He didn't need to concentrate to hear the secret speech of the flora around him--it was natural as breathing and clear as the setting sun on the horizon. The plants were in a furor this evening, and Zetsu paused in his surveillance of the area to press his palms against a tree trunk, caressing the rough bark as he asked it what the matter was.
The tree hadn't seen anything, not directly. But the forest and fields had passed the information along in words and indistinct images, emotions and gut intuitions that he had learned to interpret and speak fluently over the years. A nearby lake had been disturbed. Not normally, of course--that hardly would have been news among the natural world. But someone, some human had done it. They were making the water dance, they were disturbing the serenity of the night.... and they were doing it all while standing in the middle of the lake, unsupported by animal, plant, or earth. If that wasn't the work of a shinobi, he didn't know what was.
Zetsu made sure to give the tree a proper thanks before he moved on, leaning his cheek fondly against solid old plant as he wondered how best to handle the situation. The description hadn't been very exact--they rarely were on the first questioning, and he hadn't cared to probe much deeper--but from the sound of it, this water-nin had to have a fair amount of skill. Sure, S-class shinobi might take it for granted that they could walk and fight on water as easily as firm ground, but he knew better than to generalize--that usually took at least Chuunin level control, possibly more if your village didn't specialize in that sort of thing.
So that left him uncertain of their precise power level and their intentions. For all he knew, it could be simple training and nothing more, but he wasn't about to take that chance; he was going to gather some precautionary information. Zetsu carefully made his way through the forest, finding himself a good hiding place not far from the lake so he could observe.
Haku was completely involved in his training, almost unaware of the things going on around him. The water around him rose and fell with the gentle movements of his hands, shooting skyward and cascading down around him in a gentle spray. He took care with his motions, moving with the grace required for such an intricate dance.
The effeminate shinobi slowly began to split is focus, continuing the patterns he began as he started to move the water further away. It was a good way, he had found, for helping him to control his kekkei genkai in battle. Training with a split focus had enabled him to train to new heights with his bloodline. And when he finished with water, he intended to move on to ice, which was more difficult in the presence of so much water, especially when the weather was so warm.
Naturally, Haku was so involved that he didn't notice he had an audience.
Zetsu was entranced. He'd seen Kisame in action before, flexing his abilities, showing off his true prowess and strength. It was a sight to marvel at, a time to stand in awe and perhaps even terror before the fury of nature that the Mist-nin was able to command. Kisame was a predator, and his power was as terrible and destructive as the tsunamis that rolled up from the depths of the ocean and shook the earth to its core.
But this shinobi? This one brought to mind a shimmering waterfall with their intricate motions and subtle manipulations. There was certainly the potential for great strength, should it be brought to bear.... but it was the splash and dazzle that swept him away. This kind of art required a delicate touch--and despite working occasionally with Deidara and Sasori, he had never developed definite opinions on the subject--and a practiced eye for fine detail and control. Not just Chuunin, then.... The full power and capacity of this stranger's chakra he couldn't yet assess, but the control and manipulation of it was definitely in the Jounin level. No vest, but that certainly didn't mean anything....
Zetsu shifted a little as he watched the patterns spread farther from the ninja commanding them, eyes glowing intently as he studied their path. This radius could mean that they were simply intensifying their practice, or it could mean they were preparing to initiate something, or that they just intended to stop soon and were just giving themselves a final stretch beforehand. Either way.... The hunter-nin moved again, this time into a position more appropriate to pull out and fire his blowpipe, if necessary. Just one well-poisoned needle and a quick melding into the tree he was perched in would end the threat for good.... They would never even see it coming.
....But he didn't want to do that, not yet. They didn't seem to be posing a threat so far, and he liked this show. The shinobi interested him, and he wanted to know just who he was dealing with.
He didn't need to concentrate to hear the secret speech of the flora around him--it was natural as breathing and clear as the setting sun on the horizon. The plants were in a furor this evening, and Zetsu paused in his surveillance of the area to press his palms against a tree trunk, caressing the rough bark as he asked it what the matter was.
The tree hadn't seen anything, not directly. But the forest and fields had passed the information along in words and indistinct images, emotions and gut intuitions that he had learned to interpret and speak fluently over the years. A nearby lake had been disturbed. Not normally, of course--that hardly would have been news among the natural world. But someone, some human had done it. They were making the water dance, they were disturbing the serenity of the night.... and they were doing it all while standing in the middle of the lake, unsupported by animal, plant, or earth. If that wasn't the work of a shinobi, he didn't know what was.
Zetsu made sure to give the tree a proper thanks before he moved on, leaning his cheek fondly against solid old plant as he wondered how best to handle the situation. The description hadn't been very exact--they rarely were on the first questioning, and he hadn't cared to probe much deeper--but from the sound of it, this water-nin had to have a fair amount of skill. Sure, S-class shinobi might take it for granted that they could walk and fight on water as easily as firm ground, but he knew better than to generalize--that usually took at least Chuunin level control, possibly more if your village didn't specialize in that sort of thing.
So that left him uncertain of their precise power level and their intentions. For all he knew, it could be simple training and nothing more, but he wasn't about to take that chance; he was going to gather some precautionary information. Zetsu carefully made his way through the forest, finding himself a good hiding place not far from the lake so he could observe.
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The effeminate shinobi slowly began to split is focus, continuing the patterns he began as he started to move the water further away. It was a good way, he had found, for helping him to control his kekkei genkai in battle. Training with a split focus had enabled him to train to new heights with his bloodline. And when he finished with water, he intended to move on to ice, which was more difficult in the presence of so much water, especially when the weather was so warm.
Naturally, Haku was so involved that he didn't notice he had an audience.
Reply
But this shinobi? This one brought to mind a shimmering waterfall with their intricate motions and subtle manipulations. There was certainly the potential for great strength, should it be brought to bear.... but it was the splash and dazzle that swept him away. This kind of art required a delicate touch--and despite working occasionally with Deidara and Sasori, he had never developed definite opinions on the subject--and a practiced eye for fine detail and control. Not just Chuunin, then.... The full power and capacity of this stranger's chakra he couldn't yet assess, but the control and manipulation of it was definitely in the Jounin level. No vest, but that certainly didn't mean anything....
Zetsu shifted a little as he watched the patterns spread farther from the ninja commanding them, eyes glowing intently as he studied their path. This radius could mean that they were simply intensifying their practice, or it could mean they were preparing to initiate something, or that they just intended to stop soon and were just giving themselves a final stretch beforehand. Either way.... The hunter-nin moved again, this time into a position more appropriate to pull out and fire his blowpipe, if necessary. Just one well-poisoned needle and a quick melding into the tree he was perched in would end the threat for good.... They would never even see it coming.
....But he didn't want to do that, not yet. They didn't seem to be posing a threat so far, and he liked this show. The shinobi interested him, and he wanted to know just who he was dealing with.
Reply
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