Ninja Training, Part 3: The Next Test

Martyn examined his progress at training Toby to become a ninja. So far, it was going very well. There were still a few bumps on the road before them, but Martyn was sure that Toby was going to become a ninja just like him in no time. 

 "Isn't all that kicking and punching great?" Martyn asked Toby during a rest break. "Don't you feel that rush of energy inside you? Don't you feel the ninja coming out in you?"

"I feel like I'm going to puke," muttered Toby, who was still tired after he tested his ninja skills. 

Martyn sighed and shook his head. 

"Toby, Toby, Toby, Toby…" he thought to himself. "Still not ready to become a ninja yet, are you?" 

Martyn knew that his sidekick needed just a little more practice. 

After a fifteen-minute rest break, the Nature Ninja allowed Toby to start the next test. 

"Okay, Toby. Ninjas should always prove themselves worthy right before they attack," explained Martyn. "Like Riley Stanford said, the 'eye of the tiger' philosophy will only get you far." 

"But, Martyn," interrupted Toby. "Doesn't it take a lot of pressure to become a ninja?" 

"Sort of," replied Martyn. "To me, the strength and power just come out naturally. So, if you try harder and practice a little more, then the same thing might happen to you."

"Martyn, I figure that since I don't have the same powers as you, I might as well be unable to develop any of that ninja strength." 

"Well, then, how about this? If you just focus enough, you will eventually find the power developing inside you."

"Okay," replied the confused Toby. He still wasn't quite sure if he could do this, even after Martyn gave him those words of wisdom. 


A while later, Martyn was helping Toby practice a few more skills. 

"Uhhh…I don't know, Martyn. I just can't make myself throw a good punch," said Toby as he saw the punching bag before him. "Are you sure it's just a practice punch?" 

"Oh, I suppose so," said the Nature Ninja. "Go ahead. Try it."

Toby closed his eyes and swung his fist at the punching bag. 

"There, you did it!" said Martyn. "See, easy." 

Toby opened his eyes and saw that he made a big hole in the punching bag. 

"Whoa," Toby thought to himself. "That was one heck of an uppercut!" 

Now that Toby was sure that he was able to use the skills that he learned, he was going to become a real ninja, just like Martyn, in no time flat.