, felt out of place, was too weak. She knew why he was upset with her words, but honestly, that was why she had asked him out here in the first place. She even said as much, she was scared more than she had a right to be and needed to get stronger. There were still people that far exceeded her abilities to face. Even if she was the head of the Hunter Nin. Even if she was the left hand of the Mizukage. Even if she was supposed to be Sero's equal. Or a Seven Sword.

A forlorn and sad look appeared on Nozomi's face as he finished his speech. So he would go so far as to kill her if she described herself as weak? It was a bit sad for her to realize that even someone she considered her best friend would turn on her so easily. He had taken up a stance that suggested he was preparing for some sort of fight, but Nozomi wasnt about to do so when she still needed to learn how to harness Katon chakra.

"As your friend, I'll advise you never to raise your hand against me again, lest you find yourself missing it. Make no mistake, I don't think I'm weak. On the contrary, I could kill you in an instant, should you even lower your guard slightly. I just don't think I'm as strong as I should be. You call me your equal and yet wield power I can't match. My Taijutsu and Bukijutsu skills are at the top echelon thay Kiri has to offer. My Ninjutsu is quite powerful too. My Suiton and raiton are fairly decent. But that's it. I've mastered what I have and I called you for help. Not for pity. Let's get on with it then." She said.

It was perhaps his slap and his words that steeled Nozomi's usual more upbeat personality away. She hardened herself a bit, losing confidence in her ability to trust Sero. With that action, she was more prepared to lose his friendship, but had less to lose herself because of it. He was perhaps the last person she'd fully trusted, and that was starting to wane. He had come out to help but shown that he was willing to kill her in an instant, and she knew she would have to show him the same courtesy herself.

WC: 486
TWC: 1781

Sero would watch her with caution as he prepared to launch himself back and move onto the defense. Keeping her at the range of his weapon when she was a taijutsu expert was a chore. If she tried to get passed his guard he would have to counter each time or face suffering the consequences. This was different from when they first met. When she stopped his sneak attack and he was by her own volition able to take her down and push back their other squad mate too. He had dominated the squad back then because she was unwilling to fight. She had been a kid just like him at the time but they had risen through the ranks together now. Both were hunter nin and seven swordsmen. Both had surpassed their previous mentor in many ways. Most Jounin couldn't even compete with them anymore. However her expression was unexpected. To him it was almost like she was pouting. Despite her words of being able to take him down there was no sense of chakra pressure behind them. She wasn't exerting herself at all. It was unexpected and at the same time he wondered about the words. Could she really? It didn't matter anyway. She wanted to learn so she was letting it go. His grey eyes took her in a moment longer all the same. She was the villages hope to destroy him one day. Teaching her another way to do so was a risk. Still he would speak in his usual dull tone.

"If you wish to learn Katon, for power. I will show you the height of what I have accomplished. What you can accomplish too with a great deal of training."

A demonstration of power was common when introducing a new jutsu. To show both the limitations and capabilities of the element. To give them something to drive towards. With that said he would turn from her and step with himself remaining well out of arms reach and her in his peripherals as he faced the lake. His eyes taking it in and measuring it. It was wide enough that he wouldn't need to concern himself with igniting the woods. The opposite shore was eighty meters out approximately. With that in mind he would begin to harness his katon chakra through out his body. A red glowing aura forming around him as he would inhale deeply for a couple of seconds. A slow and measured inhale as every bit of it was focused with katon energy. Both his hands would flash between three signs as he neared the end of the inhale. Molding the chakra with the hand signs. First was the horse. His hands faced each other palms in with the index fingers angled up and touching while the other fingers were all bent. Knuckles overlapping with flat thumbs. Next was the Tiger. His Index fingers remained together as his other fingers uncurled and clasped together interlocking as his palms pressed together. Finally was the dog. His hands came apart and his right hand formed a fist with palm downward. His left hand would lay flat over the top of it.

It was a slow jutsu in comparison but the power of it was unmistakable. Even as slow as it was the jutsu would be difficult to evade as heat rose on the shore like the middle of summer. Sero exhaled a stream of fire that rapidly expanded just before it smashed into the water to twenty meters wide and ten meters high as well as a meter thick. It raced through the water at thirty five meters per second carving a burnt mark along seventy meters of the lake over two seconds time. Steam bursting upwards at contact between the fire and water and not even slightly slowing it down. The waters to either side boiled before coming crashing back in and surging back and forth. A massive chunk of lake was gone and the remaining waters surged as they filled the gap. Though the shore line was now several meters lower. The steam fading away as moisture clung to the tree's around the lake now and likely a rain storm was bound to come in the next couple of days in the area now. Still he would seem satisfied as he turned back to her. For some reason not even winded from all that power being unleashed. Still he would speak in his usual dull tone as he addressed her.

"Will that level of power be enough for you?"

2196

Nozomi watched as Sero started to channel his chakra around him, and then moved through some hand seals in order to show her the power of his Katon chakra, something that Nozomi would have to aspire to. He launched an intensely powerful jutsu in the form of a simple flame thrower out over the lake, boiling a deal of the water away, and perhaps emptying the lake by a significant margin. Nozomi herself wasn't standing too far away from him, and the heat from the technique was astounding, so she activated her Salamander Technique, her suiton chakra bursting out of her hands, covering her entire body, keeping her cooled down and shielding her from the heat. It wasn't an unbearable heat, as she wasn't standing in the flame itself, but it was more than slightly uncomfortable for her. The water film was almost like a second layer of skin on her, and wasn't really a useful jutsu in most scenario's, but it served its purpose for the moment.

"Yes, that'll be a sufficient show of power. I already know that the overwhelming strength of Katon is what makes it a powerful tool. That's why I need to develop my talent for it. Right now, the main problem I see with it is that it is hard to control, and can easily grow out of control. I should be able to solve that by combining my petal tech with Katon. I have immense control over my petals, and if each one was a flaming mass that was able to be controlled.... well, you see the picture." she said, giving him a small glimpse into her future projects.

Releasing her control over the Salamander technique, the water around her fell to the ground, splashing on the grass. "So what exactly is it you're going to do to help me learn how to control my elemental chakra? I don't really know what that sort of training entails. Suiton and Raiton are natural elements to me, and I've always been able to use them, as far as I can remember." She was curious. Sero had been the one who had taught her Bukijutsu, but it was very similar to Taijutsu in application, using chakra flow on the item rather than the body. Weapons weren't that difficult to learn and master, as she'd really spent her entire life mastering body mechanics, and they transferred decently well into weapon techniques.

Katon was different. While it was similar to Raiton in a base sort of way, Raiton was a much more controlled element, where everything was condensed into lightning bolts. Katon was something that was made more wild and wide, free from bonds, and she wasn't really sure how to release her chakra in such a manner. She wouldn't even use it like that, as she planned on taming her fire jutsu the same way she had every other one. With superior chakra control. It was entirely possible, she was an exceptionally skilled chakra wielder. Besides, Raiton and Katon were very similar, and Katon was something she was naturally able to learn, but she'd taken a bit of a round about way towards the elements. Most people started with the wild Katon, and learned to temper it, refine it, sharpen it into a Raiton mastery. She was doing the opposite.

WC: 555
TWC: 2336

He would rise from his position on the shore as steam rose into the sky. The water would not be safe to touch for a minute or two. All of it having reached boiling temperature. Still he would turn with the same grey eyes looking to Nozomi. Almost as if he sought some sort of approval or recognition from her. Her words of it being sufficient were almost damaging to his ego. She already knew the extent of its power? Sero knew of no one else he had ever met that controlled Katon to that level. That extent without even taking up enough chakra to break a sweat. Had she known anyone so potent with the element of light and burnt earth? To think that she thought so little of a technique of that caliber. Or at least that was how her words translated. Still he would excuse it for now. If her own power made such a technique obsolete he could accept that. Still it was something one couldn't use near a village or outpost anyway. Its sheer size was too much to use in even mildly constrained spaces. On the other hand it was excellent for clearing an enemy structure. No hastily constructed enemy base could withstand it.

Still she had continued to describe how she didn't seek it for its chaotic and destructive power. She wished to condense it. To aim it more precisely. Describing how she would use it in combination with the control she had over her petals. To lord over the katon technique. It was a difficult concept. Most Katon users were happy with lighting the world on fire. Enjoying the area around them burning as they sought to roast an opponent. That wasn't to say it wasn't possible. One could use it as a fine tuned burning technique. Combined with the petals it certainly could be precise and even more deadly. A single petal lighting a target into a burning mass from the inside out as it buried within. He was reminded of a Bukijutsu technique he had seen with throwing knives. However its use had been more explosive. What happened after the technique was set off though was the concern. As precise as the strike was Fire didn't tend to run out until there was no more viable fuel sources. However masters of Katon could snuff it out by commanding it to end. As such her inquiry was suited for this training method. So her question of how he intended to help her harness it was faced with a cold answer.

"Simply put you will learn Katon as a trial by fire. I will purify some of my katon chakra. You won't have to worry of my tainted chakra infecting you. Once the process is done you have but to grasp it with conviction to begin. The katon chakra will enter your system and in a way awaken your own hibernating energy. Molding it within you. If it is control you wish for this method requires you gaining it quickly. Either gain command of your inner flame or it will burn you. Likely spending weeks in the hospital for internal burns along your chakra system. Make no mistake this is your risk to take."

With that he would move in that odd fluid way he did. Like he was gliding rather than walking. A phantom of the mist approaching her in a single step as he floated casually to her. His hair and robes ruffling as he stood face to face with her with only a meter between them. There he would stop and watch her eyes. Studying her like a test subject. One might wonder if he passed all his students through these types of gauntlets but she knew him well enough. She knew him enough to know he would design the gauntlets to the individuals capabilities. He believed in growth through hardship but did not care to kill his students. Still that did not mean he intended to be merciful with her. His own pale right hand would rise up as he focused his chakra. The darkness within him trying to rush into it but finding itself chained. Restrained and pushed down. His control of it complete when he wished. Inwardly it screamed in defiance to him but to no avail. Instead a tendril of red chakra would begin to rotate around his upturned hand. A second one joined it as the wind turned hot like they stood before a bon fire. Yet no burns were on his hand as the two tendrils joined over his palm. Forming into a ball of burning fire until the tendrils were gone. Just a small ball of fire waiting for her.

"So will you take the risk?"

2996

Sero explained the process that he was going to be using, one that was certainly an interesting concept to the Himitsu. He was planning on injecting his own chakra after purifying it, so that it would flow through her and integrate into her own system, awakening her own Katon chakra. It was definitely an interesting concept, one she hadn't seen before. And he was even sure he could purify his own chakra so that her system wasn't tainted by it. She wasn't quite so sure about that, but it wasn't really an issue for her.

Nozomi nodded. "I can handle it." she said, ready to get on with it. Holding up her hand, she started to create a few tiny petals above it, zooming the little chakra blades around before releasing them, letting them fall to the ground. "As far as control of my chakra systems go, there are few who can match what my clan can do. Any katon chakra poured into my system will be tamed. As far as I'm concerned, the risk is minimal. I will control it."

Moving her gaze over to Sero's eyes, Nozomi locked her gaze with his. "I'll apologize in advance. I'm going to use what you teach me to become better than you. My goal is to surpass Ayakashi. If I can't single handedly take on any threat that comes to me, whoever or wherever it comes from, then I haven't learned enough. But I hope you'll try and keep up with me. It'll be nice having a challenge every step of the way."

From there, she would simply wait for him to begin the process, already starting to work her inner chakra, a sort of warm up of her system. It would hopefully go as well as she thought it would, but she knew it wasn't going to be easy. And it probably would be fairly painful, considering she'd have wild untamed Katon inside her chakra system, and until it was tamed would be violent against her own system.

WC: 341
TWC: 2677

Sero would listen as she spoke but did not reach out to him. She did nothing to grasp the flame. Had he been unclear in his gestures? She spoke of control with confidence which he liked. Usually he would warn others of the dangers of being overconfident when it came to mastering an element. Especially Katon. However her skill level was not to be ignored. She was confident because she knew her chakra. She knew control and he would not doubt her. Her clan aside she was his equal and he had learned to control the advanced element splendidly at a younger age than they were now. She was an adult and what was more was she was appointed head of the Hunter nin and the only other of the seven swords. The hardest of them to control at that. If anything precision was her greatest talent. Now matter how brutal the training method she was going to take it head on. He supposed it was a nice change of pace. Her level was something he could believe in too. The water around them finished sizzling as the cold air stole away the heat from it. He supposed he could go about this carefully.

Still it would appear she wasn't finished. Her eyes locked on his and he did not waver. The empty eyes of the grave bearing witness to the conviction in her own. Her words range out as she passed him a warning. She intended to use this to grow beyond him. To grow beyond Ayakashi as well. So she thought to surpass him with the powers he taught her. The blade, and now the inferno. She spoke of him keeping up along the way and he tilted his head. He was captain of the seven swords. She should have known he was not so easily overcome. However he had asked her to act his rival and so she was. Though asked was wrong. Rather physically insisted repeatedly. She was getting ahead of herself though. As if this new power was already guaranteeing her overcoming him. The villages best hope against him and here she stood about to let him put chakra into her. He supposed if he wished to he could transform it once it was too late to push it back. To pour more chakra than she could control and burn her from the inside out. To have no student turned rival.

However he found the idea lacking and dishonorable. Some part of him didn't actually want her harmed. Not even by his own hand. He hesitated. She was dangerous to him and this was the best opportunity he might ever have. Yet he could not. So many lives had been taken without a second thought. Yet when it related to her he hesitated. It wasn't an attraction or anything but...she had value to him. And odd idea. Still he would step forward. His free hand taking one of hers if he was allowed too. Taking her by the wrist and moving it over the ball of flame. If she allowed this the moment her hand was over his the fire would split into tendrils. Spreading into her hand and red lines would form visibly down her arm. It would feel like someone was injecting actual fire into her body. The small amount of katon chakra flying through her like a wild fire. It would be painful. In a moment it would feel like she was standing inside of a fire. However there was a pushing force within her keeping her from being burned. Something she could push back with...it had its own heat but it was slowly urging her to take control. If she managed it, all the katon chakra in her body would fall to her. Tamed by her own katon chakra.

3639

As Sero grabbed Nozomi's wrist, and guided it towards his fire, she fought the urge to pull her hand back, to move it away from the fire. She'd been burned by it before, Kaekio being the first to mar her body with some wild flames, and once by Sero, in an effort to staunch her bleeding after a fight with Enaka. She wasn't really a fan of the pain that burns provided, and instinctively knew that she was going to feel pained as if by burns again. Even so, she fought the urge, and let him guide her towards the fire. In an instant, the flames broke out in a mass of tendrils, wrapping around her hand, and running down her arms, injecting the chakra into her system.

Gritting her teeth, Nozomi's hand tightened around Sero's wrist as she pushed back against the invasive chakra with a force of her own, smashing the chakra down with pure control. Once it was contained, localized in her arm, Nozomi noted through the burning pains what the chakra felt like. A large part of the chakra nature controls was knowing how chakra felt in order to mimic it. Working on copying that chakra's feeling, Nozomi felt a similar rising in her other arm, although, it was different. Rather than burning like Sero's katon chakra did, her's felt like it was cool and refreshing. More in line with her Suiton nature, but notably different.

Letting that feeling build up in her arm, it eventually started to take over, and she closed her eyes, letting Sero's Katon chakra advance up her arm, controlling the rate it advanced to a slower pace so it didn't run out of control. Eventually, the two natures met, and collided, with a mixture of the burning and refreshing sensations spreading through her chakra system. After a minute, Nozomi's entire tenketsu was full to the brim with both her and Sero's Katon energy. From there, it was a battle to see which would win out.

Her body wracked with the pain of burns, Nozomi dropped to her knees, eyes still closed, as she fought to keep her Katon energy in control, to tame the wild fires inside her. And soon, the pain subsided, her own body crackling with new energy, cool and refreshing inside her, but ready to be deadly, to be used in the same manner as Sero's, as a tool for destruction. Not a trace of Sero's chakra remained inside her, her own system having responded to his chakra by producing the same nature to cancel out and overwhelm the invasive chakra. Opening her eyes, Nozomi focused in on Sero, raising up her left hand, and produced a tiny flame, no larger than that of a candle, right above her palm.

"It worked." she said with a small grimace, extinguishing the flame as she stood up. "Have you ever thought of developing ways to train people without putting them in excruciating amounts of pain?" The sarcastic tone was heavy on her lips, her gaze now locked onto Sero's own.

WC: 512
TWC: 3189

Sero would slowly watch as she took in the source of the katon energy within him. A portion of it given to her as it would regrow on its own in time. However it was up to her will power to accept it. To control a thing that wished to burn whatever fuel it could find. For its sole desire to be to burn the body to ashes as it too was fuel. To wish for something so drastic was interesting for Nozomi. He had always found her more of a cautious type. One to observe and approach each situation differently. He still remembered how she avoided being a part in the end of Bao. Even with the amount of power surged into the woman Nozomi's presence had been notably away from the final blow. Survival seemed to be a part of her nature. Perhaps this was a sign of growth for her. Overcoming that turmoil just a little with her inner confidence. Allowing her body to be risked in order to gain a higher power. Something he had always done since he began training. His body pressed and now he had much to show for it. Perhaps in her mind maybe even more than she did.

Still he would regard her as she dropped to her knee's with a tilted head. No move made towards her to aid. He simply watched as she gathered herself into the pain he had promised. He had been truthful when he explained there would be agony. That she would know the truth of katon through pain was how he had learned it as well. Still there was more than that happening within her. He didn't know what but he observed all the same. Like watching a cocoon come to fruition. What had been before was about to be changed. He could feel his own power still and it was waning. She was pushing back against it and as if by breathing overcoming it. Quicker than he had assumed she would as well. The results were pleasantly astonishing. He had gone through this himself but at a much lower level and it had crippled him for a time. He supposed this was to be expected at her level. Soon though his own power within her could no longer be sensed. Instead he could feel an addition to her own chakra. A smoldering heat within her as she caught her breath and looked up at him.

Her pale hand would raise as a small fire lit above her palm. Casting a warm glow between them as it flickered with life. It appeared she was already able to manifest it physically outside of her body. Perhaps by instinct but it was impressive. Sero would listen to her as she rose to her feet though. Their eyes locked as if each were watching the other for danger. Her because he had struck her twice in a way now. Him because he did not know how fast the would attempt to grow. If she moved too quickly she may very well incinerate them both. Still he would listen as she questioned his teaching methods. Sarcasm was recognized but still he would turn from her. His feet carrying him slightly out onto the waters of the lake now that they had cooled. He did not wish to endanger the shore after all. As he stepped onto the water it did not boil or churn but instead remained as if it were solid ground. Only a small walk, a mere few meters from the rocky shore would he turn to her and speak in return. Her inquiry answered in a serious tone as always.

"Simpler methods take time. There is not rapid growth without a price paid. One must measure what is more costly when they make the choice. The time taken to grow or the price paid to become more. Pain is typically the price paid. Seeing as shinobi do not tend to live as long as the normal citizen I find pain to be less taxing than time. Now if you would kindly come out onto the lake and join me. I will teach you a good way to practice your katon in order to nourish its growth."

4352

Nozomi let herself adjust to the feeling of the new element inside her. It was a bit different than anything else she was used to, having a new experience in the form of an element. As far as her talents and skills had previously gone, everything made sense. She had natural Ninjutsu talent, and her Taijutsu training was phenomenal. When it came to learning Bukijutsu, she mainly focused on the forms rather than anything else, learning the weapons rather than jutsu, as her experience with Taijutsu's chakra flow and Ninjutsu's projecting chakra outside the body let her translate that ability to her weapons. Suiton and Raiton were simply natural chakra natures inside her, and she'd been able to use them for as long as she could remember. Katon though, was new and foreign to her. An actual shift in her chakra natures as it awoke.

As Sero walked onto the water, Nozomi looked over at him, a smile on her face as she realized that their training wasn't over yet. She honestly had expected that since she had gained the element, he would leave her to her own devices to master it, but she wasn't going to complain. It took longer to do things alone than it did to have the help of someone who had already mastered it. It was one of the reasons that she had utilized him in her Bukijutsu learning. She could have done it by herself, but why bother wasting the time when Sero was so good at expediting the process.

Following him out onto the water, Nozomi walked with practiced ease on the water, as if it was second nature to her, as natural as the ground. She hadn't struggled with water since she was a little girl, but it was her most natural element, and easy for her to overcome. Her style was one of the most fluid styles around as it was, in all regards. "I suppose you're right. I did grow to be a strong Kunoichi very fast through intense trials. Thing is, at this point, I think there are very few prices that will really take a toll on me anymore when it comes to learning things quickly." To some, that claim might be arrogant and dangerous, but it was true. Nozomi breezed through everything until she came upon something that was difficult for anyone to accomplish at any level. Elements, however, weren't one of those things, as her chakra control was finer than most, and that was the real difficulty with learning elements.

"So, this method. I assume it's going to be a bit dangerous, hence the being on the water instead of just by the shore? Or are you going to tell me that maintaining chakra control is a bit more difficult with the Supernatural Walking Practice active, and so the experience is more rewarding? Cause I don't think that makes much a difference for me anymore."

WC: 505
TWC: 3694

"I suppose you're right. I did grow to be a strong Kunoichi very fast through intense trials. Thing is, at this point, I think there are very few prices that will really take a toll on me anymore when it comes to learning things quickly." How interesting. Rarely did they tend to agree on much outside of actual missions. She had a very different way of going about things than he. His grey eyes took her in a moment as a flash of orange glow floated through them. His Katon chakra still prominent within him. She was correct in her way of thinking in his opinion. At least about her growth up until then. However the idea of few prices taking their toll was an illusion of invincibility. He knew full well that much could still toll him. The world was filled with that which would see him dead. He was an abnormality in a system that had little use for him. A thing more monster than man. Unlike what he thought the village considered her he was widely disliked. The seclusion of his island only infiltrated by those wishing to gain strength. Still she would continue. Her words ringing across the waters ever so softly.

"So, this method. I assume it's going to be a bit dangerous, hence the being on the water instead of just by the shore? Or are you going to tell me that maintaining chakra control is a bit more difficult with the Supernatural Walking Practice active, and so the experience is more rewarding? Cause I don't think that makes much a difference for me anymore."

He would almost scoff at the basic idea of it. A training designed for genin was not suited for someone of their talents. For him it never had been and at her current level the very idea of suggesting it was a joke. One which he didn't intend to comment on in return. It wasn't arrogance at this point but common sense. He wouldn't waste time discussing it. Still he would turn to face her completely. His eyes almost glowing orange at that point as the water began to sizzle at his feet. He would face her and know her worth was great. She could accomplish this task he would set for her. Few could but she would.

"You have only just begun your ascension into the flames. However What I task you with is a great burden for even the masters of katon. Failure is pain. Success is redemption. Do as I do and within the day I wish for you to evaporate the lake. Even just standing on the shore it would be a near impossible task for most. However you will be doing it remaining above the water itself. I will demonstrate and then leave you to your task."

With that he would shift in the blink of an eye or as she would see a single step to the center of the lake. There he would shift his palms down at the surface. With that his orange, glowing eyes would watch her as his palms would gather a small ball of katon energy in each hand. A calm settling over the lake before suddenly flames would burst from the balls and launch him upwards. Holding him at ten meters above the water hovering there as the water beneath frothed and boiled violently. Mist taking to the area as water began to burn off rapidly. With that though he allowed a burst to launch him back to the shore as he cut off the chakra feed. Landing next to her before looking her in the eyes. He studied her a moment before speaking. "Don't get burned too much." With that he stepped again as his presence began to fade away. She would only be able to track him to the edge of the woods before he faded into the mists of Kiri and left her to her task.

Exit thread
5000+
S-1 ~> S-2, 2000/2000 speed
S-1 ~> S-2, 2000/2000 Perception

1000 wc remaining

Nozomi watched Sero as he demonstrated how she was supposed to do her training: Basically, he wanted her to use her flames as a source that would hold her above the water, and if she couldn't maintain it, she would fall into the water and burn herself. In a sense, it sounded like decent enough training, but in practice, someone like Nozomi wouldn't really benefit from it. She had way too many ways to prevent herself from reaching the water or preventing the water from burning her if she did touch it. She didn't want to say this to Sero, in case she hurt his feelings, or came off as inconsiderate, but she couldn't help but think that sort of training was just about as effective as using the Supernatural Walking Practice to help her with her chakra control.

Still, he wanted her to evaporate the entirety of the lake, which would definitely be something that would be difficult enough that she'd improve her katon ability. She already knew that as it was, the Katon affinity she had within her had already grown far stronger and faster than most just unlocking it. She could perhaps make it to the level she needed it to be within a few hours, and then evaporate the rest of the lake by the end of the night. Luckily, they'd started the training in the morning, so she had a long amount of time to do this. It was more annoying than anything else, she knew that would be messing with the natural flow of things, and this amount of water evaporating would cause a rainstorm that would last for a few days at least when all was said and done.

She nodded as Sero left her to her task, and ignored him as he left from there. Once a suitable amount of time had passed that she knew he'd gone, she sat down and began to focus on the katon chakra inside her. Rather than increasing it to its fullest in one go, she sat there, mostly just charging it inside her, letting it gather and start to fill up. She started at medium rate, letting it charge up a little bit, stopping at certain points to let the gathering of chakra acclimate, and then continued after a few moments. She continued to do this, pushing it further and further each time until the chakra finally maxxed out and she wasn't able to gather any more naturally.

At that point, Nozomi let the Katon energy stay inside her, brimming to its fullest, enough for her to burst multiple B rank techniques if she'd mastered any of them, but she hadn't learned any yet of course. She knew the feeling of the chakra in her though, able to equate it to the amount of chakra she'd use for other techniques of different elements. She began to try and force more Katon chakra to fill inside her, but try as she might, pushing the chakra inside her to fill anymore was proving impossible. She struggled with it for a solid chunk of time, about a half hour or so before she stopped, breathing heavily. It was like a wall of impossible thickness that she couldn't penetrate. She knew that on the other side of the wall was a vast room just waiting to be filled with energy, but as of yet there was no entrance to this room.

A thought occurred to her as she was taking a moment, still maintaining the charge of Katon Chakra. Raiton chakra wasn't all that different from Katon, and she was quite adept at Raiton chakra. Starting to build up the Raiton chakra inside her as well, she started to merge the two chakra natures slightly, letting the Raiton be as fluid as possible, rather than letting it guide itself into a strict path. The merging of the two natures wasn't completely perfect, as only someone with an advanced element would be able to do that, but with the two natures merged enough, Nozomi could edge the buildup of chakra once again.

The katon alone provided a solid amount of resistance to gathering anymore, but her Raiton chakra continued to attempt to gather more and more. After a few minutes of resistance, Nozomi's katon energy slowly trickled forward, and began to gather more. Her body shook slightly, sweat beading on her forehead. Then, as if a dam was breaking, her chakra burst through the inner barrier, filling up into its new full capacity in a huge rush of energy. Peaking at its new height, she couldn't fully contain it and from out around her, a storm of katon and raiton blasted out, leaking from her uncontrollably. She let out a shout and collapsed forward, her hands catching her before she fully slumped to the ground.

WC: 821
TWC: 4515

As Nozomi held herself up, letting her body calm down and the shaking started to subside, her breathing finally started to normalize. Looking up and around her, she saw that her surroundings for meters had been heavily burnt, a pattern of burn marks and lightning all ringed where she currently lay. It was an interesting look, almost resembling a fuuinjutsu marking, reminding her that she needed to master that next. Now was not the time for that though, as she still had to get to work with evaporating the lake. Sero would be disappointed if he came back and the lake was still here after all, and would know she'd decided not to do as he asked to the letter. Not that she really cared, it's not like he had any real power over her. Her rank was an equal one to his, and though he was her leader in Seven Swordsmen matters, this wasn't one of those times when he outranked her.

Once again building up the chakra inside her, this time only that of the Katon nature, Nozomi was able to push through into the realm of A rank jutsu, on par with some of her other elements. As it peaked at its new heights, Nozomi held her hands up towards the lake and concentrated on releasing the Katon in a steady stream. While she did so, she also continually focused on gathering her chakra and converting it into Katon chakra as well to keep it at its full height. She could feel the chakra draining from her steadily as a flamethrower-like amount of fire spread out over the lake, burning the surface of the water, which started to boil at the heat of her flames. If the water had been laced with chakra, or was made with suiton, then her endeavors would have been fruitless, even with her impressive amount of chakra, but it was just normal water, and couldn't quite put out her fire, fueled as it was by her own chakra.

It was a few minutes before she noticed any progress with the lake, large as it was. The lake started to recede from the shoreline and eventually it was several inches lower than it should have been. Above the lake, high in the sky due to the heat of the steam, clouds were already beginning to form. It was a shame, her training had actually ruined what was a beautiful evening, one of the few sunny days she'd seen in weeks, but now the storm clouds were starting to form. Still, she couldn't help but be proud at her own showings and improvements in such short a time. There was no denying her control of chakra was advanced beyond most shinobi. Had she not been born sick and spent so much time in the hospital, she may have already reached the peak of her abilities years before.

She continued the stream of fire until the lake had completely gone, a feat that only took about another further hour, and finally relinquished the chakra stream. Rather drained from her showings, Nozomi looked at the now empty lake, seeing burnt fish and plants that had occupied it, the ground cracked and burnt from the heat that had continually been exposed to it. Intense heat eminated from the dead area, and Nozomi sighed with content. Yes, this was an amount of control that she could deal with. Perhaps the fastest mastery of katon that anyone had shown in recent history. But now, it was time to go home and rest. A few drops of water fell to the ground as the rain began, but Nozomi had already disappeared in a flash.

WC: 621
TWC: 5136

EXIT THREAD

Training:

Katon B-> A [1000/1000] to the already [4000/5000] trained.
Katon A rank COMPLETE

Fuuinjutsu D-> C [4000/4000]