One with Nature

Natural Energy was a tricky thing. Absorption of it was dangerous, and difficult to manage for most. But during his trip he had dedicated all of his spare time to the study nad usage of the technique, and he was fully aware of the methods that could be used to absorb them as quickly as possible. In his own personal case, it came from several different methods. Summoning Khalla and Zaishu to gather the energy for him was an excellent option, especially for combat, but for something as peaceful as this, clones were also an option. The most efficient way, period, would likely be to do both.

Rolling his shoulders slightly, the large man would release a slow breath before cracking his knuckles and facing the small lake before him. If he was going to be sent on some elaborate mission soon, then he'd need to be at the maximum of his energy. Closing his eyes slowly, Satori placed his hands together, causing the energy to expand, and then burst alongside him as two solid clones manifested. Each of them glanced at the other, before nodding as they fell to sit on the side. Falling perfectly still while Satori himself would extend both arms out in front of him, releasing a slow breath before lifting both hands up to his lips.

Biting the tip of each pinky finger with his elongated fangs, causing blood to drip from them before both hands placed down on their opposite shoulders. The explosion of smoke washed over the area as both the large cats suddenly manifested, Khalla's bright orange fur glinting in the light on his right shoulder while Zaishu's pitch black coat shimmered like the midnight sky on his left. Falling into a sitting position himself, he glanced at the two cats calmly.

"We need to gather natural energy, please help me you two. I'd rather get this done as quickly as possible since I still have training to do with the other three." As he spoke these words, Khalla grunted, glancing at her brother whom shrugged before both of them dug in their hind legs. Claws digging into his flesh and kneading, before they both began to slowly flow and bond with his own body.

After a moment, he released a slow breath as he relaxed. Falling into the same habit he'd built up previously, and began the tedious process of absorbing natural energy alongside his clones, and his allies.

[Main Body: 80/450 Chakra | 10/220 Natural Chakra]
[Khalla & Zaishu: +10 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 1: 150/150 Chakra | 10/220 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 2: 150/150 Chakra | 10/220 Natural Chakra]

Satori continued the slow, tedious process of absorbing the energy. He was unable to speak, unable to communicate or pass the time. Even doing something as simple as working on his normal chakra control at the same time wasn't really feasible. He had to maintain perfect stillness, perfect concentration, or he would only shoot himself in the foot and cause a petrification.

So, he, Zaishu, Khalla and his two clones continued their silent meditation. Time ticking by peacefully as the Natural Chakra flowed through his body. Absorbed from the world around him slowly, eyes remaining shut. Not a single muscle moving as he felt the soft patter of rain begin to fall from the cloudy skies. That was fine, the rain itself held energy, even more so than before as it filled him. The further he pushed out his senses, the further he would be able to detect it.

The energy flooding him from Khalla and Zaishu helped tremendously. Though, as they both complained while he was learning the ability, 'he was like an empty well'. He'd always prided himself on his stamina after all.

[Main Body: 80/450 Chakra | 20/220 Natural Chakra]
[Khalla & Zaishu: +20 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 1: 150/150 Chakra | 20/220 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 2: 150/150 Chakra | 20/220 Natural Chakra]

He could feel the natural energy gathering at a high pace. But he also could feel just how potent the energy truly was. The more he pushed, the further from being at his limit he realized he was. He'd burned all the last bit that he'd gathered already through his training, and now that his 'tank' was empty, he could feel how out of energy he was. Just as the twin cats said, it was like a bottomless pit of raw energy. The more he focused, trained, and poured into it from the area around him the more it felt as though he was filling a well with a cup from a lake.

Slowly, patiently, he continued on his journey. The more that he pushed into the boundaries of his chakra pool, the further he knew he could go. Satori slowly focused on the rain, drawing the energy from it just as he felt the same energy flowing into his clones, and the cats decorating his shoulders. The energy from the rain softened its force, causing it to fall softly against his skin instead of harsh and potent.

Reaching out, he felt the energy from the lake, the ground, and grass. The small insects that called it all home. He borrowed their power, pouring it into himself and maintaining that delicate balance of energy within himself.

[Main Body: 80/450 Chakra | 30/220 Natural Chakra]
[Khalla & Zaishu: +30 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 1: 150/150 Chakra | 30/220 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 2: 150/150 Chakra | 30/220 Natural Chakra]

The insect's energy filled his body, mixing and contorting with the natural energy of the rain and lake with ease. It was just as one would expect, energy in its purest form from the raw world of nature itself cared little for its limitations. Nor did it care for the 'source' of energy. Power from insects and animals was identical to the energy one felt from all other life forms. The whisps of energy filled him from every blade of grass, every earthworm writhing beneath the earth, flourishing in the mud.

It all wrapped around the group that had dedicated itself to bringing in as much energy as possible. Infusing it into Satori's body, making it a natural part of himself just as his own chakra was. The physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy all contorting in a perfect three-way balance inside him. Those four years spent in dedicated training on his mission and before it had paid off, the perfect balance was all that Satori needed. Thanks to it he could feel the masterful energy flowing through his body, and that was more than enough.

If he didn't have to remain completely still, he'd even smile at the realization of his progress.

[Main Body: 80/450 Chakra | 40/220 Natural Chakra]
[Khalla & Zaishu: +40 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 1: 150/150 Chakra | 40/220 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 2: 150/150 Chakra | 40/220 Natural Chakra]

The flowing energy continued, and the more they gathered the closer he began to feeling the pressure. He wasn't at his limit, not quite yet, but he was beginning to finally notice his limit. Rokumaru had been amazed while he'd been learning from the great cat. Saying that his reservoirs of energy even superseded his own, and the raw amount of natural energy that Satori could gather was astounding. More than most normal ninja had actual chakra. Satori had felt a bit of pride under that praise, even if it was just a bit.

Relaxing his body had become second nature to him. Sage training did such to a person. Perhaps it was why he was always so calm now--though he'd never been particularly unstable or energetic emotionally he supposed. The changes were still evident and useful despite that fact. Being a natural at relaxing, never being too tense and allowing combat to wash over him had its uses. As well, it meant that gathering natural energy while in battle was even easier than normal.

As these thoughts swirled through Satori's mind, he felt the pressure continue to grow inside him. They were finally nearing the limits of what he could comfortably handle and maintain so that he had a stock of proper natural energy should any conflicts arise.

[Main Body: 80/450 Chakra | 50/220 Natural Chakra]
[Khalla & Zaishu: +50 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 1: 150/150 Chakra | 50/220 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 2: 150/150 Chakra | 50/220 Natural Chakra]

Slowly opened his eyes, Satori released a slow breath. Rising to sit up fully and push himself to his feet as the last of the energy from Zaishu and Khalla flooded into his body. The man smiled, flexing his hands a few moments as he glanced up at the sky, noting that the sun had shifted angles while they had done this. The rain had stopped as well. He'd guess an hour or two had likely passed while they were gathering the natural energy. Giving a grunt as the last of the chakra flooded into him, the two cats leaned back and huffed together.

"You really can absorb and maintain far too much, Tori," Khalla grumbled on his shoulder, licking his hair idly as she began to absentmindedly groom the large Ryuutei head. Satori's lip twitched upward in response.

"That's a good thing, isn't it? It means I have plenty of energy whenever I get ambushed," with this he would stretch his arms above his head and release a slow breath before his gaze would move over and examine the two clones as they finished up their absorption as well. Both of them straightening and grinning toward him, before bursting into smoke as they were dispelled. The energy suddenly washing forward in a torrent of natural chakra, infusing itself into his body and expanding outward as the last of his resvours were filled.

At his limit, the last dregs that were too much for him were allowed to escape. Stretching, Satori smiled and glanced at the two cats atop either shoulder. "Thank you both. I'll treat you to something good from mother, tomorrow," he stated simply while they both snickered, and burst into smoke as well. Satori rolled his shoulders and glanced around a moment, before heading back in the direction of the village.

"Now then, shall we handle a few missions to get some of the funds I used back...?"

[Main Body: 80/450 Chakra | 50/220 Natural Chakra]
[Khalla & Zaishu: +60 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 1: 150/150 Chakra | 60/220 Natural Chakra]
[Clone 2: 150/150 Chakra | 60/220 Natural Chakra]

[Clones Dispelled, Natural Chakra Transfered]
[New Totals: 380/450 Chakra |220/220 Natural Chakra]

[Exit]