Ryunomizu - Nine Elements Family
Chapter 6 Ryu's Journey to Seek a Teacher

Ryu departs from Mizugakure Village with a strong determination to find Master Aozora, an expert in controlling the water element. He wore a village heirloom necklace given by Village Chief Mizuki as an identifying mark and brought a little provisions for his long journey.

Ryu's journey takes him through dense forests, tranquil rivers, and small, friendly villages. He meets other ninja who give him instructions on the route to reach the Forbidden Lake, where Master Aozora lives.

During his journey, Ryu feels closer to the water element he controls. He understood that this element was a part of him, and he felt that the power within him was growing.

However, Ryu's journey is not without challenges. As he approached the Forbidden Lake, he was faced with a forest that seemed to be filled with unexpected obstacles. The forest was filled with giant plants and dangerous wild animals.

When he entered the forest, Ryu felt as if he had entered a different world. Giant towering trees covered the sky, and dense bushes made it feel like it was in a labyrinth.

As Ryu walked through the forest, he heard the sound of running water. He followed the sound and found a river that cut through the forest. The river was vast and the water was clear, reflecting the sunlight beautifully.

However, just as Ryu tried to cross the river, he suddenly felt an odd presence. The river water began to swirl, and from within the river appeared a group of terrifying aquatic creatures. They looked like sea monsters ready to attack.

Ryu immediately prepared to fight, took out the village heirloom necklace and prepared to use his water element. He felt the power of water flowing through him and was ready to face the creatures.

The aquatic creatures attacked quickly, unleashing a deadly water attack. Ryu launches a counterattack with his water element, creating a whirlpool that protects him from enemy attacks.

The battle was fierce, with water raging all around them. Ryu has to fight hard to face the aquatic creatures, but he does not give up. He knew that this was a test on his way to becoming stronger.

After a long battle, Ryu manages to defeat the aquatic creatures and pass through the river. He felt tired and hurt, but he also felt stronger than before. He knew that this was part of the journey to find Master Aozora.

Ryu continues his journey through the mysterious forest. He finally arrived at the edge of the Forbidden Lake, and saw an old woman sitting by the lake quietly.

The old woman looked at him with wise eyes. "You're a ninja looking for Master Aozora, aren't you?"

Ryu replies, "Yes, I am Ryu, and I came to learn from Master Aozora."

The old woman smiled. "I am Gurumata, the guardian of the Forbidden Lake. I'll take you to Teacher Aozora."

The two of them boarded a small boat and sailed across the Forbidden Lake. The lake water was calm, and the atmosphere became calmer and peaceful.

After a short trip, they arrived at an island in the middle of the lake. On the island, they saw an old man sitting with his feet submerged in the water and eyes closed.

Gurumata introduces Ryu to the old man. "This is Master Aozora, expert in controlling the water element."

Teacher Aozora opened her eyes and smiled at Ryu. "Welcome, Ryu. I'll teach you how to control the water element wisely."

After welcoming Ryu with a smile, Teacher Aozora asked Ryu to sit down opposite her on the edge of the Forbidden Lake. The lake water looked calm and beautiful, reflecting the clear blue sky.

Master Aozora begins the talk, "To master the water element perfectly, we will follow the journey through nine different stages, each stage will teach you about the source of the water element's power. Each of these sources will give you a deeper understanding of the water element and will help you develop powerful techniques. Are you ready to start?"

Ryu nodded enthusiastically. "I'm ready, Master Aozora."

Teacher Aozora smiled and began to explain the stages Ryu would go through:

Stage 1: Purification Water (Suisei)

Master Aozora explains that the first stage is to understand the source of the first power of the water element, called "Water Purification." It is a pure water element that flows in streams of rivers and lakes. Ryu must learn to control the flow of water with precision and shape it to his liking.

Stage 1: "Mizu no Shaping" (Water Building)

At this stage, Ryu learns to control the flow of water with his bare hands and shapes it into various shapes. This is the first step to mastering the water element.

Stage 2: Silent Waves (Seishizan)

The second source of strength of the water element is "Silent Tambak." It represents the calm and profound strength of the waves. Ryu must learn to control the waves calmly and understand the balance between strength and calmness.

Stage 2: "Seirei no Tsunami" (Sunami of Silence)

At this stage, Ryu learns to create strong waves but remains silent and peaceful. It teaches a balance between strength and calmness.

The third source of power of the water element is "Essence In Waves." It represented a power hidden within the ordinary-looking water waves. Ryu must learn to look behind the surface and uncover the forces hidden within the water element.

Stage 3: "Hado no Shijin" (True Wave)

At this stage, Ryu learns to uncover the hidden power in the water waves and uses this power to confront his enemies.

Stage 4: Ripples of Wisdom (Chieka)

The source of the power of the four water elements is the "Wisdom Spear." It represents the wisdom contained in every ripple of water. Ryu must learn to use the water element to gain deeper insight and understanding.

Stage 4: "Chie no Ho" (Wisdom Path)

At this stage, Ryu learns to use the water element to gain deeper insight into the situation and its enemies.

Stage 5: Intuition Flow (Kansei)

The source of the power of the five water elements was "The Intuition Demon." It represents the power of intuition and deep understanding. Ryu must learn to follow the flow of water naturally and use his intuition to make wise decisions.

Stage 5: "Kansei no Senryaku" (Intuition Tactics)

At this stage, Ryu learns to use his intuition in combat and to understand the movements of his enemies.

Stage 6: Healing Waves (Iyashinami)

The source of the power of the six elements of water is the "Healing Wave." It represents the healing power in the water element. Ryu must learn to use the water element to heal his wounds and protect himself.

Stage 6: "Iyashi no Uzu" (Healing Round)

At this stage, Ryu learns to use the water element to heal wounds and protect himself from enemy attacks.

Stage 7: The Wave of Life (Seimei no Nami)

The source of the power of the seven elements of water is the "Wave of Life." It represents the life force in the water element. Ryu must learn to control the water element in order to provide life and renew energy.

Stage 7: "Seimei no To" (Tower of Life)

At this stage, Ryu learns to use the water element to renew the energy of himself and others, as well as give life to plants and other living things.

Stage 8: Harmonious Flow (Heiwaryu)

The source of the power of the eight water elements is "The Corruption of Harmony." It represents the power to create harmony and balance in the water element. Ryu must learn to control the water element in order to create harmony around him.

Stage 8: "Heiwa no Tosei" (Harmony Tower)

At this stage, Ryu learns to use the water element to create harmony among his enemies and in his environment.

Stage 9: Peak of Perfection (Kanpeki no Chotten)

The source of the strength of the nine water elements was "Peak of Perfection." This represented the peak of water element power that a master had to attain. Ryu must learn to master the water element perfectly and use his powers wisely.

Stage 9: "Mizu no Shukufuku" (Thanks to Water)

At this stage, Ryu learns to master the water element perfectly and uses his powers to help others and maintain balance in the world.

Teacher Aozora finished her explanation and said, "Each of these stages will teach you about the power of the water element more deeply. Once you pass through all these stages, you will become a master in controlling the water element."

Ryu feels challenged and prepares to embark on his long and challenging training journey. He knew that each of these stages would help improve his strength and understanding of the water element, and with it, he said, he will become stronger in his mission to unite the divided clans and unravel the mystery behind the attacks on ninja elements.