Chapter 18 - Dream

Once Shinjo figured out the next regime of his training, he got right into it. Everything was novel to him, he was walking into unchartered territory and that filled him with immense enthusiasm. He wondered if Tobirama also felt the same.

Waking up the next day, he felt fully refreshed, his mental energy all but recovered. After teasing his sleepy sister a bit, he dashed out deep into the forest.

Today he planned to manipulate a piece of earth to do intricate maneuvers and try making complex shapes with it. It was a piece of rock, not clay. He still had to figure out how to manipulate earth like that. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Even if it seemed impossible, who knew what he would find in the unknown?

So after staring at a large rock for 2 and half hours, he felt the connection and immediately started levitating the rock. It was a size larger than yesterday too. So he felt a slight tug in his mind. Reminding himself not to go overboard with his mental energy and chakra, he first started moving it around him, doing rock acrobatics at a faster speed. Making it turn at a sharp corner, doing an 8 symbol in air, making the rock moving alongside him through the forest, without hitting any trees. He basically challenged his control over the rock, figuring things out by feeling and improve upon it.

Time flew by like loose sand through fingers. It was late afternoon, when he felt tired mentally, still within his limits. So he stopped what he was doing and sat down near a stream that led to a waterfall and brainstormed ideas on how to make the rock change its shape.

In the jutsus he had learned, the rocks that would be excavated always had a certain shape to it, by virtue of the hand seals used. He knew what hand seals to make to grant certain shapes to the earth. But he didn't know how the connection worked between them. So he had no idea how to cross that bridge. Till now, he was manipulating the earth externally, chipping away its edges to give it various shapes. What he wanted to do was internal manipulation, thereby shaping it as he desired and when he desired.

The afternoon slowly turned into dusk, as the sun made its way beyond the horizon. Shinjo stayed seated, staring off at the disappearing sun in a daze. Appreciating the beauty it left behind in its wake.

.....

The next day.

Shinjo repeated his training, while brainstorming ideas on where to begin to change the earth's shape. He even tried staring at the rocks for hours on end, even after the rock had white-shifted. Hoping the connection somehow deepened, giving an edge to manipulate the rock internally, even failing would do, at least that way he would know the way forward. But the issue was there was no issue. The rock didn't respond to his intent at all. He was beginning to doubt if it was even possible to do that in the first place.

Morning passed, afternoon came, dusk approached. The forest turned dark, Shinjo was none the wiser. He went back home empty handed.

He had to leave on a mission tomorrow. So he slept early, but the enigma of the earth release still plagued his mind.

.....

Somewhere in a forest at the fire nation border.

A dim campfire lit up the surrounding foliage, casting dim glow on the faces of 4 shinobis, sitting around it. One of them was clearly an adult of 20 years, accompanying the three kids of 10-12.

One kid was seen bandaging a cut on his forearm. But his eyes were unfocused and he pulled the injury slightly. Hissing lightly, he tied the knot around the bandage and in irritation, moved near the fire to take a roasted rabbit down for dinner.

"Shinjo, why are you distracted so much? You have been like this for the past month." Kagami chided him lightly.

Sakumo and Ryuga looked at his curiously. They also noticed the way he acted on missions. Although no major mistakes had happened, it was indeed dangerous to stay distracted, especially with a war approaching.

Shinjo sighed, "Sensei, I can't see the next breakthrough in my element. I have been trying to figure out what to do. But no matter what I do, I can't succeed."

"Your element? Earth release? Why? Whats wrong? Do you have any trouble figuring out a jutsu? Or do you not understand the chakra flow? Is it an A rank jutsu?" Ryuga fired off many questions in a heartbeat.

Shinjo sighed again, getting a knife to his head from Sakumo, who said seriously "Young people shouldn't sigh so much. Happiness escapes when you are sighing." Eliciting a chuckle from Kagami. He said,

"That's right, Shinjo. Practising and faltering in ninjutsu training is totally okay. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me. If i don't know, I can ask my sensei too."

Shinjo's eyes lit up, "Hokage-sama? Would he really help me in my training? Isn't he super busy right now, what with war coming and all?"

"Even so, he should spare some time for his grand disciple, right? And it's not like you are wasting his time. By helping you, he is helping the next generation. In the future you will also pass on your legacy to your students, like I did to you and my sensei did to me" Kagami's eyes softened as he smiled and reminisced about his oath when he first became the disciple of Senju Tobirama.

Shinjo and Sakumo fell silent as they heard their sensei's word. It resonated deep in their souls. Perhaps that was a dream worth striving for, Shinjo thought.

"Sensei" Shinjo exclaimed with a start, "I have decided."

"What have you decided, Shinjo? Going to ask Tobirama sensei about your issue?" Kagami smiled in relief.

"Yes, but not only that. Sensei, I have decided on my dream. The dream I will strive towards, starting from now." Shinjo uttered in utmost sincerity.

"Hahaha, oh, as expected of my prized disciple. You have finally thought of what dream to strive for." Kagami laughed out loud, his happiness palpable. He had come to love his three disciples, in the three years that he had taught them.

Sakumo, the kindest of the bunch, he wouldn't hurt a fly without a reason. But he would go to the ends of hell to protect his comrades.

Ryuga, the simpleton of the bunch, he would say the dumbest of things at times. Although he was talented and was able to match the progress of the two monsters he was teamed with. Honestly that's what made him the funniest. With him around, there was no dull moment in their squad.

And Shinjo, the taciturn of the bunch. He would stay quiet if given the chance and lost in his own little world. But he was likely the most talented. A progeny of Hattori and Senju. Yin with Yang. He would act funny sometimes and sometimes the most mature and he was the most sensitive of the group. Caring, gentle and loved his teammates without prejudice.

Now that his prized disciple had figured out his dream, he felt gratified. Glad that he could bring him up from boyhood to adulthood. He wondered if this was what it was like to be a father. With that thought, his eyes narrowed as he looked at the rowdy bunch in front of him.

"Well then tell us, don't keep us waiting." Ryuga shouted, ever energetic.

Shinjo looked at them each and with a smile playing on his lips, he said with utmost sincerity,

"My name is Hattori Shinjo, 10 years old now. My hobby is to play with the ant colony in my backyard and my sister. I like Kanae-chan and don't particularly hate anything. And my dream is to,",

he paused for a moment to increase the gravitas and no one interrupted him,

"Work hard in this life, so that the next generation can grow up in peace. I want to make the world a better place and free of war. Then I will perhaps pass on my legacy to the next generation and live a quiet life in a farm with Kanae-chan." Saying up to this, as if he remembered something, he stood up, eyes filled with excitement shouted,

"Yes, I want to build an ant farm"

Looking down at his companions and expecting nods of encouragement, he heard Ryuga rolling on the ground and laughing his ass off, "hahahaha ant colony. Hahaha he will build an ant colony. Shinjo, you are a ninja, how can you build an ant colony?"

"Nandato? Why can't I build an ant colony? You bastard, Ryuga, want to have a go?" Shinjo bristled and rolled up his sleeves.

"Hmm I support you, Shinjo-kun. I also want to become a farmer." Sakumo spoke up with a bright smile.

"Agh.. not you too Sakumo. Ah Rikkudo Sennin, save me!!"

Kagami looked at the bunch of rowdy brats and his face softened and filled with love, affection and gratitude. At least he had done something right in his life. He was able to guide these brats to a better life. Maybe the next thing in agenda was to have a kid of his own? Maybe after the war.

"That is a good dream, Shinjo. I respect that. But in this cruel world, you have to have enough strength so that you can realize your dreams. So you guys better work hard. Don't let me catch you slacking off" Kagami advised and chided slightly with a smile.

"Hai sensei.!!!" The three replied in unison. Their voices grew indistinct, as the moonlight enveloped the forest in a calming glow.

.....

P.s. To be honest, I love writing these type chapters more than the power up and fight scenes.

P.s. 2 - This was a mass release, by the way. :)

Like it? Then add this to your library and hit me with them powerstones. Ciao.