Fitness IV

[Oda Nobunaga]

At the rate you're going, you're going to be the most fit warrior in Japan!

Objective: There is a waterfall that has enough air pockets against the mountain it falls against that strong enough people could proceed through it without drowning. You must climb through this waterfall, wearing weighted gear on your wrists and ankles. If you fall, you must restart the trial.

Rewards: Up to +3 Str. Proficiency: Fitness - A

Prerequisites: 25 Str, 20 Con. You must have completed Fitness III.

Location: Any waterfall in the country.

[Kuroshi Maki]

Having joined a fraction, I was now no longer seen as one that made those look bad. These warriors seem to respect the strength I held and wanted to see me grow stronger. As the lord of the fraction asked me to show those below me how to grow in strength he had given me a new task to also improve my own strength and moral those around me. This rather was no easy task to complete. It could cost me my life if I would fall from to high.

" Maki, I promised you a grow in Strength and this is what you have to do! "

Amakusa Takehiro spoke, Being the only one beside her that seem to trust me. I would not turn my hate against him as well. Seeing as he grew in strength so fast it inspired me to follow that way, yet in my own style. I never thought I would fight next to another. But being with her had opened my eyes that sometimes you can't face hell alone. It was not really her that needed me, it was me needing her!

" Give me the task, I will complete it as the first man in this camp! "

My words sounded powerful and true as I looked at Amakusa Takehiro. He would simply nod as the person he is and gave me a piece of paper with the assignment. After that he would simply sit down and would order the men to watch me. He was trying to make a example out of me. Was it to show those that you can do anything if you put you're mind to it? Or was it something else. I didn't seem to care as I just needed to grow stronger.

4 men would walk up to me and put weighted gear around my arms and ankles. It seem I had to climb a rock wall, but to make things harder it seems there was a waterfall running down those rocks. It wasn't just a test of strength. Also a test on how hard you want to breath. Walking up to the rocks I could feel the water crash upon my shoulders. It also had something calming. Before I started to climb I would bring up the reason why I would seek the strength. Closing my eyes I could see it all flash before me again, my mother and her! Eyes opened and this time they had a different feel to it.

Placing my hand upon the rocks I would start to climb, at first testing the grip. The water would make it harder to stay on the rocks as they made them slippery. The odds were against me but I would not fail. Slowly but steady I would make my way up. Finding air pockets just in time and I would catch my breath before resuming the climb. But the grip would get harder and my finger tips would start to bleed from the sharp edges and the power I put on the grip.

" Is that all the great Maki can do! "

Amakusa Takehiro would start to taunt, as he cracked a grin. I would clench my teeth together and just bite trough the pain and resume my way up and came around half way and found another air pocket. My fingers would started to numb abit. The blood making it hard for me to hold on. Arms would starting to burn. I had to complete this even if it killed me!

Resuming my way up, my right hand would slip and I would fall. My head crashing against the rocks busting the left eyebrow. The left hand could find a mark and I could hold on. Being dazed from the bash on my head, blood would run down into my left eye blinding me. Hanging by one arm I could hear a laugh.

" Guess you can't do it... Don't seem why she trusts in you're strength. "

" I'm not done yet!!! I will make it! "

The soldiers on the ground seem to be breathless as they looked up and also start to think I would not make it to the top. Right hand placed upon the rocks again I would climb back up. Slowly but steady I would make it to 3/4 of the waterfall. Taking a breath again in a pocket hole. I would make a loud roar. I was a dragon that would reach the heavens.

" Amakusa Takehiro, you just watch as I will surpass even you! "

I would climb the rocks till the very top. busted fingers a busted eyebrow. burning arms and numb shoulders nothing would stop me from reaching that top. With the last push of strength I would reach the top standing tall above everybody else. The soldiers would start to cheer as they felt they held a strong warrior among them. Amakusa Takehiro however just simply walked away laughing but that didn't seem to bother me as I made it.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Kuroshi Maki: +3 Str

Proficiency: Fitness - A

[Sanada Yukimura]

Though it was apparent that Yukimura was one of the strongest General in the Takeda faction, despite being so young, Yukimura did not think much of his own strength. In fact, he saw himself as still much weaker than Lord Shingen, which is why when Lord Shingen ordered him to take on another trial, Yukimura readily complied, which is why he was standing in front of another waterfall located in Kofu. With weighted gear on his wrists and ankles, this trial was much like a portion of the trail of Amaterasu he had to complete. Standing on a rock platform located at the base of the waterfall, a pool of water surrounding him, and with no where to go but up, Yukimura would leap towards the waterfall and would immediately feel the powerful current push him downwards, but before he was about to fall down into the pool of water, he managed to grab hold of a rock jutting out, as he held on for dear life.

With the only direction to go being up, and from what he could see, there were enough air pockets scattered throughout the waterfall that he would be able to get through without drowning... and he was determined to prove he was strong enough to get through it. With nothing to lose, and everything to gain, he would begin the arduous climb up the rock wall, using all the strength in his legs and arms to pull him up and fight against the powerful current of the waterfall. It would be a slow and arduous climb, but he was determined to reach the top of the waterfall through his own sheer physical and mental strength. Though the water continued to batter against his head and shoulders, sending him sliding down the cliff face every so often, Yukimura would not give up, and was determined to get to the top, no matter how hard it was. His fingers starting to bleed from the tight grip he had on the rock holds, making the grips slippery and harder to hold onto, gritting his teeth, Yukimura would re-double his efforts, he was not going to give in and give up!

Despite his arm and leg muscles burning and screaming in agony at him, especially with the weight of the gear dragging him down, through narrowed eyes, he could make out the top of the waterfall looming above him, the water crashing down on him even harder, but with the air pockets, he could catch breathes every so often and continue onwards, no matter how slow the climb was for him. No matter how difficult it was for him, as The Young Tiger of Kai, Yukimura was determined to become as strong as Lord Shingen, and with bleeding fingers, burning and numb arms, legs, and shoulders, he would climb the last portion of the waterfall, before finally reaching the top, collapsing on the side of the small pool of water located at the top of the cliff. Taking in deep, ragged breathes, with the sun shining down on him, though Yukimura was exhausted, he had made it, and had overcome the trials and tribulations that came with the climb.

"I did it...I did it OYAKATA-SAMAAAAAAAAA!"

[Mōri Motonari]

Sanada Yukimura: +3 Str

Proficiency: Fitness - A