endless_scrolls (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
endless_scrolls) wrote2009-09-03 08:57 pm
endless_scrolls) wrote2009-09-03 08:57 pm
Stubborn Determination
Title: Stubborn Determination
Type: Drabble
Fandom: Naruto
Theme: 016. Ripple [Word count: 669]
Character(s): Uzumaki Kushina, OC: Sarutobi Mei; brief mentions of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hatake Kakashi
Pairing(s): None.
Warning(s): Creative license of events and making use of unknown information in the Naruto timeline; OCs to fill in the gap that is Tenten's history
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Short drabble meant to be part of a series started when my internet was out. Ironic, huh~? ;D Theme borrowed from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ficlets100.
Dedicated to: Whirlpool Village.
"I'm telling you, I can't do it."
Growing up, Mei had always been told that she could achieve anything. That limitations stretched as far as imagination could reach. And that, as the eldest of the Sandaime's children, the possibilities for her were nearly endless. And for the better part of her twenty years of life, the kunoichi believed it. But even she could not fathom pushing against the restrictions of natural law and tendencies. It was not in her nature.
That was where Kushina's influence came into play.
"And I'm telling you that you can. Now suck it up, princess, and try again."
Mei frowned at the familiar title that the former shinobi of Uzu had imposed on her and gave a tired huff of breath. Rather than do anything about it though -- she had learned a long time ago not to fight against it; it would only fuel the other's resolve -- she simply reached out and ran a tentative hand through the surface of the water. "But I excel in Earth and Fire styles."
"And water is a linking element between the two. What's your point?"
"Most people can't master three elemental styles."
"You're not like most people."
Her tone was hard to determine, leaving the younger of the two to wonder if that had been meant as a compliment on Mei's abilities, or if it meant otherwise. With Uzumaki Kushina, it was often hard to tell. Even when the comment had been directed at her best friend.
She was still contemplating that one when the red-head plopped down beside her on the shore. "Look, if that brat Kakashi can master Water, Earth, and Lightning, then you can certainly add Water style to your arsenal."
"The kid's called a prodigy for a reason, Kushina."
"Pfft, that's beside the point."
"That's completely the point!"
At that, Kushina growled and glowered, almost at the brink of her patience. More out of frustration, she was sure. But Mei knew that some of it had been aimed at her. The red-head was never especially known for her patience, after all. And the two of them had been arguing back and forth about the matter for five days already.
Sighing, Mei leaned forward and propped up her chin in a palm. "There must be easier techniques we could try."
"There are. Which is why we're starting with this one." The confusion must have shown in her expression, because before Mei could even question the meaning behind those words, the other gave her explanation. "If you master this, then the others should be no problem."
Any other day, and she might have seen the logic in such a statement. But exhaustion did well to dull a person's perceptions, and Mei was more skeptic than accepting of the concept. Still, they had not wasted all this time just to quit now. So, with a reluctant sigh of defeat, the young Sarutobi took her position once more and concentrated on channeling the appropriate amount of chakra into the technique before performing the handseals.
The surface of the water was as still as glass, unmoving and silent just as it had been before. And as much as Mei searched, both along the expanse of the lake and within herself, there was no change other than the hard strain that the training was putting on her chakra system. When her limbs began to shake and her eyes began to lose focus, she had been ready to stop. To mark this as another failed attempt and call it a day. But in that split second just before releasing the technique and cutting off chakra flow, she had seen it.
She had thought it an illusion at first. A trick of the light combined with exhaustion and fatigue to create some phantom image of their intended goal. But the after effect were very real, displayed in how the rings spread out across the surface of the water from a single point.
"...Good job, Hime-chan. That's a good start."
Type: Drabble
Fandom: Naruto
Theme: 016. Ripple [Word count: 669]
Character(s): Uzumaki Kushina, OC: Sarutobi Mei; brief mentions of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hatake Kakashi
Pairing(s): None.
Warning(s): Creative license of events and making use of unknown information in the Naruto timeline; OCs to fill in the gap that is Tenten's history
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Short drabble meant to be part of a series started when my internet was out. Ironic, huh~? ;D Theme borrowed from
ficlets100. Dedicated to: Whirlpool Village.
"I'm telling you, I can't do it."
Growing up, Mei had always been told that she could achieve anything. That limitations stretched as far as imagination could reach. And that, as the eldest of the Sandaime's children, the possibilities for her were nearly endless. And for the better part of her twenty years of life, the kunoichi believed it. But even she could not fathom pushing against the restrictions of natural law and tendencies. It was not in her nature.
That was where Kushina's influence came into play.
"And I'm telling you that you can. Now suck it up, princess, and try again."
Mei frowned at the familiar title that the former shinobi of Uzu had imposed on her and gave a tired huff of breath. Rather than do anything about it though -- she had learned a long time ago not to fight against it; it would only fuel the other's resolve -- she simply reached out and ran a tentative hand through the surface of the water. "But I excel in Earth and Fire styles."
"And water is a linking element between the two. What's your point?"
"Most people can't master three elemental styles."
"You're not like most people."
Her tone was hard to determine, leaving the younger of the two to wonder if that had been meant as a compliment on Mei's abilities, or if it meant otherwise. With Uzumaki Kushina, it was often hard to tell. Even when the comment had been directed at her best friend.
She was still contemplating that one when the red-head plopped down beside her on the shore. "Look, if that brat Kakashi can master Water, Earth, and Lightning, then you can certainly add Water style to your arsenal."
"The kid's called a prodigy for a reason, Kushina."
"Pfft, that's beside the point."
"That's completely the point!"
At that, Kushina growled and glowered, almost at the brink of her patience. More out of frustration, she was sure. But Mei knew that some of it had been aimed at her. The red-head was never especially known for her patience, after all. And the two of them had been arguing back and forth about the matter for five days already.
Sighing, Mei leaned forward and propped up her chin in a palm. "There must be easier techniques we could try."
"There are. Which is why we're starting with this one." The confusion must have shown in her expression, because before Mei could even question the meaning behind those words, the other gave her explanation. "If you master this, then the others should be no problem."
Any other day, and she might have seen the logic in such a statement. But exhaustion did well to dull a person's perceptions, and Mei was more skeptic than accepting of the concept. Still, they had not wasted all this time just to quit now. So, with a reluctant sigh of defeat, the young Sarutobi took her position once more and concentrated on channeling the appropriate amount of chakra into the technique before performing the handseals.
The surface of the water was as still as glass, unmoving and silent just as it had been before. And as much as Mei searched, both along the expanse of the lake and within herself, there was no change other than the hard strain that the training was putting on her chakra system. When her limbs began to shake and her eyes began to lose focus, she had been ready to stop. To mark this as another failed attempt and call it a day. But in that split second just before releasing the technique and cutting off chakra flow, she had seen it.
She had thought it an illusion at first. A trick of the light combined with exhaustion and fatigue to create some phantom image of their intended goal. But the after effect were very real, displayed in how the rings spread out across the surface of the water from a single point.
"...Good job, Hime-chan. That's a good start."