To the Forest. [closed stat training]

Before the sun made a rim on the horizon of the tree line, Bankai was up. The slightly crisp air with a gentle breeze was enough to awaken him completely. As he wondered through the Giant Forrest he came across a peculiar sight: A old beaten up compound that was attached to a small shrine.

'Well if its empty I could train here without worry from prying eyes..' Bankai thought approaching a gated entrance. His mind wondered. Too many things could go wrong, even the best laid plans are worth nothing if you cant survive long enough to see them come to fruition. Bankai stepped to one side as soon as he was through the gate hoping to avoid any traps if any had been set. The Area seemed Abandoned enough, it was old and falling apart. 'Perfect, Now I can train to my hearts content.' Bankai thought setting down his bag.

A shiver went down his spine as if someone was behind him. 'I was followed! He yelled internally Spinning to face behind him. "Come out whoever you are, I know your there!" He called out loudly. A Clapping sound could be heard from the main entrance to the shrine.
"The Soldier finally noticed I was watching, about time!" A females voice sounded from within.
Bankai watched as the woman made her appearance, half her face was covered by a weird looking cloth with a glass piece over her right eye. She was taller then Bankai by perhaps a few inches, still, her body looked like it had seen its fair share of battles.

"Do you have a death wish lady?" He asked her in a cold voice. He wanted to know why she was here.
"Don't make me slap you upside the head child!" Was her response as she walked closer to him.
"Tell me who you are before I decide to rip your throat out!" Bankai Demanded sternly.

The woman threw her head back laughing. "You rip MY throat out? Does a death wish cause you to talk to me that way? " She asked before laughing again.

Bankai was seething with anger, his previous good mood was shattered by a unknown woman who had apparently for some time now had been watching him. 'If I kill her now I will bring shame to Hana's military, I think for once I need to lay low.' He thought slowly walking to the gate he came in. He was a few feet away when a blast of chakra went right past his head, his eyes widened in fear for the first time in many years. It seemed all the excitement was getting to him though as he coughed a few times. 'Why is it always at the worst possible times?' He thought slowly turning around to see the woman who nearly blew his head off.

"This is the world you've stuck yourself into, if you aren't strong enough , then you lose the privilege of getting what you want." The woman explained before pointing her finger in his face in point blank range.
"If I were you I would start being polite and begging me not to make your head explode." She said calmly as she gathered enough chakra in her finger to show a bright light.

'If I don't do something now im dead, I need a plan! Maybe a smoke screen would suffice? No, that wont work all she has to do is let the chakra leave her finger and im dead. If I die then those bastards get away with everything. I will wait a while before I use any light jutsu. Although she does seem to have some affinity to it.

"Kill me" He said hardening his eyes at her as he looked at her glowing finger.
"No" Was her reply.
"But why?" He asked after a sigh of relive.
"You don't have the privilege of getting what you want, I told you that already. To me you are a ten year old child who doesn't even know when he is in over his head! In fact, that gives me a wonderful idea. Since you are such a brat im going to treat you like one. From now on you will address me as Namiko Sama. You will tell the truth at all times and if not I will beat you to a inch of your life, heal you and do it again till you do! You will do whatever I tell you until I see you improve! Do you understand?!" She said in a loud voice finger still pointed at his face.

"Yes..."
"Yes what?"
"Yes Namiko Sama"
"Good, now get up, I have a few questions for you and I don't think it would be wise to discus outside, follow me.

796 words.

Bankai followed Namiko inside to the living quarters of the shrine. He had expected it to be run down on the inside but, to his surprise It was immaculate. The light wood furniture seemed a little spartan but, it was livable. Bankai looked around noting anyways out he could find. 'My only chance is to sneak out when she is not looking, however, if I fail im as good as dead.' He thought as they went down a hallway leading to a room.

"I have no doubt you are thinking of trying to escape, go ahead run I dare you." Namiko said as they came to what looked to be a living room with a more home like feel then the rest of the house. Bankai went to say something only to have her put her finger up.

"You shouldn't talk, it makes you sound stupid." She said before he could even get any words out.

"I have been watching you for some time now, I will know if what you are about to tell me is a lie or not so think before you speak brat." She said taking a seat on one of the mats lining the floor.

"What do you want to know then?" He asked intent on getting it over with.

"Your life story, and remember no lying."

Bankai did not know where to begin, all of his life seemed to be one chaotic moment to the next. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat.

"I was born eighteen years ago among the prestigious Misaki clan. For the first ten years of my life it was fine, we seemed to be one big happy family. I had not a care in the world." Bankai coughed a little before continuing. "Then my world was turned upside down when one night I was captured by an unknown enemy like a sack of garbage! The torture of it all was getting near to sending me insane and it hate the fact that the fucking military-" Bankai was sent sprawling on the hard wood floor before he could finish was he was saying.

"I said no lying, try again." Nabiki said withdrawing her fist from where she had punched him.

"Im not Lying, I hate them! Im going to get revenge for everything they did! Because of them I was captured and got carried away and they had their way with me. " Bankai yelled from where he had landed on the floor only to get kicked in the face for his trouble.

"You stupid fool! Stop blaming others for your actions! You are not sure they are the ones who organized your capture! Part of growing up is learning to take responsibility for your actions!" She yelled grabbing him by his shirt and pulling him to his feet.

Her voice softened. "Listen Bankai, Nothing can be accomplished by revenge. Hatred will only result in bringing more hatred. If one makes a decision with a cool head, he wont find himself regretting that decision later on. Every decision you make will effect the people who care about you." She said her features seeming to become more gentle as she let his shirt go.

Bankai clenched his fists. "AND WHO CARES ABOUT ME BESIDES MY IMMEDATE FAMILY? I have nothing of my own, I am nothing, my life is surrounded by a miasma of despair! I have had so many sleepless nights I cant even count. With all the efforts my family does for me its all for nothing. All I can do is fight its the only thing I know how to do!"

"Shut up brat, you know nothing. Im going to tell you a story and you are going to listen. Sit down and pay attention, im only saying this once." A sorrowful look appeared in her eye as she took a seat across from him. Bankai coughed a little and sat down as well.

"Once upon a time their was a family, a father, a mother and a small child. Everything went smooth and they were happy together, always smiling and laughing. I remember seeing this kid, so full of life and carefree. Everyday I watched this little boy grow as I was visiting my sister quite often. I began to feel attached to him every passing day. It was not to last however. The mother and the father were planning to betray Hanagakure and the military leader found out. You see the Father and Mother where not married, that didn't matter so much until that time. Knowing their time in this world was drawing to a conclusion they hardened their hearts and made sure to let the little boy be captured and given a power where he could protect himself an also so he would not have to witness their untimely demise. They used the excuse of the child as having a hidden power and would be a great benefit to Hanagakure and they hoped which Hana did not do, that they would send him to the school of the gifted so he would not be harmed. They knew that if the child was with them he would be in danger of being killed as well."

She let the information soak in for a minute so Bankai could think before she continued. "I watched that little boy harden his heart, and put up a front to everyone around him that he was loyal to a place where he would watch burn, and i watched him go down the wrong path, to make one bad choice after another. Then one day the child happened to walk through my front door."

The realization hit Bankai like a ton of bricks as he figured out who the child in the story was. It was him. His whole world had been turned inside out, a emptiness he could not describe flooded his mind. The people who he thought was his parents were just substitutes to fool him that his life had not truly and fully changed from before.

"Why? If you knew all of these things, why did you not help me?!" He yelled at her. She got up and looked out of the window. A rain storm had started as the raindrops ran down the window her thoughts went back.

"I could not help you. At the time I was thought to be conspiring with your mom and dad. I was not however, so I took to faking my death and watching from afar. You are the one who happened to be the most lucky boy alive. Originally you were to be captured and possibly killed as well, but, since you were captured and experimented on and they had you under constant surveillance they determined by watching you that you had nothing to do with it and decided not to execute you even when you returned from you abductors. Something they of course did not plan on. They normally don't tattoo those rings in child cases as yourself, however, this was a fail safe to make sure everyone had there eyes on you to prevent any future abductions because they saw your potential for power. Haven't you wondered why the Police force is always watching you?"

The look of shock on Bankai's face soon faded. 'My whole life is a lie.' He thought a grim expression lining his face. "I've been lost ever since the day I was born. I feel so empty now.." The rain stopped and for the first time in many years he cried. He punched the floor. "Dammit what do I do?! Everything I thought I knew is gone! Im so empty." He said between sobs. Namiko gently went up and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Ill be in the next room. Don't worry about how long it takes. End your search, the real one and find yourself and find your sister. Some choose to seek greatness, while others are forced to it. It is always better to choose than to be forced.
A man who is forced is never completely his own master. He must dance on the strings of those who forced him. If you want to leave you may do so. If you want me to train you to become more then cannon fodder meet me in the next room. " She said before leaving to the other room leaving Bankai to decide his fate.

'I have a choice.... im not alone. I have something I was wanting for so long, why am I so empty? Why do I care anymore?' He thought, his tears slowly stopping 'Who am I really? How do I find out?' The questions kept piling on in his head. Does he leave and continue his path of vengeance or does he stay and learn?

His answer had been made.

'This is truly the path of no return.' He thought as he walked through to the room Namiko was sitting in. He coughed. "Please, I don't know the answers, but, please train me." He all but begged on his knees. A evil look appeared on her face. "Very well, you have made your decision. You will not like me, you will hate me. I will make your life a living hell. Regular soldiers cannot prepare you for the viciousness of the fights. Your weakness and their guidelines make them go easy on you. I will not. If you survive training then you will be stronger then you could have ever imagined. We will begin tomorrow get some rest." She said turning and walking out.

1,596 words

It was quiet at the shrine, not much to disturb or distract. Bankai slept, his dreams filled with memories of a screwed up past that even now he didn't know much about. Why did his real parents attempt to betray the village? What was so important they would go to such lengths? What was his place in this mess? Hi dreams would soon be interrupted as his aunt stormed in to wake him up.

"GET UP RIGHT NOW! OR DO I HAVE TO DRAG YOUR LAZY ASS OUT BY THE TOES?!" She yelled, her voice booming. Bankai shot out of bed groggy and not really knowing what was going on for a few seconds while he remembered where he was. He was miserable waking up so early, his whole life he was used to sleeping in and taking his time to wake up.

"You Have five minutes to get ready and meet me out front, dont be late or you will regret it." Namiko commented before leaving the room slamming the door as she left. He knew she was not one for idol threats so he rushed as fast as he could to get his morning business done. 'What have I gotten myself into?' He thought as he quickly pulled his shirt over his head and ran out the door.

"Your late." Was all she said her hands on her hips.
"You only gave me-"
"Shut up I wont accept excuses. You were late and that's that." She had cut him off before he could even give a reason as to why he didn't make it.

A Evil grin appeared on her face. Bankai was fully awake now and seeing the smile gave him a feeling of dread.

"I understand five minutes may not be the right amount of time for you to be ready." Namiko said, Bankai sighed a breath of relief. 'Maybe she will give me more time.' Bankai thought, but it was not to be.

"Three minutes should be a more sufficient time for you." Her eyes in clear delight as she told him his new time limit.

Indignation filled him as he spoke up againced the unfairness of it all. "IF I CANT MAKE IT IN FIVE MINUTES WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I CAN MAKE IT IN THREE?!"

She smirked. "OH I know you will be able to make it in three minutes.... with the proper motivation." She paused for a minute. "Run now do not stop until I say so." She barked out. Bankai took a few steps back then turned to run in a full sprint. Damnit this is frustrating...It better be worth it!' He thought after a few minutes of him running went by. He had ran to the woods surrounding the compound where he was sure he was out of sight. The running had aggravated his condition and he dropped to one knee coughing violently.

"Normally a regular sensei would stop and call it quits for the day if their student coughed like you. Lucky for you though, im not normal." Namiko said appearing behind him not even sweating.

'Not normal? How does that make me lucky?' He asked himself before getting the wind knocked out of him by a side kick to the stomach. He tried to breath, the kick had hit him in the solar plexus. He looked up at her and silently mouthed the question why. She seemed to be able to read his lips as she slowly walked towards him.

"I see your wondering why I kicked you even though you were already coughing. Its simple. Do you think a enemy will hesitate just because you are weakened? No. If I were a enemy you would have a kunai impaling your heart right now." It made alot of sence, why would anyone not take advantage of his weakness. She was right and it bothered him to no end. His lungs where starting to work and he drew in a few breaths working the soreness out from the kick. He hoped he would get stronger soon. If this continued, he would be forced to use light jutsu.

689 words