Title:The Youthful Impact

Rating:T for violence

Disclaimer:Naruto belong to its creator: Masashi Kishimoto.

Warning:AU (alternate universe) characters.

Summary: Maito Gai felt heart-inspired by a blond kid's 'declaration' and decided to train him in power of youth.

"Talking"

"Talking"

"Thinking"

"Thinking"

Ch 2

2 week later…Morning…Team 7's meeting place…

Naruto is currently performing chin-ups on a tree's branch with his left hand on it and his right hand being behind his back while bending his legs 90 degree. He muttered, "Sixty-three...Sixty-four..." as he pulled himself up and down. He has been doing exercises or rather "warm-ups before missions" for an hour, after getting up at 5:56 morning and performing activities that he usually do (and has been doing for over five years) at home before leaving such as morning push-ups and sit-ups (sometime with father and Rock), putting on youthful spandex suit, more sit-ups and push-ups, duck walking or handstand walking to bathroom then to kitchen where he would eat nutritious and youthful breakfast (vitamins, minerals, and all), and youthfully screamed "Bye, father! Bye, brother!" before leaving home to Team Seven meeting place. A place where the silver hair sensei said to meet at 8:00, but since he has been coming three hours late for fourteen days straight (15 if you count the day of official genin test), it will be 11:00 afternoon.

As with yesterday and previous days, it took him almost twenty minutes to reach his team meeting place with him walking on hands. Not many people save shopkeepers and shinobi get up before 8:00 morning and thus, the streets are empty which is good as Naruto doesn't want to accidentally hit someone in face while hand walking. Especially when his legs strapped with some weight. As before, he was the first one to arrive and ten to twenty minutes later, Sasuke would appeared, followed by Sukara ten minutes later.

Naruto, while doing chin-ups, turned his head to right where Sasuke, who's still practicing his taijutsu, the Uchiha Interceptor Fist (his clan taijutsu) that he started on four days ago, after he got irritated with waiting for tardy sensei. When Naruto told him that instead of waiting and brooding, he could practice his taijutsu or something, which Sasuke agreed to youthful suggestion. Shame, he still refuse to spar with him but Naruto figured he doesn't want to risk an injury before the missions (disgraceful chores in Sasuke's and Sakura's opinion).

Well, at least Sasuke is being productive, unlike Sakura who's currently sitting on a rock and staring at him, periodically sighing with her chin resting between her hands. That's it. As with Sasuke, he has made same youthful suggestion to Sakura and he was met with a heated glare and got called 'dumb brute' for suggesting that to a 'lady' and for attempting to obstruct her from her true love: Sasuke-kun. How, Naruto has no idea. He was just trying to give a simple suggestion to Sasuke and Sakura, because there's no way that he's going to be only one to be training or warm up while other two just 'do nothing' for three hours everyday before tardy sensei arrived and give poor excuses on why he's late.

Even Naruto, raised by Maito Gai, doesn't believed them. He doesn't know why sensei's tardy and to the way he acted in last couple days, he doesn't seem to take his duty as team sensei seriously. It's just unyouthful, in Naruto's eyes. Knowing that some people preferred their privacy, Naruto didn't bother with asking Kakashi-sensei about the reason for three hour tardiness. Instead, he made a request in polite way, "Please come on time, sensei" to him and didn't get an answer other than him eye-smiling.

When his father came back home with Rock from tough C-rank mission that took a week two days ago, Naruto asked father if Kakashi-sensei really his eternal rival as he has proclaimed (with current score being in Kakashi's favor). Father has answered positively and asked why. When Naruto explained Kakashi-sensei's behavior, he remembered how his father's expression changed from usual to seriousness for brief moment. Father told him to spar with Rock for while and not to forget to eat dinner before going to sleep while father will have a chat with his 'eternal rival'. So Naruto and Rock did and they have good spar, as usual with both of them trained in Strong Fist Style.

Before Naruto could ponder more about that, he heard Sakura's scream.

"YOU'RE LA...EARLY!"

"Huh?" Naruto thought as he shook his head and just noticed that Kakashi-sensei is here, punctual with Sakura pointing her finger at him. Kakashi-sensei didn't say anything to Sakura's stare, instead he merely gestured Naruto and Sasuke to come over to him. Upon standing close to Kakashi, Naruto noticed that a silver hair man look tired and wondered if his father has anything to do with this. Instead of sporting eye-smiling expression, Kakashi-sensei has serious look.

Kakashi, after looking at questioning looks on his charges, cleared his throat and spoke, "Team Seven...As you noticed, I'm here right on time-"

"How nice..." Sakura muttered with Sasuke letting out a grunt. Kakashi continued, "And for while, I have have been thinking about what we have done for last two weeks and the progress we have made..."

"Which wasn't productive." Sasuke muttered, causing the sensei to paused briefly, but nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I realized that I haven't manage our time effectively and spending most of the time on doing these chor-missions doesn't help other than for easy source of money. Thus, I have an announcement."

All three genins slightly leaned forward to hear what the sensei going to say next.

"I decided that we will be following different schedule, depending on...one to one evaluation." Kakashi-sensei said.

"Evaluation, sensei?" Naruta repeated.

"Yes, so I can get more...clear detail about your strengths and weaknesses by sparring, starting with Sakura."

"S-sparring?" Sakura suddenly bore nervous look.

"That's right. Something that I should have done on the first day." Addressing to Sasuke and Naruto, "If you two please stand right over there...Now, Sakura...We will start with taijutsu. I want you to go on offensive for 5 minutes. Throw everything you have at me..."

Almost two hours later...

Naruto, still standing, could be seen huffing when Kakashi-sensei announced, "All right. The last portion of evaluation is done. You did well, Naruto. Take a short break. I will call you after I'm done with Sakura and Sasuke."

Naruto nodded, still breathing heavily. He could still feel adrenaline pumping through his body. The last portion of evaluation was about dodging and speed for time period where he has to avoid getting touch by Kakashi. Naruto has pushed his body hard with running and performing high pace gymnastic stunts just to avoid Kakashi's tap (showing less bandages compared to last week, meaning his fingers are getting better). Naruto thought it was fun and thought dodging would make good workout for speed and reflex. Maybe he could do it with his brother, who's on same team with father, in spare time.

He could see Kakashi talking to Sakura meters away from his and Sasuke's position. He frowned when Sakura appeared to have her head bow down. While he couldn't hear, he has some idea. Minutes later, he saw Kakashi lifted both of his hands off Sakura and said something, causing Sakura to nodded slowly before walking toward Naruto and Sasuke. He could almost feel depressing aura around Sakura, still have her head down. Naruto wondered if she cried after he heard sniffing sound from her when she sat down on a rock without acknowledging Sasuke or him.

"Sasuke!" Kakashi-sensei called out from the distance. Looking at Sasuke, Naruto could swore that he saw a slight concern on his face but Sasuke went back to bored look without saying anything. He got off a rock that he has been sitting on and walked to where sensei standing at.

Looking back at Sakura, Naruto wondered whether to go to her and ask if she's okay or not. While she has been insulting and unyouthful to him since the academy years and that Naruto has occasionally held rather negative (and unyouthful) thought about her, she is still comrade.

"Right?" Naruto mentally asked himself, weighing on course of action. Deciding that Sakura is part of Team Seven's 'well-being' as his father did described how the population is like blood and cells of Konoha and the same with the shinobi teams, Naruto decided that it wouldn't do good for Team Seven if Sakura, making up one-fourth of the team, is miserable. He moved close enough for Sakura to hear and asked, "Are you alright, Sakura?"

"...I'm fine." She said after few seconds. Naruto waited for more, but Sakura wiped something off and lifted her head up. He could see that her eyes are red. "Must be harsh with her." Naruto thought, remembering how abyssal Sakura's performance whenever it was her turn for more of evaluation. She has barely last more than three minutes against Kakashi-sensei in majority of evaluation.

"You sure-" Naruto got cut off by Sakura who snapped at him, "No! I'm not sure! I did terrible and pathetic! Disgustingly pathetic, okay?!..." Her voice lowered in volume, "I'm a disgrace to shinobi..."

"That's not-"

"Shut up, brute!" Her voice went back to loud, "I saw the way you and Sasuke look at me. How stupid and embarrassing I look, I bet. Even from last week, when we were doing those stupid chores." Her hands clenched into fists as she took a breath. Seeing Naruto was about to say something, she snapped again, "Save it! Just don't say anything." She took another breath and lays her face into hands with her elbows on her knees. There was a silence between them.

"She...looks angry and...disgusted at herself. Different from before evaluation began..." Naruto thought as he stared at the ground. He wasn't sure what to say as he's not good with words.

"Naruto!" Kakashi's voice snapped Naruto out of random thought in his mind after six minutes. Sasuke came back and has already sat down on same rock from earlier. Like Sakura, Sasuke look angry and probably didn't took well from sensei's criticism. As if sensing Naruto's look, Sasuke gave 'don't bother asking me' look and Naruto simply stood up, feeling rested from short break, and moved to Kakashi-sensei, mentally preparing himself for the criticism.

"Yes, sensei?" Naruto said, standing front of Kakashi-sensei who stared at him for while. Kakashi-sensei sighed and began, "Naruto. As you, no doubt, notice Sakura's and Sasuke's reaction to criticism...As with them, I'm going to start off with positive feedback on your performance."

Naruto didn't say anything and waited.

"Naruto. Compared to Sakura and Sasuke, you have the highest endurance and the fastest. Almost low chuunin speed. I also felt the strength you put into your blows when I blocked them. Impressive. You have...good foundation in taijutsu, thanks to your father, who's a well-known taijutsu specialist in Konoha. As brutal as his training,you have good reflex and the number of moves you've used against me. As I said earlier in last portion of evaluation, you did well in some portions." Kakashi-sensei paused and continued while Naruo smiled happily at praise.

"That's not all. I have been observing your performance from last two weeks when we were doing the missions and...teamwork exercises. You have work hard and shown enthusiasm, even for D-rank missions." Kakashi-sensei shook his head in amusement, "You have tried to be helpful to Sakura and Sasuke. That's good as you helped Sasuke to be productive." His voice slowly went from friendly to serious. The same with his eye.

"Now onto the negative feedback...Are you ready, Naruto?"

Naruto, no longer smiling, nodded and answered, "I'm ready, sensei." He mentally steeled himself for incoming criticism.

"Good. Where to start...I know how often you trained in taijutsu and physical workouts with your father and brother...Yes, I'm aware of his condition. However, compared to them, you have really healthy chakra network. Not to mention larger capacity than Sasuke and Sakura combined."

"And mine." Kakashi mentally said while still looking at Naruto.

"And I'm disappointed in your performance in ninjutsu portion. The speed of the hand seals you went through is lower then the average genin. Slow as Sakura. I know you said that you want to be the taijutsu master weeks ago but I have to ask, Naruto. How often do you practice your ninjutsu?"

"...Not very often, sensei." Naruto answered, boring solemn look. It is true, he hasn't thought much about practicing ninjutsu, which consisted of two low level: Henge and Substitution. He still couldn't perform the Clone jutsu that kept spawning sick looking duplication that just drop dead immediately after appearance.

Kakashi-sensei sighed and said, "Well, you will be trained in ninjutsu, which will start after lunch... While it's not bad idea to specialize, it would be better if you have more than just taijutsu. As something to fall on and as an alternative to...throwing kunai which you need to work on hitting mobile target. It is below the average. How did you pass the kunai and shuriken throwing test?"

"Err...They only tested us on hitting stationary targets..."

"Right, they lowered the standard." Kakashi-sensei muttered in low tone that Naruto could barely understand. His eye then lays on Naruto's wristbands and legwarmers before asking, "Am I correct to assume that you are currently wearing the weights, Naruto?"

"Yes."

"How much?"

"64 kilograms total."

"Including the wristbands?"

"Hai." Naruto nodded.

"Interesting." Kakashi-sensei thought as while Gai does weighting training on his arms, he doesn't wear the weight wristbands. Another small difference between him and Naruto.

"...And you kept them on during evaluation. Any reason why would you keep the weight on for entire evaluation?" Naruto mentally winced when he felt sensei's voice became colder.

"Because father said not to take them off unless-"

"Unless what, Naruto?"

Naruto swallowed before answering, "Unless I am fighting to survive or to save the lives of comrades." He felt Kakashi-sensei studying him for a bit before sighing.

"As noble as that sounds...That is not good enough." Kakashi-sensei said.

"What?" Naruto thought with surprised look on his face.

"Although it was just 'evaluation', am I not dangerous enemy?"

"Yes..." Naruto said, knowing that sensei, being seasoned jounin like his father, held back on him and his team mates.

"Tell me, how long does it take you to drop the weights? All of them." Sensei referring to wristbands and the weights covered by legwarmers.

"...5-6 seconds." Naruto answered after quick calculation in his mind.

"That is more than enough time for me or enemy to injure or kill you or your comrades. Do you think that an enemy will just stand still and let you drop the weights down?"

"..." Naruto didn't say anything. His father has mentioned the racing challenges between him and Kakashi-sensei when they were younger.

"How often do you take them off?"

"Usually take them off before showering or to sleep. Sometime in sparring or weight lifting." His home does have personal gym, though his father sometime make the use of rocks as training.

"I do not mind if you wear them when doing the D-rank missions, however when doing C-rank or higher missions, you will take them off. Otherwise, the enemy or two will find you in weak position, even when heading back to Konoha. Think about that, Naruto. Another thing is when we were doing the missions last weeks..." Kakashi-sensei goes on for couple minutes.

Later...

Kakashi-sensei, standing front of three genins with upset expression on their face, sighed and began to address them, "Now you have short rest and have heard the praise and criticism. I know all of you are upset with the criticism, however you all have the ability to improve yourself. As sensei, I will help you."

Seeing that none of them say anything, sensei cleared throat and said, "Alright. Here what we will do now for one hour, I will teach you another chakra control and you will work on it. We will take twenty minutes lunch break, where I will explain what the schedule will be like, starting tomorrow and afterward. After lunch, we will train in ninjutsu or chakra control, depending on your progress. Any question?"

He waited for a bit before saying, "Very well. Follow me." He turned with three genin following him with silence. He led them to a small group of tall trees and turned to face the genins.

"I assume you all know how to do the leaf exercise?"

All three genins nodded as they have learn that exercise back in the Academy, where they have to concentrate their chakra to make a leaf stick to their forehead or somewhere on body.

"Good. I will show you the slightly advanced exercise known as the tree climbing."

Kakashi-sensei noticed only Sasuke and Sakura raised their eyebrow in skeptical manner, while Naruto didn't. It seems Naruto already know how to climb the tree or just heard of it from his father or someone. Regardless, he will still explain it and provide a demonstration for Sakura's and Sasuke's benefit.

"I know what you're thinking. Climbing a tree? We already know how. But the difference is we will climb without using hands. Watch." Without waiting for Sakura or Sasuke to say something, Kakashi-sensei turned around and channeled his chakra to bottom of his shinobi sandals before walking up a tree and down. Without using hands.

Upon stepping on the ground, he began to explain the basic of Tree Climbing exercise with all three genin listening, "Now, what I just did is..."

Author: This is pretty much when Kakashi decided to change his daily lesson plans. Did Gai has something to do with it?

Also, in Naruto show/manga, I do not know how long Team Seven has been in service before Naruto demanded for first C-rank to Wave Country. For this story, I'm thinking two months or maybe different C mission.

64 kg is almost 140 lbs. Shinobi children have different standard compared to civilian children. Sakura is civilian child while Naruto and Sasuke are shinobi children.