The door of Naruto's apartment swung open slowly before returning to its closed state. The owner of the apartment walked straight to his bed before sinking dejectedly under the covers. It was unusual for the blonde to not go straight to Ichiraku's after a mission, no matter how small or large the mission. But he just didn't feel up to it as he had yet again failed to retrieve Sasuke after tracking him to one of Orochimaru's bases. He curled up in a ball reminiscent of when he was a small orphan. He had failed to retrieve Sasuke, to save Gaara without Chiyo-baasama's sacrifice and he had hurt Sakura-chan while in a kyuubi enraged state. He sighed deeply as he let the air around him grow stale with his breath. He had not been like this since childhood, when he was considered the scum of the earth by the village. He had had no one who really care except for the Sandiame. But all had changed as he grew into a strong Shinobi through hard work and determination. 'That was it!' Naruto thought suddenly as he threw the covers off himself. He knew the thing to take his mind off his troubles! Naruto sprinted to the door, leaving his apartment hastily. He ran down the street in search of his white-haired sensei. He was worried, Kakashi never seemed to be around when you needed him. "Kakai-sensei!" Naruto shouted. Naruto sighed, but before he could even finish a puff of smoke erupted behind him.
"Yo Naruto!" Kakashi appeared clinging to one of the ever present Icha-Icha series books. "Hey Kakai-sensei I was wondering if you have some time off?" Naruto stated simply, as he beckoned the white-haired jounin to follow him. Kakashi followed interested by his former students question "I do. Why what do have in mind Naruto?" "Well I was wondering if you could teach me something that will help me catch up to Sasuke." Naruto said rubbing the back of his head absent mindedly. Kakashi gave Naruto one of his eye-smiles before continuing, "Well it's just as well you asked me now as I have recently come up with an idea that would greatly enhance your learning capabilities." "Yosh! What's your idea Kakai-sensei?" Naruto said unable to contain his excitement. "Before you get too excited I must warn you the training is gruelling and requires a large investment of both time and effort . Are you prepared for that?" Kakashi asked, wanting to make sure Naruto knew what he was getting himself into. Naruto pondered this before grinning widely, " I understand. You know me Kakai-sensei, of course I am dattebayo!"
Naruto and Kakashi arrived at the training field. The wind was blowing with zest as it carried leaves accross the open grass. "Ok well Naruto let's get started." "Yes sir!" Naruto answered enthusiastically.
"Firstly I need to explain the pupose of your training. You are going to attempt to combine shape manipulation and nature manipulation into a single jutsu." Naruto gaped "S-Shape manipulation and Nature Manipulation r-right..." Kakashi sighed, "Do a rasengan." Naruto was long past the days of questioning everything and did as he was asked. "Now what is a rasengan?" Kakashi asked. "It is compressed chakra rotated at high speeds." Naruto said matter-of-factly. "Correct, this is the very essense of shape manipulation. In fact you could go as far as to say it is the pinnicle of shape manipulation." Kakashi removed his hands from his pockets, "Watch carefully." The white-haired jounin did the hand seals for chidori and then placed his left hand over his right wrist, pumping chakra into his right hand. "Now chidori, for example, is a combination of both shape and nature manipulation. I concentrate chakra into my hand and then I add a current with raiton." As he said this Kakashi added some lighting natured chakra into his right palm. Imediatly the characteristic screech of birds could be heard as the sparks of electricity erupted from Kakashi's hand. "Then I use shape manipulation to change the range of the attack." The jutsu in Kakashi's hand sparked to life as it's screech grew louder and the bolts grew longer.
"Sugoi..." Naruto breathed. "Kakai-sensei I remember you saying something about increasing my learning rate." Naruto questioned. "Ahh yes we will get to that, but first we must find out what nature affinity you have." Kakashi said, digging into his belt pouch. Again Naruto would have asked Kakashi-sensei how, but he had matured and knew Kakashi would know what to do and tell him in due course. "Take one of these" Kakashi said, handing Naruto a piece of brown paper. Naruto looked puzzeled, "A piece of paper?" "Yes Naruto a piece of paper, but its a special paper made from a tree that is fed chakra. It reacts to the slightest amount of chakra, giving an indication of a particular affinity. For example..." Kakashi ran chakra through the paper in his hand, it instantly crumpled. "Cool! I take it that means kamanari (lightning)?" Naruto reasoned. "Yes, well inferred. A crumpled paper indicates kamanari. Likewise a split paper indicates kaze (wind), a burn paper indicates hi (fire), a soggey paper indicates misu (water) and a crumbling paper indicates tsuchi (earth). These make up the five basic elements."
Naruto was excited to find out his affinity, "Ok well here goes." Naruto ran chakra through the paper in his hand. A resounding tearing noice could be heard as the chakra paper split clean in two. "Kaze...is that good?" Naruto asked hesitantly. "Its perfect, for two reasons: one its a good combat affinity and two its quite a rare affinity to have." "Rare huh...so are there any other people who can use futon in Konoha?" Naruto asked, very interested to find out if anyone shared his affinity. "Yes there is one" Kakashi stated. "Really? Who? Who?" Naruto begged bouncing slightly. "Sarutobi Asuma."(Kakashi had thought it best not to mention Dazou as he didn't trust him with his favourite student). Naruto grinned at this, he had always admired Asuma-sensei. "Sweeet! Well I guess the next is to pay Asuma-sensei a visit." Naruto said and started to leave. "Wait Naruto I still want to explain my idea about shortening your training, its quite brillient if I say so myself." Kakashi said as he placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Sure thing Kakai-sensei, I guess I got a bit carried away haha." Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Its to be expected of you. Anyway I will put this plainly, the best way for you to train is with your Tajuu Kage Buusin no Jutsu(Mass Shadow Clone Technique)." "Huh? I don't understand" Naruto stated, wondering where his sensei was going with this. "Have you never noticed in all your time using Kage Buusin no Justu?" Kakashi asked slightly dumbfounded. "Noticed what sensei?" "That when a Kage Buusin is dispelled its expreince disipates to the original." Naruto thought for a few seconds before screaming, "Sensei you are a genius!" You want to decrease my training time proportionate to my number of shadow clones I make right?" "Exactly" Kakashi was suprised Naruto grasped the consept so fast. 'It seems those two and a half years with Jiraiya-sama not only improved his physical strength.' Kakashi thought, proud of his sensei's son.
"So Kakai-sensei have you ever used this training method before?"Naruto wondered. Kakashi smirked under his mask, "No I have not, Naruto you must understand that you are special there aren't many people with chakra reserves as great as yours. I would say you have about 4 times as much as me." Naruto was amazed, "Wow that much! I'm awesome!" Naruto fist pumped. "You would have up to 100 times if we don't suppress the kyuubi."
"Which is why I'm here." said a familier voice. "Yamato-taichou!" exclaimed Naruto as the man infused with the first's DNA appeared from behind Kakashi. Yamato smiled before his expression turned serious, "Naruto you are going to be using a lot of chakra. As a result the kyuubi could appear." Naruto thought back to when Yamato told him he was the one who injured Sakura, "I understand."
"Good...well then let's get started" said Kakashi, as he pulled a leaf from his belt pouch. "The purpose of this exercise is two slice this leaf in two with only your chakra." Naruto noded, "Very well sensei, how many clones must I make?"
Kakashi pointed to a luchess tree behind himself, "Enough so that every clone gets one leaf." "YOSH! Tajuu Kage Buusin no Jutsu!"
A week later an almighty screech could be heard around Konoha. "I... d-did it..." Naruto managed to get out over gasps of air. "You did it Naruto!" shouted Sakura runing over to Naruto. 'Yata...I finally mastered it!. And as a bonus I can now do a simple rasengan without any clones' Naruto thought happily. "I can't wait to go tell baa-chan that I just mastered a technique that not even the fourth couldn't!" Naruto shouted as he started dusting himself off. Naruto turned to the two jounin present, "Kakai-sensei, Yamato-taichou, thank you for your help this past week. I really apperciate it." "Anytime Naruto" Kakashi said as he gave Naruto an eye-smile. "Sh-sh-sure...th-thing" Yamato said before passing out from exhausion. "Hahaha well you guys take care of Yamato-taichou I'm gonna go tell baa-chan" Naruto said as he ran off to the Hokage tower. 'Where does he get all that energy' Sakura thought, proud of her team-mate. 'He has changed so much, its like a whole new Naruto.'
"Baa-chan guess what!" Naruto shouted as he burst through the door to the Godaime's office. A vein bulged on Tsunade's head, "What do you want gaki?" "Hey now is that anyway to treat the shinobi who just surpassed the fourth?" Naruto asked retorically. Tsunade's eyes widened, "You mean..." "Yes baa-chan I did it!" grinned Naruto. "Naruto that's wonderful" Tsunade smiled happily, proud of the boy she thought of as the son she never had. "Which brings me to my next point baa-chan, I've been reading up about other jinchuuriki and it appears there are only 5 of us left, as the three-tails has no jinchuuriki. So I was wondering if I could receive training in controling my bijuu from another jinchuuriki." Tsunade looked awestruck, Naruto reading! "I think this would be best as Akatsuki is after us and there might not be much more time for me to learn. I had to do some digging but I found out that of the 4 beside me. The six-tails is a missing-nin from Kiri and the three-tails, as I stated before currently has no jinchuuriki, but the 2 others are located at Kumogakure no Sato." Naruto reasoned to the female Hokage. "So you want to leave the village to go train in Kumogakure?" Tsunade asked. Naruto nodded simply. Tsunade bit her top lip as she often did when deep in thought. "Its not that simple Naruto you can't just waltz into Kumogakure and demand training from a jinchuuriki which, by the way, should be secert." "I understand baa-chan, all I'm asking is that you send a request to the Raikage." Tsunade was slighty taken aback by Naruto's mature response. "Well since you asked so nicely I'll see what I can do." "Thanks baa-chan you're the best!" Naruto ran over and hugged the aging sannin. "Ya,ya I'll remind you of that the next time you do something wrong. NOW SCRAM!" Tsunade yelled. "Yes mam." Naruto mock saluted, with a grin on his face.
(Raikage's Office - Kumogakure no Sato, 2 days later)
"Raikage-sama this just came in from Konoha" Mabui, the Raikage's assistant, stated in her usual calm voice. "Ah a message from Tsunade. Thank you Mabui." "Hai Raikage-sama." Mabui said as she waited for an order from her leader.
"Now let's see what the sannin wants." Raikage muttered to himself as he ripped open the letter.
Dear Raikage-sama
It was recently brought to my attention by one of my shinobi that they wish to train under your jinchuuriki. Even though this is classified intel, in the interest of friendship I shall tell you.
The particular shinobi to make this request is Uzumaki Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki. I trust your discretion regarding this S-Rank information.
With Akatsuki having already obtained 4 bijuu I believe it is in the vested interest of all 5 Great Nations that the remaining jinchuuriki are equipped to defend themselves, as anything Akatsuki is planning cannot be good.
I look forward to your cooperation, as I believe this will strengthen ties amungst our villages.
Regards
The Fifth Hokage
Senju Tsunade
"Fetch Bee!" Raikage ordered. "As you wish Raikage-sama" Mabui answered respectfully.
Thirty minutes later a shinobi wearing shades and seven swords strapped to his back entered the office. "You called bro. So here I am yo!" the shinbo called Killer Bee said. "Yes, Bee I want your opion on this" A said handing his adopted brother the letter he had received from Konoha. After Bee had read it he gave his thoughts, "I thinks its a good idea. As Tsunade states here." Bee rapped, pionting to the letter in his hand. "Mmmm its a delicate situation." reasoned A. "Big brother can't you see? I wanna help this jinchuuriki!" Bee rhymed.
If it were any other person A would have said no, but this was his brother after all. "Very well...Mabui send a letter back to Tsunade stating that she can send the jinchuuriki as soon as possible." "Hai Raikage-sama"
It had been a few days since Naruto's discussion with Tsunade and to be honest Naruto was getting restless waiting for an answer to baa-chan's request. So in order to pass the time he created shadow clones to perform a variety of beneficial tasks. He made 220 shadow clones every morning over the four day period. He then delegated tasks, which he exspected them to perform over the course of the day. 40 for tajutsu. 40 for ninjutsu. 50 for genjutsu, as it was his weakest attribute. 40 for chakra control and lastly 50 for studying at the liburary. Naruto found this too be effective as he learned a lot without being unnessisarily fatiuged. This left time for the original to do whatever he had the urge to do. This usally meant extended stays at the bath house or long lunches at Ichiraku, both which the wiskered shinobi thourouly enjoyed. Every now and then he would help Ayame or Teuchi with a delivery, much to their appreciation. All this was very well but Naruto felt he should be doing something more.
It was for this reason that Naruto was thrilled to say the least when an ANBU bekonded him to the Hokage's office near the end of the fourth day. Naruto decided since Tsunade was being so helpful he would be considerate this time. He knocked on the door before he heard a "Come in" from Konoha's reining Hokage. "You called baa-chan?" Naruto asked, doing well so far to control his anxiety.
"Yes Naruto I have received a reply from the Raikage with regards to your jinichuriki training." Tsunade stated before becoming slient. She waited, torturing Naruto with her silence. Naruto gritted his teeth, trying to keep himself from an outburst. "And?" Naruto asked exceptantly. "Naruto I'm sorry..." Tsunade said with a saddened expression. Naruto's expression saddened at this news. Tsunade looked up at Naruto with a sly grin etched across her face. "Sorry that I will be losing such a good shinobi for a few weeks."
Naruto had to do a double take. "Wait wait wait...so you mean the Raikage actully agreed to it? Cuz from what I gathered from my studies on Kumogakure, their view of Konoha is less then friendly." Tsunade was still getting used to this new 'informed' Naruto. "Well Naruto whatever the reason the Raikage accepted, the fact remains that he did indeed accept so I think it best not to question it." Tsunade explained looking the most powerful gennin in the village in the eyes. "I understand baa-chan, thank you for the opportunity." "Umhmm, you leave for Kumo tommorrow morning at 8, so be prepared. You will be escorted by Yamato and Lee. I take it you have no trouble with the people I have choosen as your escourts? Yamato is accompanying you for obvious reasons." "No problem baa-chan!" Naruto shouted giving the 50 year old sannin a nice-guy pose. Tsunade smiled to herself,"Well I wish you luck Naruto, Dismissed!" "Hai!"
Naruto was ready at the gate at 7:50 the next morning even though he had managed little sleep in all the excitment of visiting Kumo for the first time. Naruto had done a stack of research, well anything he could find. This was hard due to information on jinchuuriki being classified what he had managed to find information on a shinobi named Bee, or Killer Bee as he is better known. Naruto figured this would be his sensei as he was unable to locate any info on the other jinchuuriki Kumogakure apparently had. All Naruto knew was that the jinchuuriki, through deductive reasoning, contained the two-tails. As for Killer Bee, he was said to be the perfect jinchuuriki and from Naruto could gather was capable of completely transforming into the eight-tails at will while retaining full control. This of couse only sort to add to Naruto's excitement.
Naruto was still day-dreaming when Yamato and Lee arrived a few minutes later. "Well Naruto I'm glad to see Kakai-senpai's habit of being late has not rubbed off on you." Naruto realised Yamato was talking to him and snapped out of his day-dream. "You said something Yamato-taichou?" Yamato deadpanned. "Well it seems regarding certain things you are just like Kakashi."
"Ohayo Naruto-kun are you ready for a youthful journey to Kumogakure no Sato?" Lee didn't even wait for a reply before continuing. "I have heard training their is extra though due to the extremly high altitude." Lee said, fire practically burning in his eyes. "Its a long journey and the sooner we leave the sooner we'll get there." Tenzou (Yamato's Real Name) reasoned.
So without further a due the three Konohagakure shinobi left on their way to the Hidden Village in Kaminari no Kuni.
(A/N: This is my first FanFiction and was written entirely on my BlackBerry . As such I sincerely apologise for any spelling and grammar errors you may encounter while reading my fiction as my PC doesn't recheck the spelling. Feel free to flame or say whatever it is you please. If you have any questions don't be afraid to PM me and I will reply as soon as possible.)