A Test and A Challenge
As the usual grounds they used were coming into view Shirubā slowed, the person standing in the clearing was not someone he expected. The man had his back to him but he could tell who it was instantly, and his being there made the boy nervous. Slowly, slowly he drew his chakra into himself, a technique he’d read about in one of the many books on ninjutsu he’d bought for himself. First his chakra become muddled, then it grew faint as if retreating, then it vanished from sense, then he slowly climbed down from the tree. Carefully as he’d made his way down the tree, he worked his way closer to the edge of the brush. Taking a quiet, shallow breath, he pulls a kunai from one of his weapon bags.
Silver threw it with good aim and speed, it met its mark, lodging itself in the back of the man’s neck. His eyes widen in shock as he hadn't expected the kunai to actually hit its mark. His eyes widened further when the man exploded in a puff of smoke and the kunai he’d thrown was placed against the exact same spot where it had hit on the shadow clone. “Your aim was good, and you’ve gotten better at masking both your breathing and your chakra, however both went away too quickly to be natural and you made far too much sound during your approach.” Though he was disappointed with himself, Lord Tobirama sounded impressed enough with his attempt. The older man backed away, careful not to break skin with the knife, flipping it in his hand so Shirubā could take it back by the handle.
“Were the others busy today?” Tobirama nodded his head, “Yes, the whole team was sent on a mission to accompany the Fire Daimyō on a journey, today I will be assisting you in your training.” As Tobirama was speaking, Shirubā made his way through the bushes the separated the forest from the training ground, the second Hokage following behind. “What are you going to teach me, Lord Second?” he looks back and up at the man. “Tobirama-sensei will be fine for instances such as these. Today I will begin your training into the matter of transforming your chakra into elemental techniques.” As the man spoke he produced five sheets of paper from the pockets of his sweatpants.
Tobirama hands him one of the sheets, letting the boy look it over before he spoke “I want you to channel your chakra into this piece of paper, think of nothing other than this task.” He looked down at the child passively, for which he revived a nod from the boy before he closed his eyes. Tobirama could sense the chakra building inside of Shirubā, his ability to amass the energy inside of him was improving by the day, but Tobirama’s abilities as a sensory type told him there was still so much untapped. If the average academy student possessed a puddle of chakra from which to draw, Shirubā had already a lake awaiting inside, and it would only grow as he trained.
Shirubā closed his eyes, digging deep into himself even as he pooled the energy he brought it out of himself. Once enough was gathered he channeled it up through his torso, down his arm and finally into his hand that held the paper. It felt like it has sagged in his hand, and grew cold, Shirubā opened his eyes to discover that it was now quite wet. Tobirama nodded his head, so Shirubā had an affinity for water transformation jutsu.
“You can drop that bit of paper now.” Shirubā opened his eyes and let the soggy bit a paper fall away, wiping his fingers on his pants. Lord Tobirama handed him another piece of the paper, ”We know now that you have an affinity for water style justu, now I want you to channel your chakra into this slip of paper but with the specific intention of causing it to crumble into dust.” Looking at the paper, he wondered how he could make it do something like that.