Naruto: Legendary Maelstrom

Notes: Talking is in double quotes. Thoughts are in single quotes and italics. Demonic and Summons speech are in bold. Expressions are in between dashes.

Chapter 3: Konoha 10's Training Part 1

Three days later, Naruto is released from the hospital. Chōji, Kiba, and Neji have another few days yet for enough recovery to be discharged and wishing that they had a minute fraction of Naruto's healing factor (which is only greatly enhanced by Kyūbi). The exuberant blond proclaims, "First stop is Ichiraku's Ramen, one bowl a day of the divine food is not nearly enough! After I set a new record for giant bowls consumed, it's off to training! Then I can test what Kakashi-senpai told me about Kage Bunshin and me getting their memories!" Naruto gets hit with inspiration and perversely chuckles, "I'll have a Kage Bunshin use Oroike no Jutsu and get into the female side of the onsen to do my own 'research'! Damn it, I need a notebook and a good pen first; it can wait 'till after ramen time." (Cue Naruto's improvised song 'Naruto Ramen Time', parody of 'Peanut Butter Jelly Time', kudos to anyone who gets the easy reference.)

Naruto gorges 30 large bowls of Ichiraku's miso-pork ramen while his Oroike Bunshin occupied the female side of the onsen. Naruto then went to training, and after a couple of hours, decided to test his theory. The Bunshin departed the onsen area and dispelled in an alleyway. Naruto got the clone's memories and has a moderate nosebleed (the average pervert like Kiba would have had a massive nosebleed resulting in blissful unconsciousness for at least 5 minutes, but Kakashi wouldn't conk out), which causes him to furiously scribble away in his 'research' notebook. He makes a mental note, 'Note to self, Kage Bunshin memory transfer works and I have the ultimate way to get research short of getting laid! Ero-sennin would flip the fuck out if he knew this shit!' The next few days proceeded very similar to this, with Naruto working on using Rasengan without a Kage Bunshin, fuinjutsu, Kage Bunshin doing chakra control, Ichiraku's Ramen for dinner (breakfast is toast because it's easy to make).

Exactly three days since Naruto's release from the hospital, Kiba, Chōji, and Neji are released and deemed fit for light duty (ergo, some training and D-rank missions that aren't too stressful, and Tora the cat is a stressful (scratch that, the most stressful) D-rank). Shizune was able to notify the sensei and teammates of the ones being released as well as Naruto (she got let in on the plan and wanted to tag along, mainly to see how Naruto and his peers interacted with each other and the other reason is to see the Copy Ninja's real face, as does everyone else). The chronically late Jōnin strolls up with porn in hand as he greets everybody, "Yo."

The whiskered prankster begs the question, "Eh, Kakashi-senpai, why are all of us gathered here? Is it some important mission?"

Kakashi answers his one-time student, "Actually, we Jōnin have important announcements to make, especially me, and thought that a lunch meeting would be nice considering the ones that were in the hospital and that the ten of you would want to spend time together."

Kurenai adds, "Follow me to the restaurant that reservations were made. I think that all of you will enjoy the food."

Suddenly a purple-haired woman wearing a tan trench coat drops in on them. "Hey, I heard that One-Eye's paying for a lunch spread. Am I invited?"

Naruto twitches and points at her, "Wait, aren't you that proctor lady from the Chūnin Exams? Yeah, you are; you tried to lick my blood! You know how creepy that was?" He mentally adds, 'I won't complain about the part where she had my head between her tits. They're damn good pillows, roughly 42E from what Ero-sennin started to teach me. Being a pervert is awesome!'

The other Genin and Shikamaru recognize her as well, but decide not to invoke her ire and stay silent.

The trench coat clad kunoichi teases, "I bet you secretly liked it, right Blondie-kun?" 'What the hell, he's half your age! I bet in a couple of years that he'll be a real lady killer and hopefully not be too corrupted by Jiraiya-sama.'

Kakashi eye-smiles, "It won't hurt if you want to join us Anko, only if you agree to two conditions. One, please don't tease Naruto or the other young shinobi. Two, you will kindly cover your own expenses."

Anko grumbles, "Fine Kakashi, you're hardly any fun." The sixteen shinobi head over to the designated restaurant called the 'Shushuya', which specializes in healthier foods for shinobi.

Once they are seated at the restaurant and place drink orders, Kakashi makes his big announcement, "From now on, I am no longer a Jōnin-sensei. However, I remain an Elite Jōnin and a commanding officer. I do leave those of the next generation, which is the ten of you, with solid advice. Those that break the rules are scum, but those that abandon their comrades are much worse. Konoha has remained victorious because we fight for each other, the village, and the Will of Fire passed down from the Shodai Hokage himself. Those of us that have fought in the wars past and the recent Invasion understand this."

Naruto tries to draw an analogy, "I think I understand Kakashi-senpai. During the Invasion, I knew I had to stop Gaara in solo combat or he'd raze Konoha flat; and like the Sandaime Hokage when he took on that creepy snake pedophile Orochimaru and died."

"You got it, Naruto." The masked Jōnin eye-smiles, "You understand and have been paying attention. Now on to your guys' training: Naruto, I've asked Asuma here to help you since you're both Wind types, especially since his students need more training from their infamous fathers." Ino, Shikamaru, and Chōji don't argue or complain with the Copy Ninja. "Kurenai will handle genjutsu training as is her specialty, and Gai will handle taijutsu with help from Asuma and maybe Anko as those two can handle chakra control as well. Shizune here will handle basic first-aid and medic training for the girls. Finally, I leave Naruto a parting gift: a scroll with some lower-level ninjutsu; I have copied over 1000 after all."

Naruto peeked and snorts, "Nothing above C-rank in there though. I have three high-ranking ninjutsu, not counting my unique one; no straight man can resist it."

Kiba agrees, "Yeah, I know dude; you got me with it, during the Chūnin Exams no less!" He calls out his buddy, "I still need to kick your ass for embarrassing me, damn it!"

Before anyone could ask the Inuzuka to settle down, Naruto challenges, "Go ahead and try Kibble, but know this: when we fought, my chakra was fucked up by Orochimaru. Only Jiraiya the Ero-sennin noticed it and reversed whatever his ex-teammate did and what follows is recent history." Most are shocked to hear this, since one has a very hard time fighting with whacky chakra. Lee being an exemption because he cannot access his chakra; save the Hachimon.

The dog-boy barks, "It's on Fishcake!"

Both boys stare each other down in anticipation of an all-out spar, but Neji cuts in, "Kiba-san, we were just released from the hospital today. In your current state and that of your canine partner, Naruto would easily defeat you without resorting to his lewd display that he calls a jutsu."

"Admit it Neji," the male blond slyly says, "you like it." They go back and forth for about a minute then turn away from each other with a 'humph', although Naruto glimpses a slight blush from the stoic Hyūga, causing the younger to yell, "Aha! I was right!"

The Branch Hyūga mutters, "Damn it." (Hello, he can see through the smoke with Byakugan, but Naruto knows the details thanks to a couple of magazines and of course Icha-Icha.)

During the Neji mini-spat, the Jōnin are wondering if Naruto and Kiba were really fighting or just play-fighting. This causes the lazy genius to mutter, "Troublesome, they're all play-fighting. It's a guy thing; and Naruto and Kiba have been doing this for years. My guess is that Neji is doing this because Naruto earned his respect." 'That and Neji really can't do that with his teammates or anyone in the Hyūga clan.' Sure enough, the three aforementioned arguers burst out laughing; well Neji smiles due to the fact that open emotion is un-Hyūga-like and his discipline is high even amongst the Hyūga.

The young Chūnin smirks, "Told you so, even Neji got involved." This shocks everyone, since only one person amongst the group has ever seen Neji smile but that was over 10 years ago: shy Hinata. Because it was Naruto that cracked through the façade, she falls even more in love with him and he's still none the wiser. (Naruto may not understand women, but Jiraiya will fix that soon enough.)

All commotion stops long enough for food orders to be placed. As could be expected, Chōji orders a bounty of food (can't blame him there as he just got out of the hospital and he needs to restock his stores for his jutsu). Given the fact that Chōji would win any eating contest now by default due to needs, Naruto, Kiba, Lee, and Gai have a competition to see who can eat first. Fortunately, a quarter of the restaurant was reserved for them because of the six Jōnin, the seven lower-ranking clan members, and to some degree Naruto (they still some haters out there but not the restaurant owners or their employees).

Shizune comments, "It seems like the ten of you know each other enough. First aid can be a bit tricky, especially in the field, but that's why Tsunade-sama wants all shinobi to know first-aid and to have more medic shinobi available; her goal is to have one medic out of no more than 10. Chakra control is premium for a medic, the best types being those that are support compared to combat type like Naruto."

Shino monotones, "I may be a support type but I am ill-equipped to perform medical jutsu due to my insects. However any wounds I receive heal efficiently therefore I do not worry."

"I see it um as a chance to um help more and um get stronger." Hinata stammers, "Don't you agree Naruto-kun, everyone?"

Naruto agrees, "Yeah. Hell, all I can do with my boatload of chakra is create an army of Kage Bunshin, Kuchiyose no Jutsu for the toads, any my personal creation with my cleverness due to pranks. But, I'm looking into learning fuinjutsu besides the basic stuff we learned in the Academy since it's basically ignored nowadays."

Kakashi eye-smiles, "Fuinjutsu involves patience and precision, Naruto; both are things you lack." Naruto growls at the masked pervert who continues, "However, you will be a better shinobi and person if you learn it properly. That and you should learn the lower level jutsu first, it makes learning the higher level ones easier." Naruto catches the subtle hint to the scroll of jutsu, mainly due to knowing a bit on how the former ANBU Commander operates.

Tenten comments, "I know I use storage scrolls for all my weapons, maybe I can learn more fuinjutsu as well?" The question hangs for a bit and the bun-haired girl sighs, "Maybe I should focus on the iryōjutsu first."

"Good call, bun-hair." Anko suggests, "Perhaps in a few years you could do more than fuinjutsu with that blond gaki; hell I might if he becomes a looker by then." Tenten and Naruto both flush at this suggestion; the latter feeling slightly crept out again.

Before Naruto could retort, the bowl-cut Jōnin yells, "Anko-san, how could you suggest such acts that lack youthfulness!" Gai booms, "Why must you try to corrupt the Springtime of Youth for these young shinobi? They need not know about such acts at this time!"

Kurenai sighs (before Naruto still could react), "Gai, you're overreacting here. Sexual Education is covered in the final year of the Academy for all students and separated by gender. As Jōnin sensei, we should answer any additional questions our students may have and not tease suggestively Anko; from here it looks like you're coming on to Naruto."

Anko shamelessly admits, "Kid's got a serious pair on him, neither Ibiki nor I could intimidate him."

Kakashi adds, "Ibiki told me that not only did Naruto have the balls to challenge his mind game, he left his test completely blank except for his name."

Everyone else turns to Naruto for an explanation, "Well, I couldn't just blatantly cheat and I wasn't going to let someone give me answers and have them caught too." Everyone else figured out who he was referring to as they knew who sat next to him. "Kage Bunshin would have been too obvious and I didn't know that trick until the past week when Ero-Jiraiya told me in the hospital." He pauses then changes tone, "Kakashi could have told me before the Chūnin Exams but he was too worried about the banshee not showing and training the emo with pink-eye." Naruto huffed with bitterness being evident in his voice. Everyone but Shino, Neji, and Kakashi at least chuckle, giggle, or burst out laughing; those three thinly smile as Shino and Kakashi have theirs hidden from view by high collar or mask(s).

The fun at the traitors' expense comes to a close as the food arrives. Two people have all the food for the kunoichi, Asuma, Kakashi, Shikamaru, Neji, and Shino; another has the Spandex Twins covered; a fourth person has the food for Kiba, Akamaru, and Naruto; and finally one person covers Chōji. The ANBU Commander-level Elite Jōnin cries inside as three of the four members of the Academy's all-time ditching team, including the king, seriously intend to (and eventually do) put a Kyūbi-sized dent into his bank account. 'Good thing I did those three S-rank assassination missions in the last week; all that cash is going for this meal. At least Gai has to cover his team and Anko and Shizune cover themselves, otherwise I would be hurting even worse.'

Naruto barely edges Kiba in the eating contest (Naruto has a stomach to compare to any Akimichi, and Kiba barely kept up due to just getting out of the hospital because we all know that hospital food sucks), with the Spandex Twins tying each other and being too full to 'exhibit their youth'. (That and it's WAY too creepy to write!)

Gai booms, "My youthful taijutsu and conditioning will be done in groups. The three kunoichi will perform theirs together, Shino and Shikamaru will be paired, Neji will be with Kiba and Chōji, and the youthful Naruto should join Lee and me on our youthful morning workout regimen, at 0500." Naruto inwardly groans at the thought of early-morning anything, but knows that it will be intense. The bowl-cut Jōnin continues, "Each of you will also improve your taijutsu in pairs, with a different person each time and it will be straight taijutsu only, no chakra, weapons, or ninjutsu." The only person that doesn't have any inhibition about this is Lee.

Asuma follows, "I will increase your analytical and strategizing abilities by playing shogi. However, Shikamaru and Shino can challenge each other in lieu of me due to their strength in this area."

"Typical lazy Asuma, almost as bad as Kakashi and the Nara clan's males," Kurenai chides. "I will teach the various methods of genjutsu evasion, and possibly low-level genjutsu to those that can handle it. Only Lee is immune due to his lack of chakra, meaning his teammates should pay attention in breaking him of one. I can tell that Naruto will be the toughest case due to his massive reserves, barely enough control, and lack of training on the subject." Said blonde is on the receiving end of curious looks, but he shrugs them off with indifference.

Shizune spiels, "I will be teaching first aid, especially on the battlefield, and the girls will also be learning iryōjutsu due to their precise chakra control." Before Naruto could retort about his healing, the Jōnin medic nips in the bud, "This is about not only patching yourselves up, but your teammates as well. Even teammates just for a mission can benefit by knowing that you can patch them up in a pinch. Now you should understand, Mister-I'm an-ultra-fast-self-healer." Naruto beams as the last part was aimed at him.

"I can teach you brats some stealth tactics, if I feel up to it." Anko hisses, "So far, only one of you has impressed me enough and that person definitely has a set of stones."

"Either that was a figure of speech," Naruto deadpans, "or you've been stalking me."

"Okay, that's enough of that Anko." Kakashi eye-smiles, "I think tomorrow is a nice day to start the training. Those of you just released from the hospital should take it easy the next few days." The Jōnin leave instructions on where to meet for the various training. Gai is Training Field 9, Kurenai is Training Ground 8, Shizune is inside the hospital for the iryōjutsu, and in the hospital courtyard for basic first aid, Asuma has his setup in a small building close to Training Grounds 1-10, and Anko tells just Naruto to meet her at Training Field 7 which is closest to the Monument Stone that Kakashi stares at. Kakashi concludes, "This congregation is officially over as the bill is paid, later."

Kakashi leaves and everyone else thinks, 'Damn, and we never got to see his face! What (the hell) does it look like?' (The part in parenthesis denotes that only some like Naruto add that part.)

Lee and Gai burst out next, as they 'enjoy the Springtime of Youth'. Shizune reports to Tsunade, Naruto goes to train, Asuma and Kurenai sneak away to her place for 'intense training', Anko attempts to grab a mission, and everyone else goes home for training.

After Naruto is finished with his training for the day, he stops home and notices something wrong with his plant. Naturally he frets, 'Damn it, what can I do? Wait, maybe Ino might know; her family owns a flower shop. Yeah, that's where I'll go.'

Fifteen minutes later, Naruto enters and hears, "Welcome to Yamanaka Flower Shop. How may I help," the speaker recognizes him and calls him out, "Naruto? Is that you?"

"Hey Ino," Naruto answers, "I hope you can help me figure out what's wrong with my plant because I think it's dying."

She looks at the plant and is baffled, "Naruto, I've never quite seen a plant like this one. Do you mind if we hold on to it for you? We can help find out what's going on with it and learn more."

"I would want it back." He counters, "Do you promise to take care of my plant? I've had it for five years and I like that plant."

"This is a more surprising side of you Naruto. I never expected you of all people to have an interest in plants. I'll try my best to take care of your plant." Ino sighs, "I'm curious, how are you holding up? I know that I'm sad and pissed that they left Konoha for that traitor Orochimaru. Sakura was my best friend, but yet she chose him over Konoha; it's like I barely knew her."

Naruto stiffens, "You're not the only one. They were my teammates, and emo boy runs off to that snaky pedophilic bastard with his biggest fangirl following him. What really hurts the most is that they almost fucking killed me to 'gain power' or some other bullshit, and they damn near did me in too. They are traitors and if I ever see them again, I will go for the kill."

"You're not alone, Naruto." Ino reassures him, "You have friends to help you. Personally, I wasn't a good friend to you in the past, and I apologize."

"Don't worry about it, Ino." Naruto replies, "I wasn't either, but I'm willing to try harder to be a good friend to all my friends, and I think this helped our friendship."

Ino confirms, "I agree. Don't overdo your training okay? I'm sure you don't want to wind up back in the hospital."

Naruto shudders at the thought of the hospital and comments, "It's getting pretty late and I should head home."

"Yeah," Ino agrees, "I need to let my parents know about your plant anyways. See you later Naruto."

As Naruto leaves he says, "Good night, Ino, and thanks for helping with my plant." Naruto arrives at his apartment sooner than he thinks and goes to sleep, knowing he'll need it if he has any hopes of keeping up with Gai and Lee.

A/N: Finally I get this chapter done, as the idea bug keeps biting my ass at every turn. I do have some ideas for the harem, although suggestions with solid rationale are appreciated as well as constructive criticism. Flamers are put in green spandex and thrown in between Gai and Lee during their sunset genjutsu (traumatizing for life for any straight man, even Tsunade hasn't threatened Jiraiya with that). Enough of my ranting, see you next update.