Development [Open, No Killing]

[OOC] While this does say 'Open' in the thread title, I'd really only like it if people join in who can write a decent post that is not short. By this I mean it should be more than a sentence or two. That is just not good RP in my opinion. [/OOC]

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Early morning usually meant the sunlight would blind the eyes of those bustling to and fro in the village...

Early morning usually meant the calling of a great many birds from up in their nests amid the trees...

Early morning usually started off with breakfast...

Today was a most unusual day, to say the least. The sun's first rays of lightwere hidden behind dreary storm clouds that drenched the land in water. The fierce clashing of the clouds was heard every other minute or so with the rumble of thunder. The thunder blocked out the few chirps and songs from the birds that were brave enough to be out in the weather. It also blocked out the voices of the villagers who were brave enough to do so as well. The storm was rather hellacious, to say the least. The torrential downpour of rain did not show signs of stopping anytime soon, so everyone had no choice but to go on with their business while getting soaked. People still crowded the streets, though they seemed to be in even more of a rush than usual. It was pure madness and the storm did nothing to relax that feeling.

This madness was far from Hanzo however, as he was high above the village and beyond the Hokage mountain. In the middle of one of the many training grounds, the young Jounin stood silent. His breathing was low, his mind was clear. All he heard was the pattering of the rain upon the ground and into the lake before him. He heard the drops as they collected in puddles that were strewn about here and there. He listened as they slowly raised the water level of the small lake. Hanzo heard them crash into the many leaves of the trees about him. He heard the rain and the rumbling thunder accompanied by the wind as he stood still in the storm around him. His clothes were soaked completely through to say the least. He was nearly akin to the water itself with not a dry spot to be found on him. This could be attributed to the time he had already spent out here. It could be no later than 9 in the morning at this point, but he had already been out here for two hours. His business was nothing more than training and so despite the time of day and depsite the natural conditions, he was here. He was out in this mess in order to push himself ever further along the path of a shinobi.

Though his breathing was quiet, it was not light. He was breathing rather heavily, but slowly. He was trying to rest for just a bit before going back to the grueling task he had placed before himself. He sighed outwardly before gathering his wits about him and taking a step forward, toward the lake. Thunder boomed overhead and the faintest flash of light could be seen. It was hard to spot lightning from a storm during any part of the day, but it was there nonetheless. Hanzo smiled to himself as he took another step forward, this time his foot lifted off the ground and came to the water. However, instead of entering the water Hanzo stood upon the lake now. He subconsciously kept his chakra flowing through his feet; a skill that had become second nature to him at this point. He took only a few more steps forward, his black, wet hair swinging just barely in his eyes and dripping water down his face with each stride. Suddenly Hanzo stopped and was again as still as one could be. The rain never once let up, nor did it have any intention of doing so. It poured and poured, falling down as if from a running faucet. The clouds must have been full of water...

This was the only thought that Hanzo acknowledged as it went racing through his mind. He didn't have time to waste thinking about a multitude of different things, he had training to complete. In an instant the man who had just been standing almost completely still moved with a flash of speed. His hands darted up to his chest as he began to weave a series of seals about him, all the while kneading chakra in his body. He had been trying to shorten the length of hand seals down but had only managed to omit 4 total thus far. Therefore, after 40 handseals instead of the usual 44, Hanzo's chakra was ready and released. The water before him began to splash and swirl about. Within an instant, a large amount of it took on a serpentine shape, as if held together and condensed by some outside force. Then at the end of the water, the shape changed to the appearance of a dragon's head. Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!!

The young shinobi's thought of the name of his technique caused him to take action with it. Using his chakra and holding the final hand sign, he willed the serpentine water to twist about him before spiraling upward and rushing across the lake. The large water dragon collided with an equally large tree, in a splash of torrential rage that fit right in with the downpour from the storm. With the scene clearing up, Hanzo could see the extensive amount of damaged caused to the tree, even from his distance. Where there had once been a tall, majestic part of nature with raised arms to the heavens, there was now nothing more than the trunk that was toppled over, split into 3 large sections and splintered at nearly ever limb. Part of the tree had fallen into the water, while another part of it lay a few feet away. The bottom half of the trunk was uprooted entirely though it had not been moved more than a few inches.

Back across the lake, Hanzo was again breathing heavily, bent halfway over upon the surface of the water, holding his gut. I'm wearing myself out like this, trying to shorten those hand seals is a really big pain in the ass. He stepped back and off of the surface of the chaotic water, still permeated by thousands of rain drops every minute. He walked slowly back from the lake and took refuge under a large tree on his side of the lake, seeking to get out of the harshest part of the storm. Even under the large oak, he was still subject to the fat raindrops that got through the defense of leaves. He leaned his back against the heavy trunk in order to catch his breath for a moment. A few seconds passed by before he looked up at the tree he leaned against and muttered, "Hope you don't mind even though I knocked over one of your brethren." Hanzo chuckled to himself, knowing full well that the tree would not be responding to him anytime soon.

The rain continued to fall heavily and it showed no signs of letting up. hanzo had already spent several minutes catching his breath. He was nearly exhausted from the training he was undergoing. However, he would need to stop for today. He had other matters to attend to this morning, one of them being finding breakfast. Thus, did the young Jounin push himsefl off of the back of the tree and head back down to the village in the storm. The Hidden Leaf Village was still as busy as ever and he was not surprised. A storm won't deter the lives of these people. He pondered on that thought, reaching into the complexities of it as he made his way back to his quarters. Hopefully the same can be said about them in regards to the storm of life that we are undergoing now. Hanzo continued on his way, deciding to stop at a local tavern for meso soup and rice before heading back to clean up from this morning's training.

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With his breakfast now settling in his stomach Hanzo felt a lot better and less exhausted than before. So when he came to his living quarters he took a quick shower and changed into a drier pair of clothes that was similar to what he had been wearing before. In all the time that he had spent so far, the storm was still not letting up. It was a wonder that the clouds held so much water, but Hanzo did not marvel at it for long. His training was still on his mind, but he wanted to really test himself. In all the years since the existence of the Second Hokage no one had been able to manipulate water like that man could. Hanzo wanted to be the one to surpass him. Yet it was said that the Second Hokage could produce the water needed for the same technique he had ben trying to perfect, out of thin air! On top of that, the man had been able to perform the jutsu with just one hand seal. Ozuru had been marveling over this for years now. However, he was not coming along so quickly. He thought that perhaps training in the hidden lieaf village was not helping him. Perhaps he needed to train in an area where little water was available, in order to try his hand at producing the water for his ninjutsu with his chakra alone, just like the Second. It was this thought that spurred Hanzo into taking a little trip. His destination would be one of two places and he would leave that afternoon: either the Village Hidden in the Earth or the Village Hidden in the Sand. He had no idea which just yet, but he made his preparations to leave nonetheless.

[OOC] Thread is now closed with Hanzo's exit. [/OOC]