The Rise of the Shadow Wolf - Gerontis

[Gerontis]

As one light fades,
It gives rise to a new shadow.

Changes aren't indeed always nice.
Time = 3 months after the start of the timeskip.

He looked with a cold look at the hospital. It was Sunday, the usual day when he did what had became a routine. Dressed in his black garb, the short black jacket of Koike was moved as the soft and pleasant breeze softly blew through the street. With the sun settling down in the horizon, colouring the sky in beautiful colors. Turning around, Koike walked away. ''Good night, Miharu.'' Koike whispered, a bitter tone going through his voice.

Walking back to his home, the boy knew that he would soon become old enough to be called an adult. And likely pass the rite of age, reaching the age of where he would be called ''Young Wolf'' by his clan. But Koike couldn't care. For already some time, all he had cared about was just becoming better at being a shinobi. Already, people had in the past noticed he was like most Hon shinobi to be quick to learn and having potential. Only his previous and more lax attitude kept that back. That and because he didn't want to surpass Miharu, wanting his twin to be the one that shined. Only now that light was taken away from him.

Causing him to also turn around. Ever since he had came back, Koike had tried to recover from his trauma. But it had been too late when he had been willing to fight Shoji's forces. It had made him even turn more bitter. With Miharu in a coma-state, him not able to support the Leaf when it was needed and feeling he had disappointed some people, Koike had taken a change. Not only in appearance as he dressed himself differently, but also in personality. The young boy started to cherish the things like bonds and friendship less, as they had became a trauma in his experience.

Opening the door of his appartement, which wasn't big, Koike looked around. That eerily silence. Without Miharu around, it seemed so empty. So silent. Closing the door behind him, Koike didn't bother to change the way the curtains were. Walking towards his room, he briefly stood still. Like every time, his head turned to look at the closed door. The door that hadn't been open for quite some time. CLenching his fists, Koike's eyes started to show emotions. Pain.

Regret.

Anger.

But he wouldn't open the door today. Instead, he went into his own room. It was a mess there, as Koike actually couldn't bother himself with cleaning it up. During his private training sessions to increase and hone his skills, he had been only in the room to study something, sleep and sometimes eat. His bed was literally an ocean with scrolls and open books. Al of them were quite important to Koike, even when they aren't that advanced. He was a genin after all and he knew what were his strong and weak points. Settling down on his bed, Koike sighed as he picked up a scroll and started to study again.

[Gerontis]

A not so healthy dose,
For others.

Time : 3 months after the start of the timeskip

Walking out of the shower, Koike rubbed with the towel over his head. His hair was still a bit damp from the warm shower. And though he was a bit tired from his training, Koike would continue to work on something he was trying to make. With the recipe he had gained from Aiko, the young boy was trying to mix his own kind of poison. Something he hadn't ever thought about when Miharu was still there. Then they had been more focused on ninjutsu, trying to become great masters of that. But Koike realized with knowing that his sensei was a lethal kunoichi, that ninjutsu wasn't the key to win everything. It could get you somewhere, but there are many ways to become a winner.

Standing in his kitchen, Koike started to gather the required tools and ingredients that were needed. Knowing he had to be careful, Koike decided to wear some gloves. He wasn't interested in accidentally poison himself. Besides, he would test his poison in some kind of other way. Even putting up some face protection, so he wouldn't breathe it in. The poison was one that required contact, but Koike wasn't eager to still get dizzy and mess it up. Starting, he started to recall every little detail he had learned about how to create the poison.

---

Coughing, the boy fell on his knees. Holding his right arm, the shadow clone of Koike had a grimace of pain written all over his face. The real Koike watched, a cold look on his face. The kunai, that was held in his right hand, had some dark green substance on it. Right in front of him, the shadow clone breathed heavily. Knowing now what the poison was capable off, after running through several tests, Koike made the clone disappear. Sitting down in the couch, he stared at the place where the shadow clone had been. It had taken a bit of time before the shadow clones would be affected by the poison. Meaning that it depended on where the victim was struck at. In most cases, the limb or part that had been infected, would turn limb and paralyze it. With the body not knowing how to react on the poison, it would give signals that caused the pain. The longer the poison would remain, the worse the pain seemed to got. Koike looked at the kunai he held in his hand. The dark green substance looked rather eerily. Even more now that Koike had seen the full effect of the poison.

''This will be come... quite handy.'' Koike mumbled, turning around to head to his room. Again, his study was 'calling' him.

[Gerontis]

The new start of tutelage.
Aiko and Koike.

A collab between Lesli and Gerontis.
Time : 3 months after the start of the timeskip.

Sitting in a meditation sit, Koike held the handsignal in front of him as his eyes were closed. Focusing together with a shadow clone, he was trying to improve his chakra control. After the fall of Kenjou and realizing that he should become stronger, Koike had trained alone to improve his stamina and strength. Not to mention some bit of kenjutsu. Still, he knew better. To become better, he would need advise and who better than his own sensei? Holding on the Hare handsignal, Koike kept focusing on moulding his chakra.

Aiko watched from her hidden position as he had been sitting there with his shadow clone for quite some time. So far she was wondering where this sudden change had come from. Koike was always cautious and also bit more relaxing. Now he was serious, reserved and more driven. Narrowing her eyes, she noticed that he didn't show any change. For a genin, to perform such long chakra control training this manner would be quite a feat. Two hours had passed now and not a single sweat.

Finally Koike calmed down the chakra as his shadow clone poofed away. He sighed, placing his hands on his legs as he opened his dark blue eyes. Glancing around, he only nodded. It was time for the second phase of his training. Slowly, his right hand went to the kunai pouch as he kept looking around. This was going to get tricky. ''I'm ready... Aiko-sensei.'' Koike said with a neutral tone as he got up on his feet.

So he was ready? Good. Without producing a sound, she pulled out several shuriken. The second phase was to test out Koike's reflexes and to see if he had some talent for Silent Killing. Aiming for his legs, Aiko threw the shuriken. Afterwards, she silently sneaked away to another position but kept watch of her student.

His back was to the incoming shuriken, before he ducked and turned around. The first shuriken flew over his head and the others were deflected by the kunai Koike held in his right hand. His eyes scanned his surroundings, but as much as expected from Aiko, she couldn't be spotted. His eyes kept scanning the area for any movement or signal. He also paid attention if he would hear anything moving. Realizing she was far too good to be sensed or spotted, he knew that he could try it at least.

A few more shuriken were approaching him from the right, as Aiko already started to move. However, at one of the shuriken, she had attached wire. She would pull back the shuriken to try to land a hit on Koike. Of course she wouldn't aim for anything deadly or vital, but she did want to keep the pressure on Koike. The boy was showing amazing progress. She could remember he and Miharu weren't this good. To see him suddenly so focused and able to show the results of his own training made her both proud as sad. He has grown a lot...

Turning around, Koike flipped the kunai to hold it in a reversed grip. With fast and short movements, he deflected the shuriken as he wondered where she would attack now from. His eyes started to glance around again. She has to be here somewhere... He thought to himself as he readied himself again. Slowly, he kept looking around. Deciding that if he would be able to focus, hearing something coming towards him, he would be able to keep reacting on any attacks.

Pulling the wire, she made one kunai to fly back towards Koike. It was going for his chest as Aiko stopped and watched. If he would be able to react on such close and fast movement, she was sure of it. This wasn't the Koike she had once for a student. Not the boy that always seemed to end up in trouble with his brother. The fact he had trained on his own for three whole months, showed that this was another Koike as result. A calm and serious attitude and the way he reacted were enough to convince her that this always within Koike's capabilities. Only why had he hide it away?

His eyes widened in surprise as the shuriken impaled his chest. Looking surprised, Koike fell on his knees as he dropped the kunai. But suddenly he poofed away, revealing a wooden log. ''Found you!'' Koike's voice sounded. He landed on the ground, just pulling out three shuriken from his pouch with his left hand. Throwing the weapons towards the back of Aiko, his eyes kept watch off her movements.

Substitution jutsu? This was a great improvement indeed. She thought, before making a quick roll to the left to evade the shuriken. Swiftly getting on her feet, she smirked in his direction. Though she was dead serious at the moment, Aiko slowly lowered her hands, dropping her stance. ''You seem to catch on the teachings very quickly. You sure that you still want to...'' She stopped as she knew that it wasn't something to talk about in the open air.

Koike nodded as he made a short bow, out of respect. ''I would like that indeed, Aiko-sama. I've trained these months just to show you that I'm capable enough.'' Koike told her, returning a neutral expression. He knew better than to think he had fully mastered Silent Killing or that jutsu already. If Aiko had went serious on him, he wouldn't be able to surprise her like he had.

''Then we will train. Every time, once in two days. From sunrise to noon. Be on time, Koike-kun.'' Aiko returned the smile as she made a handseal and poofed away. Koike nodded simply as he turned around. He felt like more training. Creating two shadow clones, who instantly dropped in a fighting stance, the real Koike took a calm breath in and then breathing out before he would continue. In order to reach his goal, he would need to become stronger. Much more stronger than he was now.

[Gerontis]

The first success.
Becoming one with your shadow.

Time : 5 months after the timeskip.

He stood on the grassfield. On the other side, he saw his shadow clone, armed with a kunai. Flexing the fingers of his right hand, Koike then weaved the streak of signals for the technique he wanted to perform. The shadow clone charged at him, readying the kunai. The real Koike tried to focus on the movement of his clone. Coming in with a feint, the clone unleashed a barrage of fast strikes. Managing to keep up, Koike felt some sweat on his forehead. But he couldn't back down now. Not after the lessons of Aiko, not after the hours and hours of his research. It was now or never.

The clone had pulled back his arm and noticed an opening. Without a second wavering, the kunai was thrusted forwards. It went straight through Koike's stomach area. For a second they stood still. A smirk was appearing on Koike as he then punched the clone with his right fist. Poofing away, he inspected his stomach. No scratch was there to be seen. It had worked.

The research on Yin release, the illusion clone technique and his training had finally led to this. Feeling rather proud, he just had to do one more test. One he wasn't so sure off, but he had to do it. The fact he could make attacks phase through a part of his body was one thing. Now he had just to see his own limit. Slightly trembling, he pulled a tag out of his pouch. Placing it on the ground, Koike focused on his new technique. Hopefully, he wouldn't blast himself to scraps. That would be the worst case scenario. The best would be if he could stand and nothing would happen. After all, the technique was in concept an easy one.

By having studied how Yin release works and some experience in genjutsu, Koike had looked at the illusion clone technique. That was actually creating an image of one and then make it distract somebody. Only instead now of creating an illusion clone, Koike had tried to use the effect on himself. By using Yin Release to alter the effect of his body to it. In theory this would make it possible for him to phase through objects, but he wasn't stupid. As a genin, he already had trouble with understanding the far advanced concepts of Yin Release. There were so many things he didn't understood. On many nights he had been frustrated enough that he had been throwing his books around, wanting to tear the scrolls in half and such.

The tag started to burn up and Koike couldn't help it for a moment. What if the risk he took was too great? There was nobody in the area. If he would end up heavily wounded, he would likely die. Still he didn't run away. Nor turning around. He wasn't afraid for death. Death meant he would see Miharu back. His father. His mother..

He just didn't want to die.

The explosion went off. Dust, rubble and pieces of earth were flying into the air due the exploding tag. Stepping out of the smoke, Koike grunted. He had burn marks all over his body, scratches, cuts and what not. But he was still able to walk. A grin placed over his lips. He was now aware of the limits of his technique. Breathing heavily and rather irregular, he looked at his body. It was still in one piece. He had managed it.