Ninjago: Snake Poison Arc (1)

Chapter 9: Tick Tock

The ninja watched in awe as Zane broke his own breath-holding record. Kai couldn't contain his excitement. "Ten minutes! He just broke his own record. The guy's inhuman!" Zane, now on the ocean floor, calmly pet a fish before resurfacing.

Anna, having just arrived, looked on with curiosity. "What's happening?"

The rest of the ninja cheered, but Anna remained silent. Cole exclaimed, "Amazing!" Jay added, "We're not worthy!"

Zane, catching his breath, asked, "I broke the record?"

Kai responded enthusiastically, "You destroyed it!"

Jay, looking thoughtful, said, "Okay, okay. Is anyone thinking what I'm thinking? We've been training for so long, I don't think we can get any better. Just think about all we've accomplished." A flashback played in their minds: Kai running across hot coals, Jay spinning on a metal rod during a lightning storm, and Cole lifting increasingly heavy weights. They also saw Nya and Jay each holding a dumbbell, with Jay balancing a chicken platter in one hand.

Zane posed a question. "The question should be raised. Perhaps we have reached our full potential?"

Anna shook her head. "Hmm, I don't think so."

Jay, dismissive, replied, "What do you know? Come on, let's go ask Wu."

Anna sighed, "Whatever," as they headed inside to find Master Wu.

Jay continued to boast, "Well, every morning I do five hundred push-ups."

Kai retorted, "Five hundred? Ha, try a thousand."

Jay laughed, "Hahaha, I do a thousand and one."

Cole, unimpressed, added, "What is this, amateur hour? Sounds like my warm-up."

Jenna, passing by, pushed through the group and opened the door. "Please move," she said, stepping inside.

They saw Master Wu putting away a katana. Zane quickly apologized, "Our apologies, Sensei. We've interrupted you."

Wu sighed, "I'm sorry if I've been distant lately. My mind has been elsewhere since Lloyd has gone missing. What can I help you with?"

Cole took a deep breath and asked, "Sensei, what if we've done enough training? What if we've reached our True Potential? What if we're ready?"

Wu considered this and replied, "Hm. You might have reached peak physical condition, but you've yet to reach your inner potential. In each and every one of us, there are obstacles that hold us back. Only when you conquer that fear will your heart be free. Only then will you reach your True Potential. Only then will we have a fighting chance to stop them from releasing the Great Devourer."

Anna, smirking, said, "Told you so."

Kai, cutting her off, said, "Not now."

Zane, curious, asked, "There's more to the Great Devourer than you've led on, isn't there, Sensei?"

Wu nodded gravely. "I too have obstacles within my own heart. There's a story I've never told you." A flashback began: "Long ago, when I was a young boy, my brother and I were more than brothers. We were the best of friends." The flashback was abruptly interrupted.

Jay, confused, interjected, "Wait a minute. Now, I know you two were brothers, but really? The King of Cruelty, the Doer of Destruction, the Captain of Chaos, and you two were friends?"

Anna glared at Jay, her voice sharp. "Jay, shut your mouth or I'll rip it off for you."

Wu continued the flashback, "You see, he did not always have a wicked heart. One day, I lost this very katana. Knowing our father would be mad, my brother told me to go retrieve it. But I refused. He told me not to put off what can be done today and went to get it himself. When my father found him, he was very ill, for he was bitten by a legendary snake that would grow forever as long as it consumes. A great evil had found its way into my brother's heart, for the snake's venom could turn the purest of things wicked."