Chapter 4 Kekkei Genkai

Kazuki woke up early the next morning. Keiko would be at his house soon and he told her he'd walk her to training. This worked out fine since Shikamaru preferred to begin training later in the day. He took a short shower and got dressed, then went outside to meet Keiko.

Keiko smiled upon seeing him, "Hey Kazuki, last night was fun. We should do it again."

Kazuki smiled back, "Yeah, we should."

They headed through the Nara woods, having conversations about their lives, what it was like to live with a hive for a body, and how their training was going.

Keiko laughed, "Mom and Dad push me hard, making sure I can do everything they want me to do. It's not easy controlling this many bugs you know."

Kazuki contemplated it, "I wouldn't think it would be, it's like commanding an army."

She smiled, "Yeah, but Dad showed me an easy way to do it. So, since you're a Sarutobi, what did your parents teach you?"

Kazuki frowned, "Mom can't really teach me much, since I'm not a genjutsu type."

"What about your Dad?"

Kazuki went silent.

Keiko looked concerned, "Kazuki?"

Kazuki put on a false smile, "Asuma Sarutobi died for the village before I was born. I haven't really learned anything from him, so I try to teach myself."

Keiko apologized, "I'm sorry, I completely forgot..."

Kazuki shrugged, "It wouldn't be the first time."

Keiko tried to cheer him up, "How about you train with us? We'll be done before your sensei even wakes up. Besides, you're good at taijutsu, maybe you can give poor Nami a few pointers."

Kazuki smiled, "I guess it couldn't hurt. Let's ask."

Keiko led him too Munashii who glared at him upon approach, "I didn't permit you to bring your boyfriend... Why is he here?"

(Ha! Looks like people know.)

Keiko bowed to her sensei, "He wishes to train with us. He doesn't have anyone other than his sensei to teach him techniques, so I offered him to join us. Maybe he could spare a bit with Nami and help him out?"

Namimaru smiled at the chance to show off his new powers.

Munashii looked at Kazuki, "What's your name kid?"

"I'm Sarutobi Kazuki."

Munashii's eyes lit up, "Ah, you are Shikamaru's student. In that case, I'll teach you. Have you already learned chakra control?"

Kazuki nodded.

"Good. I would like to see you spar with Nami for a bit. He spent the entire night mastering chakra control, but he still needs help with his taijutsu."

Yuna smiled at Nami, "Good luck Nami-kun!"

Nami smiled confidently, "Piece of cake."

He and Kazuki faced one another and readied their stance.

"Go!" Munashii yelled.

Nami led with a fast punch to the face, but Kazuki easily sidestepped and took the opportunity to knee Nami in the stomach, "You can't be so straight-forward with your moves, if you are predictable, you are more prone to have openings."

Namimaru scoffed.

(Is this kid even listening?)

Nami came at him again, but this time with a fast round kick aimed at the side of Kazuki's head. Kazuki blocked the attack, but Nami lifted off with his other foot and attempted to attack for the opposite end. Kazuki ducked to avoid the attack and punched at Nami's stomach. Nami caught the punch and sent his own fist into Kazuki's face. Kazuki took the hit and smiled, "Watch your feet."

Kazuki used his foot like a hook and caused Nami to lose his footing. Nami fell backwards, but Kazuki caught him.

Kazuki laughed, "You may not be the best fighter around, but you throw a mean punch. That strength was unreal!"

Nami smiled, but was still ashamed for losing.

Kazuki continued to lecture him, "Hand-to-hand combat is all about balance and prediction. If you can predict your opponents moves, then you can easily find an opening and time attacks of your own. This is why the long lost Uchiha were naturally proficient at taijutsu."

Munashii smiled at Keiko, "Your boyfriend is pretty smart."

Keiko shrugged, "Who knew?"

Kazuki had finished his lecture and walked to Munashii, "So what's next sensei?"

Munashii pulled a few pieces of paper out of her pouch, "Each of you take one of these. I'm going to teach you something most don't learn until chunin or jounin level."

The four students each took a piece. Kazuki sniffed the paper, "So what do these do?"

Munashii ignored him, "Yuna, I want you to channel your chakra into the paper."

She immediately followed orders, "Yes, sensei!"

She focused hard on the paper, slowly sending her chakra into it. The paper suddenly began to dampen.

Yuna looked confused, "What just happened?"

Munashii took the paper from her, "I just figured out your chakra nature."

Yuna raised her eyebrow, "Chakra nature?"

Munashii nodded, "Yes. There are 5 natures total: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Lightning. If you are fire, then the paper will turn to ash. If you are water, then it will become moist. If you are wind, then it will slice in two. If you are earth, then it will deteriorate, and if you are lightning, then it will crumple up."

"So that makes me water?" Yuna asked.

"Right," Munashii then pointed at Nami, "Your turn."

Nami concentrated on his paper, it began to crumble away.

"You're Earth, next?" She pointed at Keiko,

Keiko's chakra caused hers to crumple up.

"Lightning, and finally our guest," she said as she motioned to Kazuki.

Kazuki forced his chakra into the paper. Something strange had happened. His paper began to erupt in smoke that covered his hands.

Kazuki panicked, "What's going on?"

Munashii stared in wonder, "I've never seen this before. It looks like you've inherited some sort of kekkei genkai, a jutsu only passed down by blood."

Kazuki was incredibly surprised, "But how?"

Munashii though for a second, "I've seen techniques similar to this. Vapor ninjutsu is created by fusing the fire and water elements, so your smoke must be a natural combination of elements. Something like fire and wind..."

Kazuki watched the last of his paper vanish, "Fire and wind huh?"

Isai had been awake the entire morning trying to get this look right.

(I never knew it was so difficult to look like this...)

She let her hair flow back, that part was done. Now for the clothes she had made, they were a bit tight, but she was willing to do whatever it took to get Kazuki's attention. She removed her glasses and looked suspiciously at her newly bought contact lenses...

(Is this really worth it?)

She knew her answer to that question. She might as well try... Though, getting contact lenses on for the first time was always a challenge.

(Ow!)

Isai looked at her reflection, it didn't look like her, but like someone completely different... It made her uncomfortable.

(For Kazuki.)

Kazuki continued to spar with Namimaru. Both of them were a step ahead of the other members who were learning how to walk on water since Shikamaru had already taught chakra control to Kazuki's team, and Namimaru was easily able to do it on his first try. Nami eagerly accepted Kazuki's training. His mask told him that it could grant him the chakra and strength he needed, but it could not fight for him. Nami had to learn that himself...

It wasn't long before the rest of the group members were finished with their training. Yuna smiled at Nami, "That was amazing! Your training is really paying off!"

Keiko frowned, "Now you might actually be slightly useful in a fight..."

Nami scowled at her, but she just blew him off.

Munashii got everyone's attention, "Alright, our training is done for today. I have accepted a C-rank mission for us and we will head out tomorrow. Keiko might want to say goodbye to her boyfriend. She wont be seeing him for a few days."

Keiko gave Kazuki a pitiful look. He blushed a bit.

"Kazuki!" Munashii got his attention, "It was good to have you here. I can tell that Nami has improved drastically in his taijutsu. Dismissed."

Yuna left with Munashii and Kazuki with Keiko, leaving Namimaru all alone.

The mask spoke to him, "Now we begin the real training..."

Keiko held Kazuki's hand the entire way to the park where they met Shikamaru.

Shikamaru raised his eyebrow, "Kazuki is the first one here? Now I never would've expected that... But he brought a cute guest, so that explains it."

Keiko kissed Kazuki and whispered in his ear, "Let's meet in the same place after you're done training."

Kazuki nodded and Keiko took her leave. Atsui was the next to show up.

Shikamaru thought to himself.

(Isai is the last one here? I wonder what's going on today?)

Eventually, an unfamiliar violet haired girl stood next to Shikamaru.

Kazuki couldn't help but check her out, being the perv that he is.

The girl talked quietly, "I'm ready whenever you guys are..."

Kazuki gasped, "ISAI? You look amazing!"

Even Atsui was slightly taken aback by the drastic change of appearance. Isai simply turned red from Kazuki's outburst.

Kazuki marveled at the sight, "You took off your glasses and everything!"

Shikamaru frowned, "None of this will be a hindrance in any missions will it?"

Isai shook her head, "No, I'm using extra-durable contacts. They should be fine."

Shikamaru nodded, "Alright, we're going to be training today, but from what I've heard from Munashii, it seems as though two of us have already learned their chakra nature. So instead of my original plan, I've decided to teach you how to harness that nature. Isai, I'll give you the paper you need to learn your element."

Shikamaru gave her the paper, "Now send your chakra into it."

Isai sent her chakra into the paper, but nothing happened.

She frowned, "Am I doing it wrong?"

Shikamaru scratched his head, "I don't think so... Maybe you just don't have a nature..."

Isai looked at the ground, depressed. Shikamaru attempted to comfort her, "It's not a big deal. I never learned how to use my own chakra nature. I got by using only my shadows and my brain. I'm sure you can do the same. You're smart Isai, that's your biggest strength."

She looked up with a little more confidence, "Yes, Shikamaru-sensei."

Shikamaru looked back to Atsui and Kazuki, "Atsui, the earth nature is all about brute strength. In order to truly harness it, you must mold your chakra into one area, then compress it. The further you can compress that chakra, the harder the minerals will be in your jutsu. This can be done the opposite way as well, by lessening the compression, you can create mud or even sand. Gaara of the Desert has taken this to the S-rank level, so never forget what I'm telling you."

Atsui nodded, "Seems easy enough."

Shikamaru looked at Kazuki, "As for you, we are going to figure out how to use your kekkei genkai."

Kazuki smiled, "Awesome!"

Atsui frowned.

(How did he get such an ability?)

Atsui didn't worry about it too much, she had already practiced her earth natured jutsu on her own, but now she had something to go on. She tested Shikamaru's advice and focused on compressing her chakra into her hand. She slammed her hand on the ground and small fissures erupted from the spot she had struck.

Shikamaru clapped, "Very well done. You keep practicing that, Isai stay with her and make sure she doesn't hurt herself... Or anyone else. Kazuki, come with me."

Shikamaru walked off with Kazuki. Atsui frowned and looked at Isai, "You can tell who's the favorite in this group."

Isai shook her head, "I think Shikamaru-sensei is just curious about his abilities."

Atsui made a few handsigns and slammed the ground again. The fissures were wider this time.

Isai opened her pouch and threw her a scroll. Atsui caught it, "What's this?"

Isai smiled, "I knew you were good with the earth style, so I borrowed this from my parents. It's an Earth Wall jutsu, I thought it might be helpful."

Atsui smiled at her, a sight that was incredibly rare, "Thanks a bunch. This'll help me with my training."

Isai opened a scroll she had obtained for herself, she had to learn something after all.

Shikamaru led Kazuki to the training field, "I've reserved this spot for today. I'm going to teach you you how to use your fire and wind natures, then we can get to the hard part."

Kazuki nodded.

Shikamaru continued, "We'll start with fire. Fire natured chakra is drawn from the stomach, in order to perform a fire style ninjutsu, you will have to gather chakra in your stomach. Once the chakra is gathered there, you basically regurgitate it."

Kazuki laughed, "Sounds gross."

Shikamaru ignored him, "Unlike earth, you wont have to compress your chakra. Fire natured jutsu all changes depending on the heat of the chakra in your stomach. To generate this heat, you must increase the speed that the chakra flows in your stomach. I want you to try this."

Kazuki didn't understand a word other than chakra and stomach, but that wouldn't stop him, "Focus chakra into stomach... Alright, I can feel it..."

Shikamaru smiled, "Good."

Kazuki made a handsign to help him mold his chakra, "Change the speed of the chakra..."

Kazuki felt his body getting hotter, almost like a stomach ache.

He spun the chakra around in his stomach until he couldn't hold it in. A small burst of flame was shot from Kazuki's mouth as he burped.

Shikamaru smiled, "Not bad for your first time. Keep at it."

Kazuki made his chakra molding handsign again. Burping small flames that grew bigger over time. After a few hours, the flames grew to be four times the size that they started out to be.

(I think I'm starting to get the hang of this!)

He molded his chakra again, this time changing the shape of his mouth and exhaling the flames more slowly. The fire came out at a steady flow and looked like the breath of a miniature dragon.

Shikamaru clapped, "Congratulations! You can now effectively use your fire nature! I'll find you some scrolls when I have time so you can learn some basic jutsu. Next time, the entire team will train here, so be here at the same time you arrived at the park today."

Kazuki grinned, "You got it Shikamaru-sensei!"

Shikamaru grinned back, "Go catch up with your date."

Kazuki nodded and leapt off.

(That kid is special. It took Naruto a few days to master his chakra nature, but this kid did it in a few hours.)

Isai watched as Atsui created a large earth wall in front of her. It towered over the nearby trees. Isai performed her newly learned jutsu to create training partners for Atsui, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Isai effectively created 5 clones, a large amount for a genin, each of which ran after Atsui.

Atsui ran up her wall of earth, the clones followed. One of Isai's clones threw a shuriken. Atsui noticed and stomped on the wall, causing a jagged edge to shoot out and block the kunai. Atsui then made handsign, "Earth Style: Mud Fall!"

The earth scaling the side of the wall became a waterfall of mud, drowning the remaining clones.

Isai applauded, "Amazing!"

Atsui smiled, "It's good, but it needs work."

Shikamaru agreed as he walked into view, "That's why we'll be in the training field tomorrow. Not only do I need to work with Kazuki, but I need to make sure that we all have the skills we need before I accept our next mission. It's a C-rank, and we'll be outside of Fire Country. We must be prepared."

Isai frowned, "We haven't even had but one D-rank, don't you think we should do a bit more of those before we take on a C-rank?"

Shikamaru shook his head, "I think with the skills that you have, you are more than capable at trying a C-rank mission. I'm just making sure you can survive if anything goes wrong."

Isai looked slightly frightened. Atsui, however, was smiling with anticipation.

Kazuki met Keiko in the clearing, "Hey Keiko, what's up?"

Keiko smiled at him flirtatiously, "Nothing right now."

Kazuki looked at the sky, "It's still day, we could go do something if you like."

Keiko shook her head, "Nah, it's to crowded, besides, the sun will set in an hour or so."

Kazuki smiled, "The sunset does look great from here."

Keiko lied down on the grass motioning for Kazuki to join her, "Let's just enjoy it then."

Kazuki lied next to her and took her hand. After a while, Kazuki got up and practiced his fire style a bit more to use up his energy, while Keiko sat back and watched. After watching the sunset, they headed back into town for some dinner.

Kazuki looked around town, "I don't have much money, so our choices are limited to barbeque or ramen."

Keiko laughed, "I know what you mean, Muna-sensei hasn't sent us on a single mission. I'm completely broke. I say barbeque."

Kazuki smiled, "That's good, I had more than enough ramen yesterday."

He remembered his contest with the Hokage... Not his brightest idea...

Kazuki shivered, "Barbeque it is!"

They entered the barbeque restaurant to be greeted by an incredibly obnoxious voice, "HEY GUYS! SIT HERE!"

Kazuki and Keiko looked over to see Morodashi and Marudashi. They had identical features, blue eyes and spiky brown hair. They were sitting at a large table with Rock Lee and Lee Sin, Rock Lee looked at Kazuki and smiled, allowing his teeth to shimmer in the light.

Keiko and Kazuki both stared blankly at him...

(Is he really a ninja?)

Kazuki looked at Keiko who shrugged, "We might as well..."

They walked over to the rounded table and sat next to each other.

The twins both gave them a weird look. They talked in a way that made them finish each other's sentences, Morodashi spoke first, "Well, well, well... Looks like you too are rather close."

Marudashi continued, "We saw you holding hands on the way in, so we had to ask..."

Morodashi finished the sentence, "If you two were dating?"

Keiko eyed them suspiciously, "Yeah? So what?"

The twins snickered as Morodashi asked, "So how far have you gone?"

They alternated as they spoke.

"First?"

"Second?"

"Third?"

Then they cheered simultaneously, "Or all the way?"

Rock Lee appeared behind them and slapped them both in the back of their heads, "What did I tell you about respecting women? You have no right to ask such a question!"

Keiko sighed, "We haven't done anything if you must know... You pervs..."

Morodashi looked at his twin, "Think it's the bugs?"

Marudashi nodded, "Yeah, probably the bugs."

Morodashi thought out loud, "You think she has bugs...?"

Marudashi finished his sentence, "Down there?"

Keiko punched Marudashi in the face, knocking him down. She switched to Morodashi and kneed him in a place men dislike being kneed. They both fell over on the ground and whimpered, "We were only curious!"

Rock Lee apologized, "Do not worry. I will make sure that they are properly punished in training tomorrow."

The twins moaned louder at the thought.

Keiko seemed content to sit down and order, so Kazuki did the same.

They quickly ate their food and left for the hill so that they could be alone. They'd be separated for a bit, so they needed to enjoy this last bit of time that they had.

Keiko stared in wonder at the starry sky, "You know... I wish I could just sit here forever... Not a care in the world... Just me, you, and the night sky."

Kazuki smiled, "Yeah, life would be pretty great."

Keiko turned to kiss him. Kazuki saw a small bug on her cheek, but decided to ignore it. He kissed her back with everything he had, then they lied down in the grass until they felt like they had to be home.

(Tonight was perfect...)