Chapter 36: A Bamboo Shoot

A mantis, a snow leopard, a fox, a peacock and a Panda stood atop a small hill, their eyes all observing the two distant figures as they stood several meters apart on a flat grassy plain. The backdrop of distant misty mountains and the cool mountain breeze brought about an anticipation of a great battle.

[Name: Lei

Age: 15

Level: 51(+38)

Title: The Lazy Panda/ Son of the Master/ Lightning Master]

Shin observed the distant panda, admiring the growth in levels that nearly matched his own. Shin was looking forward to this fight as he smirked at the giant panda, "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you!" Instead of being offended the panda smiled back eagerly as he made a stance with his fists forward. Shin stood straight with his right hand behind him and his left extending forwards, gesturing to the panda to attack.

The panda saw the gesture and ran forward, coming up to Shin and delivering a fist to his head but Shin simply swatted it. The panda turned and sent a high kick to Shin's head but Shin deflected that as well, the panda using the change in momentum to jump and bring his left leg up to Shin's face.

Shin ducked and sent a kick to the panda's leg but he jumped, spun mid air and brought down a powerful kick at Shin that the boy avoided by rolling away.

This back and forth continued for a while before the panda got serious, "Let me show you my new move!" the panda declared as he jumped back to gain distance and slammed his palms together. The airstared to buzz as he pulled his hands away, lightning dancing between them. The panda pulled the palms away a few more inches before slamming them together and the lighting started to travel from his palms to his arms and then his whole body.

'Lightning clock!? But with chi which is harder to mold than chakra. This panda really is a genius.' Shin's thoughts closely resemble those of the spectators as they saw the blue arcs of energy moving on the panda's fur. Master Son even had a hint of pride as he saw his son finally living up to his potential which even the grandmaster had once acknowledged.

Shin activated his sharingan as the Panda sped towards him in blinding speeds and he jumped away in the nick of time to avoid a punch that sent sparks of lightning forward. Shin knew he wouldn't be able to dodge the next one and even if he did, it would not last very long.

Lei punched Shin again and felt it connect as the impact threw up a cloud of dust, "Tsk, this again…" Lei immediately jumped back to gain distance as a red fist slammed into the ground right where he once stood. The dust cleared and a humanoid blood red skeleton came into view. Shin stood inside the skeletal giant, his red eyes observing the panda as the lightning on his body died out and he yelled, "That's not fair!."

Shin smirked as the giant skeleton disappeared around him, "How is this unfair? I am simply using my ability to defend myself. It's not my fault you can't break through my defense." The panda was offended, "I can break through it, I just don't want to get yelled at for destroying the whole place." Lei muttered the last part.

The duo had a much larger and stronger repertoire of skills but sadly they couldn't use it in front of their master since they tended to cause wide-spread destruction. "To control the fight, you must first control yourself." Master Son always instructed them and didn't let them use any skills that might cause harm to anyone standing by.

The duo had wanted to go all out in their fight, away from the watchful eyes of the master but Master Son had somehow found out and their fighting spirit had melted away.

The spectators came down the hill and Master Son scolded the duo for being sloppy, gave instructions and finally, "The two month time is up. Shin, it's time for you to begin your study under the grandmaster. Come. The rest of you return to the village."

The duo ran the entire way, Shin knew that it was just the panda being thoughtful of him since the panda could actually fly. Shin was very surprised at this; this world was experiencing a boom in martial arts as new ways to use the newly harnessed Chi were being discovered every day. Shin had expected to learn a few techniques and martial arts but had ended up discovering much more.

According to Lei, when the grandmaster mastered the ability to harness Chi, he taught it to everyone and anyone that wanted to learn, even creating new techniques that relied on Chi. Things such as "Chi healing" and Chi powered attacks had become commonplace due to his teachings. The grandmaster had even discovered a way to use the chi to create pure elemental power such as fire and lightning. This was why he was known as the greatest genius and martial artist in the history of the continent. Not only that, the grandmaster held unparalleled prestige as he had watched over and protected the country from threat for over a century.

The duo ran to the panda village non-stop, reaching their destination within the day. Shin stayed the night at Lao's house and master Son brought him to the top of the mountain in the morning.

The mountain was the highest in the vicinity, watching over the village as a silent guardian. Steps had been carved into the mountain to allow for easy travel. Once they reached the top, Shin saw a small field of crop next to a small wooden hut and a small bamboo forest behind it. On the opposite side was a cliff, overlooking the whole valley.

There was an old panda seated in the lotus position in front of the house, Master Son bowed in respect and silently left the place without a word. Shin was stuck, he didn't know what to do so he simply sat in front of the panda before deciding to observe him.

[Name: Po

Age: 134

Level: 65(+100)

Title: Dragon Warrior/ Grandmaster/ Great Protector/ Progenitor of Chi… See more]

Shin whistled in his head, this was undoubtedly the strongest person he had ever met and not to mention Chi being stronger so every 1 level of chi was close to 2 levels of chakra; if Po's chi was converted to Chakra, his level would be close to 265. Shin was admiring the strength of the panda when got a troubling message.

[Notice: Target Po has discovered your attempt to observe.]

'Eh? What how?'

[If the target's spiritual power is beyond your current capability, your observing them can be discovered. As with Orochimaru.]

'So that's how he found me out! Why didn't you tell me!?'

[You never asked.]

'You useless system! Wait, then why did you tell me now?'

[Because with Orochimaru, you could escape to your dimension. Here you would not have the opportunity.]

Shin was panicking when the panda slowly opened his eyes and Shin felt as if those black eyes were looking through him, his every secret, his every thought had been laid bare.

"Son tells me you chose a staff as your weapon while Lao told me that you prefer the sword. So tell me, which is it, the staff or the sword?" The panda's voice calmed him down as pondered the question.

"I've been learning how to kill since I was born, it didn't do me much good… So I thought perhaps learning to protect might." Shin answered truthfully. The panda nodded as he got up and Shin followed him to the edge of the cliff. "Very well, but I must warn you." the panda turned to Shin, "The training would be harder than any you have ever done!" Shin gulped at the serious panda as he continued, "While you have learned how to fight others, I will teach you how to fight yourself."

Shin was confused, 'Myself? Like a clone?' but his thoughts were ignored as the panda continued, "You have always been what others have made you. A son, a friend, a brother, a killer… All your techniques are borrowed, even your eyes are not your own."

Shin was beyond surprised as sweat started to bead on his face, 'How does he know!?' but the panda continued without a care, "Someone teaches you the sword, you become a swordsman, someone gives you the staff, you pick it up. You have spent your entire life being what others expect you to be…" Shin stepped back as he felt the power inside the panda as he stared in his eyes. "It's time for you to become what you are."

......…

Shin sat in a lotus position at the edge of the cliff, his uncut hair swaying at the whims of the mountain winds. His breath was calm as he closed his eyes and sat still. An old panda stood behind him, observing things that the eye could not see as he spoke up, "Why do you wish for power?"

Shin remained as he was, only his lips parting to answer, "It's the only path I know."

"Why do you wish for revenge?" the old panda questioned him again.

"To bring justice." Shin replied calmly.

"It would not bring them back." the old panda commented.

"It is not for them." Shin replied.

The old panda observed for a while longer before he turned around and left.

......…

"Ancestor, how is he?" a red panda asked while respectfully pouring a cup of tea and presenting it to the panda. The panda smelled the tea, enjoying its fragrance before taking a small sip, relishing in its sweet taste. "I have met many outsiders during my time, but he is unlike any I have ever seen. His talent is beyond anyone else's… well, except that snake." The panda smiled at an old memory.

Lao smiled, "It is indeed true." he looked at the edge of the cliff as he nodded his head before turning to the panda, "The 3 month time ends tomorrow, will his training be complete by then?" The giant panda shook his head, "No. There is a great conflict inside him. What he is and what he wishes to be are completely opposite. I am afraid he will never know peace no matter which side of him wins." the panda sighed.

The next day came and Shin woke from his meditation, Lao had decided to host a farewell party and many had come to attend including Master Son and Lei. The residents of the Panda village also come together to celebrate. It was an odd thing afterall Shin hadn't had much contact with them but apparently he was held in quite a high regard since he was the first disciple Po had accepted in over 50 years.

Shin ate and drank the whole night and when the morning was close, he climbed the mountain to bid his master farewell. After reaching the top, he saw Po pouring two cups of tea. Shin sat with the panda and respectfully accepted the drink. "So, it's time for you to return huh. It is a custom that the master gives his disciple a gift when he is about to make his journey, usually a weapon. There is not much here but do speak if you want something." The panda spoke kindly.

Shin had been very surprised at how Po acted, he had been expecting a fun loving panda, not an old wise master, 'I suppose a 100 years is a long time.' Shin looked around, he had been staying here for a month but had yet to see anything valuable or even remotely resembling a weapon. His eyes halted as they landed on a bamboo shoot that stood separately from the rest of the forest.

"How about that?" Po looked to see what Shin was pointing at before turning to Shin was a surprised look, "You want the Thunder Struck Bamboo?" Shin was taken aback, not expecting such a thing, "Well I can choose something else." he offered but Po stood up, "It's fine. This is a very special bamboo though. It was struck by lightning and I have nurtured it with my chi for 10 years!"

"10 Years!?" Shin exclaimed to the panda who looked at him seriously before he started to laugh, "Hahahhah, of course not! Who would spend that long on a bamboo shoot? Hahahhah your face!"

Shin was confused, 'Did he just… prank me?' It was a new feeling for Shin who thought that the panda was probably trying to lighten things up before Shin's departure so he started to laugh as well.

Po broke the bamboo cleanly, just a foot off the ground and gave the broken piece to Shin. As soon as the boy held it, he could feel a surge of lightning chi inside the bamboo. "I hope you'll take good care of it." the panda requested and Shin nodded, promising to use it well.

Shin put away the bamboo into his storage seal and bid the panda farewell before going down the mountain as the sun rose and he was surrounded by his new friends as the morning sun started to rise.

"Well, this is it, 3 months exactly…" he turned to the animals before and bowed, "Thank you for taking care of me." The animals wished him well and he closed his eyes, ready to connect to the sealing array that would pull him back to his world.

Everyone watched on in anticipation as the seconds ticked by until 2 hours later, "HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAA!" Lei's resounding laughter mocked an embarrassed Shin, 'IT FAILED!?'