Samurai Academy: the dojo

Where the young come to train.

Today we find our young Yuki readying herself for training at the dojo. She put on her noramal white kimono and tied it with her light blue sash. picking up her bento and shinai before heading towards thehome door of her famile's simple . The weather was terrible ow today. The wind was coming straight at her. Snow clouded her vision as her faithful wolf kita came trouncing up to her. She smiled as the pup hopped in and out of her steps on there wat to the dojo.
The town was in the base of the mountain incircleing it. Most who lived in the area that did not farm like yuki's family lived there. As such Yuki was never alone as she walked her cousins joined her . They also had recieved their wolfs along with Yuki because they were from the same litter. After the long walk to in the snow and gravel roads to the town they finally came to the dojo. The long wooden building held all of the samurai in training inside its very walls. Mountain became the structure for the back half , which was used for the (genin level) to hown there sword skills in whatever style they see fit. The from half which was for all of the academy level students was more exposed to the elements was the perfect enviroment to train the mind to focus at a young age. Seaas and her cousins went to their room. along the outer most wall in the corner. No natural light seem to come into that end of the building. Its coldness was like a knife, cutting into your mind it was known as Room X as it never had a number for it and never will. This class was for those who would either become great or die trying. This is there story.

Inside room X the lights from a few candels flickerd light around the room. Breath on every lip of the 24 students hung in the air then faded away. The three windows which had been placed in there were etternally covered in sheets of ice. dim light could be seen through them. Four rows of six mats lined the floor each student sat in one. Yuki sat at the front of the class surrounded by her cousins.

Name: Academy level chakra method#1 .
Rank:E
Skill: ?
Description: Academy level jutsu that is used to improve the chakra control and manipulation. The user using two Chakra enhanced icecicles must be able to keep it balanced on ones hands. if not enough chakra the ice will fall, to much it shatters. This is to make one concentrate and empty the mind to balance both. Usually failing one breaks the other falls.
Mastery:no

Today's lesson is in the very basis of the samurai's nature here in the land of iron. Class x had just begun their day with the rolecall of all twenty four students in attendace. For in this class missing would mean having to do tripple the work the next day for their lateness. Yuki was sure of the fact that she would never come in late but alas her kitteh alarm clock did not go off the previous day. So to day was going to be a living hell for the young girl. letting out a sigh as the whole class stood at attention reading for their first test.
"Today class we will continue from where we left off yesterday on our chakra control. And Yuki because of yesterday you will have to move out infront today." For anyone this was a punishment that no one wanted to take part in. As moving to the front meant that you had to take your mat and sit it right infront of the Sensei so that he could swat you with a stick everytime you did wrong. As punishments go this was a lesson for Yuki or anyone else in her shoes. Don't stray from the path set forth by the Bushido or you maybe lost for ever. This one showed respect for the sensei as well as their honor. Yuki made her way slowly to the front and sat before her sensei. giving a low bow he continued on with the lesson.
" Now, Yuki go to the back and retrieve one icecile for everyone here." waisting no time she walked to the back where there was an odd shapped wooden cabinet. One door had a hinge broken and hung ar an odd angle. Reaching into one side the icy chamber housed many evenly cut chakra enhanced iceciles. Taking each person an icecicle she quitely sat back down rubbing her hands to warm them up. Noticing this the Sensei grasped each hand and gave it a quick smack. Each one gave Yuki and unneeded jolt, but it did seem to warm the hands. " Now Yuki hold out your dominate hand and concentrate on it clear your mind of anything and everything. Focus your chakra into." Yuki did as she was told slowly moving her mind away from the real world as much as she could. As she did this the Sensei roled her hand over and placed the perfectly balanced peice of ice on it. Of course it only balanced for a moment before falling. " You see Yuki it fell off you need to focus more chakra into your hand. " feeling presure mounting from the snickering of her class mates this time she managed to balance it for a minute or two before began to wobble. Concesntrating more chakra to the hand it exploded. " Ah as you can see you had it there keep focus but know the limit. Go get yourself another ice."
Getting up from her mat she got a new one. placing it in her hand she began to focus and channel her chakra to her hand. This time she managed to not make it explode but did let it fall alot as the ice after a while makes the hand hurt from the cold. it also doest melt because of the cold temp indoors. After a few hours of they were all able to keep it up for more than ten minutes. now on to the second part.
The next part was to cause them to focus the chakra under physical stress . To do so it was two hundred strokes with the shinai. Then five laps around the around the room. If you fail at an icecicle it is fifty more swings and two more laps. This phase seemed to go on for hours. But they all managed through it as class was excussed. Yuki on the other hand had to stay and clean the room. That took another hour before she had to run home and do her chores.

Name: Academy level Chakra method #2.
Rank: E
Skill: ?
Description: Using their shinai they maniplulate their chakra up around the blade end. Although because of the nesecity not to harm others they are not trained in sharpening the charkra. It is more like a misshappened flow of chakra around it that gives blunt damage at best.
Mastery: no

The next few weeks it was more of the same training for the academy students. Long running sessions were held to place the students at the thresh hold of there limits. As a whole the Students began to balance the chakra more evenly. Yuki learned to come on time or face the penalty of her actions. When all of them could hold the Icecicles for ten minutes after running two miles the next phase of chakra control started.

Every other day at the academy at class x they train in kendo and taijutsus. The very basics to form muscular strength and repetition to stop the thought process till it was ingraved in the fiber of their being. Yuki loves when they practice kendo and commonly practices out side of class. With her strength and speed improving everyday she became the top of her class in the art of kendo. Today the sensei had something special planned they were going to practice kendo and chakra manipulation at the same time. A bold move by the sensei. He then began the instructions. " Now class pick up your Shinai and hold it firmly in both hands like you normally would. Now manipulate your chakra up through the Shinai like this" Holding the Shinai in both hands he a glow could be seen around the Shinai. like tounges of fire flicking around his shinai. "This is the basics of our kenjutsu. With it we become stronger in mind and body. "
Now it was the Student's turn to try. They stood in two lines like they normally would for paractice . The chakra flow in most students stopped shortly aboved the hands of each. But at least they were able to give off the chakra like sensei could. Yuki was the acception it seemed. Her chakra had moved up the two foot long Shinai ( the size is made smaller for their age group) to a place about half way. Sensei could see the she had much potential for the way of the sword. They began their regular kendo training for the day , but were ordered to use their chakra constantly. It was obvious after a few hours that the fatigue in the students was in bareable for much more. Sensei ordered the class to a close early today.
The next day it was no stop focusing on lengthening the Chakra up the blade. This continued over the next few days in place of the Chakra lessons. Time to time Sensei would give them tips like " dont focus on the hands focus on bringing it to the tip." Which most of the time worked very well. After a week had gone by final preparations were made to finish this level of chakra manipulation.

This days lesson took place outside of the classroom. The target large pillars of Ice as the training dummies. Sensei started" Now class remember that you do not keep the chakra through out the your shinai it will break on these pillars. For the time being ready your shinai and make five hundred Men Strikes (head strikes). This practice was really tolling on the students except for the little prodigy that could. five hundred men strikes was easy pickings usually for the young samurai, but with the use of chakra it did eventually wear on her. After the five hundred men strikes it was time for body strikes. two hundred and fifty strikes each on the left and then the right. more and more striking and chipping of the ice. The laborous breathing of the students could be heard as well as seen after they made each body strike alternating sides. It had taken them a few hour to get to this point of the day. It was the time to see if all the training was worth it. Each student was to make one tsuki at the pillar(thrust). If the student did not focus their chakra correctly the Shinai would break on the pillar and they would have to wait to get a new one. Starting at the back and working all the way up to yuki. Each student tried and failed at making a successful tsuki on the pillar. Twenty three shinai had been splintard on the ice pillars.It was now Yuki's turn to preform a Tsuki. Taking in a deep breath and focusing on the pillar. She used her whole body and a yell deep from with in. A loud crunch could be heard as the young Yuki slipped on a patch of ice and rolled over her shinai. It was a success the pillar had been blown straight through and had created a large craterd whole in the center. The Sensei congradulated her on a job well done. As she was the only one that day to master the second chakra method. Over the next few days it was more of the same kendo training. The Sensei did not want her to ger to far ahead so she continued to get better and better as each on was able to tsuki their pillar.

Name: Snow lodging
Rank:E
Skill:?
Description: The user can hide and wait inside the snow with out a trace of their existance. It is a must to know because they can spend hours or even days hiding in the snow.
Mastery: no

In the land of Iron the samurai are a noble and honorous breed. Who by nature will not fight from the shadows , like there cousins the ninja. Although there are times when the use of surprise is a nesacery . OR when they need to survive the night alone in the cold wilderness. For this they use the art of snow lodging. The samurai will seemingly disappear into the snow without a trace. Just a set of footprints some ways from the samurai. Using small amounts of chakra the samurai instantly compacts the snow beneath him or beside him. Then pulling the snow around infront and leveling it out. This art creates a small inclosed area in which the samurai can spend the night if need be. variations of this art samurais wear a white mask and bring the snow up to surround the them as before up to the face. This allows them sit and watch in a warm cocoon of snow. This is how most night watches are held around the village.

Today we find Class X learning this jutsu. With there new abilities learned from the earier chakra training. They have learned to channel chakra to different parts of their body with greater efficentcy.
Today Sensei was not in the class. A note lay where he usually sat said,"Come outside to the training feilds. ~Sensei~" So after the class was all gathered they left for the training feild. They still could not see there sensei anywhere. Suddenly from out of no where the Sensei jumps out of the ground sword drawn and ready to kill. placing the Katana back into the sheath he stood in front of the class. "Today you all will be learning this art form. Now class move out into arm widths apart on the feild." moving out into position the sensei took a spot before them. "Now move chakra down into your legs and feet. Keep pushing it down into the snow beneath you. Like this" Sensei immidiately fell down to his waste in snow. It was the students turn to try the move. Focusing Yuki quickly sunk into the deep snow as sensei had. " Now keeping the chakra moving down in your feet gather some into your hands also. Steadily bring the snow on top inwards and flatten it out like the snow around it." The Sensei once again vanished beneath the snow. Yuki also tried the move. Vanishing beneath the snow for a few minutes. After which she jumped with all of her might out of the crater she had made her self.

Yuki looked around and smilled at the other students who some had trouble making it half way in . The sensei walked up and for the first time smiled at Yuki for her good work. "You are getting better Yuki. practice must really be working for you." Class X continued to work on the art for the next few weeks. Taking on new ways of lying in the snow and making one in a large group.