If no one is around, does a tree make a sound?

The heat from the sun had beaten down on Shao and his companions as they made for the border between wind and fire. It was a long hike through the desert and wastes of Suna. They had plenty of supplies, but they all had to endure the heat-- and Kyle's complaining about the heat. But that soon ended when they found the line between the nations, and the trees that lined and kept the sand away from a cliff's height.

They were now in the land of fire, and able to at least make their way home to Konoha rather quickly than before.

The cool shade of the trees, gave them enough comfort for the rest of the trip as they soon began to make their way towards the leaf.

Even though Shao didn't like the idea of returning home so soon-- it did feel nice to be back in familiar territory.

Kyle let out a whine as he sagged forward, with his pack on his back. "I'm tired, Could we take a break please?" he said.

SHao turned with an annoyed look. "Kyle, we are going at a slow pace. How can you be tired?" Shao said, "I'm perfectly fine. If you can't handle a hike how can you handle the exams?"

"Shut up," Kyle grumbled as he looked back. "When we do get there, I will show you what I'm really capable of. "

"Come on, you two. Let's not fight," Mari butted in, getting between them so they stopped fighting.

Shao sighed. "But you're too leinent with Kyle. He needs to straighten up his act. We are all Shinobi," Shao explained, "We can't afford to let pride or discomfort stop us."

From the front of the group, Yasha smirked as he heard his students talk. It was then he turned around to face them. "Why don't we take a small break. We can afford a little rest. Besides, we can fit in some small training as we go." he explained.

Interested, his students listened as they found a shady spot to sit down.

The four of them sat down and opened up their packs. The sand did them good by making some lunch for them as Kyle chowed down on his share. Mari and Shao ate at a slower pace and they had plenty of water too to last them till they reached Konoha.

After they had their fill, Yasha soon addressed them. "Since we have a ways to go, it is best we use this time for a little extra training. It won't be too much, since you are familiar with it. " he explained and pointed to the tree. "The tree climbing exercise."

"That again..." Kyle sighed, and grunted as he look defeated. "Sensei, I suck at that technique. The water one was even harder...."

"All the more reason you should practice," Yasha said firmly, his eyes hidden behind his mask. For a moment Kyle flinched. It made Shao amused to see Kyle's reactions at times-- when it didn't happen directly at his own expense. "All of you show great potential and talent, but it is worthless if you cannot control your power. Every ninja must learn to control this flow in their bodies to the point its almost second nature. "

Everyone was in attention as he explained.

"The use of chakra control will depend on the jutsu, but if you use your chakra poorly the jutsu may not even work. Or you expell it all and if it fails, leave yourself open to counter attacks", Yasha explained to his squad. "Never forget, it is your key resource for battle. You must not squander it."

"But how does climbing trees and trying to stand on water help us?" Kyle asked, but more of a whining. "How does this keep us from spending too much or too little?"

"By forcing you to control the reservoir of chakra within you and to a set amount at a time," he explained. "The walking on water and tree exercises are perfect examples. They force you to consider how to force chakra out to either stick to a tree or stay above ever moving water. You have to judge and atapt."

It made sense and Shao listened with great interest. He knew this already, but it was a practice he worked hard to control.

"OUt of all of you," Yasha continued, "Mari has the best chakra control in the group."

Mari nearly gasped at being singled out. "Um... me?"

"Medical ninjutsu requires accurate control of chakra. Its not luck you became a medic for our squad." Yasha explained, and caused Mari to blush a bit. His tone was more sharper against the others. "Shao-- you have just as good control, but your Kekkei genkai allows it to come easy. You should expect to control it with better awareness..." Finally he singled out Kyle. "And you... its amazing the word control applies to you at all."

"Hey!" Kyle said, looking like an angry dog as he sat up annoyed. "Chakra Control is hard, give me a break! I'm trying!"

Shao sighed, keeping his thoughts to himself.

"Either way, we will be working on it now, By the time we return to the hidden leaf, all of you will have developed this skill. I promise that." he said.

Once they had finished eating, Yasha showed them right to the edge of one of the groves of trees. "For the next hour, I want you all to work on climbing the tree, and slash at the bark as you go. " he said, looking at the tall trees that stretched up to the canopy.

Shao, Kyle and Mari looked up at the trees and felt the wind blow against them and the bows above. They would have to account for the wind as well. The first to go was Mari. Even at a steady pace she easily ran right up the tree. With a kunai in hand she ran right up the half way of the tree with ease. Shao and Kyle watched as they saw her reach the top. About 3/4ths, of the way her momentum slowed down.

She could sense the fatigue to her limbs, and sensed her chakra build at her feet waning. WIth a twist, she slashed at the bark close to her foot-- then hopped away. She hovered in the air for a moment and landed expertly on a nearby branch.

Out of impulse, Shao applauded to Mari. "Good job, Mari!" he called up to her, "Nicely done!"

"Why don't you just blow her a kiss while you're at it?" Kyle snickered at Shao, hinting the obvious.

"W-what?!" SHao gasped, glaring at Kyle while he just laughed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Pfft... for someone who can see 360 degrees and X ray vision... you are so blind." Kyle joked.

"Enough of that," Yasha said and looked to Kyle. "You're turn Kyle. I won't be satisfied till I see you climb at least half way up this time."

A sigh escaped Kyle as he rolled his shoulders and approached the adjacent tree. "Yeah... yeah..." he said and took his mark. WIth a twirl of his own Kunai, he looked up to a spot he wanted ot reach on the tree. He took a low stance, like a sprinter about to run up.

Then he took off with a run and jump up the tree. If he did try to use his chakra, he didn't use any hand sign to do it. He made it up 1-4th of the tree, using his agility and speed alone for it till...

slip. "WHAAAH!" He slid right down and fell on his back with a crash.

He was upside down and grimaced at the others. "Oww... that stung..."

"You gotta focus," Shao said to his teammate. "The more frustraited and try to force it, the less it will work. Take your time before you try to make it up."

"Sh-shut up and let me do this," Kyle said, stubborn. "I can figure it out..."

Shao kept quiet but he just wanted to help. Then again, Kyle, while stubborn and not so smart at first glance, had an uncanny ability to learn from his mistakes. He never did the same things twice.

This time Kyle climbed up the tree using his sprint-- but this time his pace was slower...and he made it farther.

Mari smiled as s he saw Kyle get up closer and closer to the spot. "YOu're almost there," Mari encouraged, "Come on Kyle! YOu can do it."

He really pushed it now-- and soon he was at a new record, the same height as Mari was. He slashed his mark and hopped to a nearby branch with a smile on his face .

Shao smiled as he saw his teammates up there. He was most proud of Kyle who finally stopped yacking and did a solid climb up. Shao felt confident now that his own teammates were pulling themselves together to master this vital skill. "Alright, Shao," Yasha said, "It's your turn. Remember your training and stay focus."

"Yes, Sensei." Shao replied.

HIs trip to the top was quite easy as he was able to control his chakra. In a steady sprint he made it to the same level as KYle and Mari. Shao was most impressed with Kyle. Now they were on even ground in their training. He was going to need to be more aware, or Kyle would surpass him far quicker than he would think.

(End Quest(