Katsumi began to wonder about some of the concepts he learned while he was in the library looking at scrolls. This village was peaceful enough, and commanded respect even among the lowest of shinobi circles. Why? What had lead to them fearing the village's power? What lead them to listening?

Katsumi wasn't foolish enough to think that strength wasn't gained by fighting. When one fights he or she is spelling out their very being into action. They're drawing out their plan for their self-made destiny. Perhaps it was time for Katsumi to do the same. He entered the arena, and looked around at the settling fog and cloud fodder. He knew that he would be alone, which offered him some comfort when he was training. He took his time entering, making sure that no one left anything around that he may need to return. He knew that he would have to play the politically correct card if he was to gain any favoritism with the people of this village. When he was ready, Katsumi knew that nothing was in his way of what would be a hard day of training.

He took his kimono off, letting it come off with his sheathes, revealing his toned body. He flexed his entire muscular structure allowing for it to build up a mass amount of blood before relaxing it into a smooth cooling feeling. He looked to the sky and drew in a deep breath several times. This management of his highly tuned body was a ritual that all taijutsu masters endured before stepping forth on the plain to greatness. Warming up was simply the first to many greater steps.

Katsumi sat down and offered his palms towards the sky. He allowed his wrists to relax, folding out his hands and he took deeper and deeper breaths. Katsumi closed his eyes, and tilted his head towards the ground. He lulled his body into the mediation state that he always referred to when he was troubled. He had felt something was coming up. That something powerful was coming not only for himself but for the village. His promise was to protect those that could not protect themselves, and do what the Hokage did through out the land.

Katsumi began to think deeply about his newly gained title, and what it meant to others.

'Sage, a man dedicated to the ideal of peace so that others may enjoy life in the concept of Bushido, and the radical human concept of love. Does love even exist in the world of the ninja? Or is it a mutual respect that people gain for each other through combat? I know that combat brings recognition to your name, and your clan, but at what cost? Do I have to achieve strength as an icon or an enforcer? Perhaps both need to gained...', Katsumi finished his thoughts slowly as he stood.

He opened his eyes, and looked at the nearest tree. He walked up to it, and reared his arm back. He allowed his feet to lift, allowing the real momentum behind his body to press his hand into the bark of the tree. The tree shook for a moment, and dropped some of the leaves down to the earth in a slow steady pace. Katsumi caught a single leaf in his hand. He looked at it, and wondered the same thoughts again before looking to the sky. He knew that he needed to train, but what would he need to learn?

He had discovered an assortment of techniques that would allow him to further his skill into another realm. The realm of a true warrior, a sage.

Katsumi let go of the leaf and watched it slowly float to the ground. He took his time looking around, making sure that no one was around to see his new ability, if he was even able to perform it at this point. He took his hands and formed the hand seal of Tiger, and molded his chakra into what would be a Bunshin clone. But unlike other clones this wouldn't directly appear, nor would it have the very basic amount of chakra he would need to make the illusion of his image. He released the clone. The clone looked to be somewhat deformed, but it was functional. Katsumi sighed, and took one of his kunai and stabbed the clone so it would disperce. He quickly sheathed it and sighed. What had he failed to do this time? The single hand sign varation of this move would prove to be difficult, but it had to be possible. He had read something about an ANBU member discovering this varation, and listing it down for public use. Though this was the very beginning of the technique. He knew that he would have to press harder to form the clone while repressing its release long enough to establish enough momentum to provide a very deadly new form of taijutsu and ninjutsu combination. He sighed, and looked down at his feet, wondering what it would take for him to repressing the clone. He shook his head, and didn't worry about it for the time being. What mattered now was the ability to form the clone with a single hand seal. He brought his hands together, and again formed: Tiger.

' Side-step, and counter punch...'

The clone appeared in a small cloud of white smoke, and as the smoke disperced it revealed a perfect match to Katsumi's profile. He smirked, and looked around again to make sure no one had noticed him. He hoped had done it with enough chakra so that the clone would have some ability to touch and move certain objects. Katsumi first offered the clone a kunai, which the clone took and was able to hold. For the few moments the clone was functioning, Katsumi would test its ability to move and strike. Katsumi slowly threw a punch, and watched as the clone performed the preplanned action of counter stepping and throwing a punch of its own. The punch landed and struck Katsumi directly in the face. His head turned and snapped behind the force. As the punch landed the clone disperced in a small white cloud; the kunai it had been holding landed on the ground with a metallic clank.

Katsumi shook his head a few times, trying to come to as best as possible. He looked down at the ground as he blinked trying to force himself to re-focus. He'd have to come back tomorrow and try this technique in its fullest combination.

Tomorrow rose, and Katsumi took his time going to the training arena. He noticed that the same weather had been around for a few days, bringing forth the question: Why?
He shrugged it off for the time being so that he could focus on the technique's complexity. Though it didn't take much chakra to perform, it took incredible focus, and ability in taijutsu to truly prove effective. Katsumi arrived in the middle of the arena, and wasted no time. He took his hands and formed the hand seal: Tiger. He didn't allow the jutsu to appear just as he formed the seals. He waited, stored the clone, and turned around. He found a training dummy, and looked from side to side before rushing in on its position.

He got within a meter of it before unleashing the clone directly from his body, or so it seemed. The clone met the training dummy, and punched it with enough force to turn it slightly while Katsumi finished his strike. The clone disperced just as his hand met the opposite side of the dummy, leaving two small imprints from both of the strikes that landed. Katsumi smirked, happy witht he results of what just happened. He knew that he would have to make more for it to reveal its true purpose.

Katsumi backed away from the training dummy until he reached about 12 meters distance. He formed two hand seals: Tiger, Tiger. He charged the dummy in the same fashion and at the last moment, 2 meters away, he allowed the jutsu to release. The first clone performed an upper-cut, hitting the dummy directly underneath the chin, the second clone appeared to meld from Katsumi as did the first, and kicked the dummy in the chest before dispercing. Katsumi finished the combination off by stopping directly infront of the dummy, rolling to the side by planting his lead foot, and back handing the dummy. He ended up less than half a meter to the dummy's flank. He took in a deep breath, and shook off the tensing muscles that started to surge through his body.

He sighed, and said to himself, "That's one..."

ooc: Word Count: 1446