Summary:
Kakashi has a new form of training in mind for Team 7. What could it be? Perhaps it's a one on one battle with their sensei, or maybe it's some kind of extreme tree climbing challenge. Or maybe it's something they'd never expect...
Konoha Riding School Chapter 2:
"Horse riding? That's different isn't it," Iruka commented after Naruto had finished explaining the past days events.
Naruto was stuffing his face with his fifth bowl of ramen.
"Yeah I know. We've all got our own horse," he continued. "The one I rode was called Chips and I really don't like him."
"Why's that?" Iruka asked fiddling with a pair of chopsticks.
"He reckons he can boss me around. He tricks me all the time and he reckons it's funny," Naruto complained.
Iruka simply chuckled, "Sounds like you."
Naruto opened his mouth to reply but quickly shut it again taking another mouthful.
"So, when are you to go back to this riding school?" Iruka asked.
"Kakashi sensei said we'd be going there every few days. At the end of all our lessons we'll be doing some gym-what's-it thing to see what we've learned." Naruto replied.
"I see," Iruka said.
"Naruto!"
Naruto turned in the direction of his name, to see Sakura walking into the ramen shop.
"I thought I'd find you here," she said as she got closer. "Oh, hi Iruka sensei."
"Hello Sakura," Iruka replied. "How are you?"
"Fine thanks," Sakura said.
"What do you want Sakura?" Naruto asked a wide grin appearing across his face. "Did you want to ask me on a date?"
Sakura raised her eyebrows, "In your dreams. Kakashi told me to find you and Sasuke. We have another riding lesson today."
"Today?" Naruto asked. "But I was planning on…"
"Planning on what?" Sakura asked putting her hands on her hips.
Naruto sighed heavily, "Just let me finish my ramen."
He picked up the bowl and slurped down the rest of its contents. With that he was off.
"See ya sensei!" Naruto called.
"Naruto!" Iruka yelled back.
He could do nothing but sigh as he was passed the bill.
"Sorry for the late notice team," Kakashi apologised as they were about to leave the village. "I didn't know you were having another lesson today. Only found out this morning myself."
"That's alright sensei," Sakura replied. "I'm looking forward to our next lesson."
"I'm not," Naruto complained.
"Why's that? Of the three of you I thought you'd be the most enthusiastic," Kakashi asked.
"Maybe if I wasn't stuck with the dud horse I'd like it better," Naruto sulked.
"If you want to be a good rider you must be able to ride any horse," Kakashi replied.
"Maybe I don't want to be a good rider," Naruto said, pouting.
"Now that's not the right attitude," Kakashi teased.
Naruto didn't reply.
"Think of it as an extra challenge. If you can learn to ride Chips you could ride any horse," Kakashi pointed out. "You were all especially suited to your horses. It's not like Merle randomly chose them out for you. Sasuke may be able to ride Yuri very well but put him on Chips and it might be a different story."
"When you put it like that," Naruto thought aloud.
"Ah, it's Blondy and his friends from yesterday," Merle said seeing the team walk onto her property. "Back for more?"
"Not like we have a choice," Sasuke replied.
"Your horses are this way," Merle said. "Follow me."
The Team followed her over to the stalls where their horses were waiting for them. Seeing Naruto Chips let out a whinny.
"Hear that Blondy. He recognises you," Merle said.
"He's only ever seen me once," Naruto replied.
"Chips is probably one of the smartest horses I've ever come across, as well as one of the stupidest. You've got yourself a good horse," Merle explained.
"A 'good horse' 'ey?" Naruto repeated to himself.
He walked over to Chips' stall and frowned at the horse. Chips tilted his head slightly to the side and snorted softly.
"Suppose I should give you a chance," Naruto sighed.
"Now hopefully you all remember how to undo their halters and lead them to the arena. Unless you've forgotten overnight," Merle said.
"I'm not stupid Grandma," Naruto complained.
"Well you've got today to prove it to me," Merle replied, smirking. "Come on, I need you three in the arena."
Once the team had mounted their horses and fixed up their stirrup lengths, the lesson began. Merle started them off at a walk around the arena.
"Today I'd like you all to think about space. You don't have to stay in single file the whole time, especially because there're only three of you. You've got the whole arena, use it how you like," Merle called. "Remember to keep a fair distance between you and the other horses at all times."
"If that's the case," Sasuke said, turning Yuri and crossing over to the other side of the arena.
Sakura made Honoka walk in a large circle leaving a large space between them and Naruto and Chips.
"They've ditched us buddy," Naruto commented.
Chips snorted and shook his head.
"Can I have you all standing up in your stirrups? I'd like the three of you to practice your balancing skills," Merle called across the arena.
On his first attempt, Naruto slipped forward onto Chips neck. Quickly sitting back down again he tried to cover up his mistake.
"Heals down, wasn't it?" Naruto asked himself, trying again.
He dropped his weight into his heals and was able to balance himself as Chips walked along.
"Huh, too easy," Naruto said smugly.
"While you're standing up, hold out your right arm. Remember to keep a hold of the reins with your left," Merle instructed.
Naruto did as he was told, holding the reins in one hand while he put the other one out to the side.
"Other right, Blondy," Merle called, chuckling.
"Huh? Oh…" Naruto quickly corrected himself.
"I'm impressed, you're all pretty good at this," Merle commented, after the team had walked around the arena a couple of times.
"As ninja we're meant to have exceptional balancing skills," Sasuke replied blankly.
"Ninja?" Merle asked, confused.
"I'm sure I mentioned it earlier," Kakashi replied.
"Oh right," Merle said shaking her head. "Just ignore me."
After a few more laps of the arena the team began to trot.
"Remember to rise to the beat of their trot, keeping your weight in your heals," Merle called out. "Naruto, can you make Chips trot on a bit more."
"Move it horse," Naruto commanded giving Chips another kick.
The horse snorted out of annoyance and kept trotting at the pace he wanted to go at. Naruto kicked him again but still, nothing happened.
"Do you want a whip Blondy?" Merle teased.
"No! I can do this myself," Naruto called back.
He breathed in deeply and gave Chips a great big kick. Chips snorted again, annoyed, but decided that he better listen to his rider and began to speed up.
"Ha, there we go," Naruto said, feeling quite proud of himself.
"That's better Blondy, keep him at that pace," Merle called.
"Will do," Naruto replied.
"Once you've all established a forward trot, let's see how well you do standing up in your stirrups now," Merle called.
"While we're trotting?" Naruto asked.
"No, while you've come to a complete stop," Merle replied sarcastically rolling her eyes. "What do you think?"
iAlright, just have to keep my heals down/i, Naruto thought to himself as he glanced around the arena at the others.
Much to his surprise Sasuke seemed to be having a little bit of trouble. He couldn't stay balanced for more than a few beats at a time. A wide grin appeared across Naruto's face; this was his chance!
iHeals down, heals down, heals down/i, he thought over and over again.
After counting to three in his head, he pushed his weight right down into his feet as he tried to stand up. He was standing for a triumphant second when his right foot slipped out of the stirrup, causing him to lose his balance and fall off to the side. Naruto landed on the ground with a thud as Chips quietly came to a stop nearby.
Merle clapped loudly, "Well done Blondy."
Naruto got up and dusted himself off, frowning at Merle, "Shut up."
"Back in the saddle and try again," Merle replied grinning at him.
Naruto mumbled heatedly to himself before remounting Chips.
He began trotting again as soon as his feet were back in the stirrups. On his second turn Naruto managed to stay standing for a few beats, before having to sit back down. By now Sasuke had pretty much mastered it. Naruto sighed heavily, iso much for that/i.
"I take it you lot would like to try something new today," Merle called out, after the team had brought their horses back to a walk to cool down.
"What do you have in mind?" Sakura asked.
"How do you feel about cantering?" Merle asked.
"Canter-what-ing?" Naruto asked.
"Cantering. It's the next fastest gait after trotting," Merle explained.
"Oh," Naruto replied. "About time we picked up the pace."
"Yes, but let's see how you go," Merle sighed. "Now cantering is best picked up if you ask for it from a sitting trot. Our inside leg stays where it is or comes slightly forward and kicks, while our outside leg needs to go behind the girth and kick. If you do this correctly you should pick up your canter easily. Also, it's important you ask for your canter in a corner so that your horse is on a slight bend in order to pick up the correct canter lead."
Merle took a deep breath, "Am I making myself clear?"
"What?" Naruto asked, looking up from what he'd been doing.
Merle rolled her eyes, "I'll guide you along the way."
The team went off at a rising trot around the arena to begin with.
"We'll take it in turns to canter!" Merle called. "Sasuke can go first, so when you're ready go sitting trot and the next corner you come to pick up your canter. Sakura and Naruto come back to a walk."
Naruto and Sakura brought their horses to a stop as Sasuke and Yuri continued trotting. As they approached the next corner Sasuke changed from a rising to a sitting trot. He put his outside leg back and his inside leg slightly forward and they came out of the corner at a well paced canter.
"Perfect example of what I want to see from you," Merle said folding her arms.
"You're not picking favourites are you Grandma?" Naruto asked his voice tinged with jealousy.
When Sasuke got closer to the group he brought Yuri back to a trot, then to a walk and halted behind Naruto and Chips.
"Well done," Merle praised. "You used the correct aids and got him to respond instantly. Next time sit up a little straighter, it should help."
"Got it," Sasuke replied.
"Alright. Sakura, your turn," Merle instructed.
"Let's go Honoka," Sakura said as Honoka began to walk on.
After a few more kicks Honoka began to trot. At the first corner she changed to a rather bouncy sitting trot and picked up her canter once she'd left the second corner. They came back to a trot halfway through.
"You were able to pick up your canter I'll give you that," Merle said when Sakura and Honoka joined the group. "But you didn't pick up your canter in the corner which left you on the wrong lead. You don't need to have too much sitting trot to pick up your canter, just the correct aids."
"Alright, we'll get it next time," Sakura said, patting Honoka on the neck.
"And that leaves us with Blondy," Merle said turning to Naruto. "This is going to be entertaining."
"Hmph," Naruto complained. "We'll show 'em Chips."
Chips snorted loudly as they began to move off at a trot. iWhich leg went where?/i Naruto began to fret as they approached the corner. He didn't want to show any weakness by asking for a reminder. At the first corner he changed to sitting trot trying with all his might to stay seated. Getting the instructions muddled up he put his inside leg back instead of his outside leg. Confused as to what he was being asked to do, Chips sped off at a fast trot. Unable to sit or rise to the beat Naruto toppled off again, landing on the ground for the second time that lesson.
"I hate to say this Blondy, but I could see that happening a mile off," Merle said.
Naruto growled and got back to his feet. He remounted Chips and was persistent in trying again.
"Come on you stupid horse!" Naruto complained as he made Chips trot on.
Annoyed with Naruto constantly kicking and pulling on the reins Chips tossed his head, causing Naruto to lose his grip and fall. Naruto sat in the dirt, his head band askew.
"Why did I get stuck with the dud horse?" he whined pathetically.
"What?" Merle asked. "You think I just randomly gave you your horses?"
"You did, didn't you?" Sakura asked.
"Don't be stupid, I picked them all out especially," Merle explained.
"Then why didn't you pick a better horse for me?" Naruto complained.
"Do they complain to you this much Kakashi?" Merle asked.
"I think Naruto and Sasuke have a little jealousy thing going on," Kakashi explained.
"Well, we'll put an end to that," Merle said. "All of you dismount now."
"Dismount? Why?" Sakura asked.
"You'll see," Merle replied.
The team did as they were told and stood alongside their horses.
"Now then, I'm going to show you why you're all riding the horses that I've assigned you," Merle said. "Naruto take Yuri. Sakura take Chips. Sasuke take Honoka. We'll begin the lesson again."
"Oh boy! I like this better already," Naruto said quickly moving and taking a hold of Yuri's reins. Instantly the horse went to bite him.
"Whoa," Naruto said. "What did I do?"
"Let's see how long this takes," Merle sighed.
The three of them mounted their different horses and began to walk on. Naruto was feeling pretty good, sitting on top of Sasuke's horse. If he could get this horse to do whatever he wanted, surely Naruto could too. While they were walking no one had any big problems with their horses. Sakura had a little trouble getting Chips to keep up with the group and was lagging far behind.
"Alright kids, let's see you itry/i to trot!" Merle called out.
"Try?" Naruto asked. "What do you mean?"
"You'll see," Merle replied. "And let me say this now, whatever happens is not my fault."
Seeing as Naruto was in the lead it was his responsibility to start the ride off.
"Alright Yuri," he said pulling the reins slightly shorter. "Let's go."
Naruto gave him a squeeze with his legs and they started to trot.
"Ha ha!" Naruto laughed. "This is too easy!"
Behind him Sasuke and Sakura weren't having such an easy time.
Honoka kept tossing her head and arching her neck. Sasuke was having trouble keeping his seat and pulling her back.
Chips kept going at the slowest walking pace he could manage without stopping completely. Sakura was kicking him furiously but nothing happened.
Lost in his moment of triumph as well as not looking where he was going, Naruto didn't expect what Yuri was about to do until it was too late. The horse's ears went right back until they were flat on his head and he pigrooted.
"Whoa!" Naruto called, turning back to the front and gathering the reins up.
After a few more strides of trot, when Naruto thought he was in control again, Yuri snorted loudly and bucked. Naruto was airborne for a few seconds before impacting with the ground.
"What did I say?" Merle sighed. "Dismount and take back the horses I assigned you in the first place and come to the gate."
Naruto sat up rubbing his head, "Stupid horse."
Once the three of them had taken back their own horses they left the arena and walked back to the stalls.
"And what did we learn today?" Merle asked mockingly.
"That I really don't like you," Naruto grumbled as he took Chips' bridle off.
"And?" Merle asked.
None of them replied, quietly continuing to untack their horses.
"You learnt that you were given the horse you have for a reason," Merle said for them. "And next time you'll be able to respect your ride a lot more."
"Well that was an eventful lesson then," Kakashi commented as the team walked back to the village.
"It was until Naruto wrecked it for everyone," Sakura complained.
"Not my fault," Naruto mumbled grumpily.
"Remember that today was only your second lesson. I think you're all doing very well for your first time riding horses," Kakashi said. "The more your ride the better you'll get."
"That's exactly what I'm going to do," Naruto replied.