I will be now be updating every six days, I made the math and it almost made me blanch on how long this fic will be going if I did it once a week like I planned.
Ok, I will answer the most common question: when I wrote about Keimei being as dangerous as a Jounin, I didn't mean that she can take one. But in the way that she knows exactly how to cripple someone without the need for any physical attributes to her. Remember that there are many different ways to be 'dangerous'.
Thanks for EmyLove, Nogs28, UnknownSoul, Kraceir, starboy8016, fanficreader71 and bunnyguest for the amazing reviews!
Oh, and Nogs28, thanks. It just kinda a bummer that so many people are following and/or put it in their favorites but so few reviews you know?
Kraceir, that was this obvious, lol.
KISSEs and I hope you enjoy this chapter, I will soon be answering any other questions.
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CHAPTER FOUR: C Turned A Part 2 – SKILLS.
She had dinner the same day with Iruka-sensei, the kind-heartened Chuunin that did so much for her.
"Hey, Keimei!" Iruka greeted the little blonde, his smile widened when he saw what she was wearing; Iruka was the first one that she said everything. About Uzushiogakure and the Uzumaki Ichizoku (clan) at least and he was happy to see that Keimei was finally wearing her mother's outfit. They met a few times in the Missions Room, but that didn't really count in her book, it was business then.
"Hi, Iruka-sensei" she greeted with a happy, rare smile, very alike her mother's for those who knew her as she sat beside him in the ramen stand, "I have many news to tell"
"Well, then let's begin to eat"
Keimei told him everything: the introductions, Hatake Kakashi, what she knew of him and the test itself, what she was thinking of the missions: annoying, but useful for easy money, better curriculum and gave her more time for training and told him about the decision of making a Formal Complaint, which made Iruka spit the water he was drinking. Looking properly apologetic for the glare Teuchi sent in his direction, he turned an alarmed look in Keimei's direction.
"Are you insane? No one make a Formal Complaint, you need…"
"The proper filled paperwork in the proper department and present the case before the Hokage with a strong defense and undeniable proof that will then be analyzed and stored for six more months in case the situation can and/or will be rectified without the subject's knowledge and in the occasion that it's not, it will proceed to permanently blotch said individual's curriculum"
Iruka blushed, with her 4'8 feet and very slender built, almost malnourished, he often forgets that Keimei wasn't defenseless, at the very least in the theoretical sense of the word, actually she was one of the most politically savvy people he ever met as for the physical… it seems that she was making the amends for it too not be a problem for long.
"Ok, ok…still, I know he has his problems, all of us do, really, but I can't believe that Kakashi-san would stoop so low" honestly, the man has such a prestigious name. The blonde just shrugged. And began telling about her idea for new teachers. Sarutobi Asuma, Gekko Hayate, Maito Gai and Yuuhi Kurenai.
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"Again" Hayate shouted, Keimei was panting in front of him, the training wooden swords clutched weakly in her hands that supported her upper weight in her knees, she was sweating, her hair was tied in a low pony tail and a mess and she was once again cladded in simple black ninja training clothing, but the determined glint in her blue eyes never once wavered.
In the month that Asuma, Gai, Kurenai and Hayate began training the young Genin to say that they were impressed was an understatement. The girl wasn't a genius, far from that; but she trained so hard and worked so much that her progress wasn't a surprise once you watched it, the blonde only looked like a genius because people saw the results from afar, they didn't see the process up close.
Catching her breath, Keimei was back at the stance that Hayate deemed the best for her, strong defense which seemed to be one of her weaker points, with horizontal slashes that was perfect for her future Fuutonuse,but with enough leeway to adapt her developing Taijutsu with Gai that focused on speed first and strength second and taking full advantage of her astounding natural flexibility, something unpredictable that suited her battle thinking.
Asuma told her about the Kage Bunshin memories transference, she already knew that because how else she would know what a clone did when it dispelled? But she didn't know about its possible uses in training which made her even madder with Kakashi, seriously? Not even that he was willing to give her? Did Kakashi wanted his students to simply fail? As for the safety reasons, she wasn't stupid, if he told her that she could leak the Kyuubi's chakra if pushed too hard in this kind of training, Keimei wouldn't have done innumerous clones, just six or seven.
Regardless of how much a banshee she is, Keimei felt kind of bad for Haruno, she manage to get around this situation and Sasuke had tons of family scrolls to fall back to if he really didn't want external help, but Sakura was from a civilian family with a civilian background. Oh well, no one can say that she didn't try to help, both of them even.
Kurenai was perfect for chakra control being Konoha's Genjutsu specialist at the relatively early age of 27, the Ninja area that required the most concentration and detail-oriented focus, the exact control of chakra being vital for creating every tiny element of the illusions, Keimei could see that the Jounin was fuming that Kakashi didn't even teach them the Tree Climbing exercise, she rectified that and also the Water Walking one, Keimei was still a little wobbly in the second, but the first she accomplished in six days' time without Kage Bunshins, Kurenai explaining that after she mastered Water Walking she would go back to the basic Leaf Concentration Practice.
"This is the one taught at the Academy, but I could never complete it, the leaf always burst or caught fire" Keimei explained a little hesitantly, this is the one practice that always pulverized her patience and left her with the enormous urge to scream her head off.
"Because you have too much chakra. I know you hear that a lot" Kurenai said quickly when she saw Keimei about to protest "But this is basically the… 'problem', which many would beg to have! You had to begin with more chakra intensive control exercise and go backwards from there. Usually it is the Leaf Concentration one because of the small chakra capacity Academy students have, then for more finesse the Tree Climbing and Water Walking. Usually Genin learn the techniques as they expand their reserves, but you already have too large reserves of chakra, so you have to go backwards. The training will be arduous, you will have to apply yourself three hundred times more than any other of your peers because you have three hundred times more chakra than any of your peers, but once you have the control, you'll be a powerhouse of a Kunoichi. The control makes any technique you have in your arsenal many times more powerful, faster and stronger, if you add all the chakra you have…" the Jounin left the idea hanging but was satisfied that instead of looking smug, the Genin looked determined.
Once she was able to spar in the surface of lake that the Genjutsu Mistress was disrupting the water of, almost two weeks after meeting Kurenai, Keimei began the Leaf Concentration. She realized it was easier this time around, but the leaves were still practically combusting. An entire month of this continual nightmare and two since meeting the Genjutsu Mistress, with Kurenai's gentle nudges and helpful advices, the blonde couldn't believe it: the leaf was gently floating in her forehead, exact two inches away from her hitaiate (forehead protector) she was exhausted, not physically, but mentally and psychologically. This exercise demanded so much concentration that her naturally hyperactive mind just couldn't focus in a single point for so long. Usually, Keimei was thinking in a hundred different things, even if she was capable of focus, particularly when reading about a subject she was interested in, there was no subject this time around, only a tiny leaf to occupy her feverish mind.
But she did it!
Kurenai thought it best that she did it with as many Kage Bunshins as she could with the most chakra consuming control exercise and then lessen their numbers and increase the difficult of the chakra control exercise, so Keimei would have an easier time with smaller amounts of chakra and then progressively learn how to control her vast reserves. The progress was astounding and Kurenai couldn't help but giver herself a mental pat on the back for her brilliant training plan.
As she finally had the control necessary, Keimei was deemed ready for the real deal of the Genjutsu arts. The blonde learned how to successfully and efficiently detect and dispel medium Genin level Genjutsus and after one month of intensive Chakra control training, Keimei manage to perform her first battle Genjutsu. Magen: Narakumi no Jutsu (Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique), a D-Rank and ironically it was the same one that Kakashi knocked Sakura out with in the Genin Test. The image still wavered at the corners, but considering her earlier atrocious chakra control, Keimei knew the impossible leap in progress she made and Kurenai also made a point to reiterate, much to the blonde's surprise and whose respect for the red eyed Jounin grew, Kurenai praised her, but made sure that she wouldn't let her success get to her head.
Kurenai also recommended that Keimei enlisted in the Iryo (Medic) Training Program, stating that while she may never have the amount of control to specialize in the area considering her massive reserves or be well known for it, be it Genjutsu or Iryo Ninjutsu (Medical Ninja Techniques) really, it would be tremendous help in her control and to have a Iryo Nin (Medic Ninja) in the team or at least a member knowledgeable in medical treatments could be fundamental for a teammate's survival.
Kurenai wasn't trying to discourage her, but she had pointed out that the only two ninjas in history to have such a massive chakra reserves like hers and still the amount of control necessary for every single drop of it for such delicate art as being a medic required were Senju Hashirama and Senju Tsunade, hardly fair comparisons.
Knowing that she wasn't welcomed in the hospital regardless of the reasons – visiting a patient or almost dying, Keimei without so much as a flinch, told Kurenai about her less than kind experience in the hospital, said Jounin controlled her rage and introduced her to Hoshou*, a field Iryo Nin whose job was basically to be sent after the teams injured in combat that are unable to be transported back to the village, which gave him a lot of experience.
*He really exists, first appearance being in the 'Sasuke Recovery Arch', one of the medics to try and heal the Genins sent to get Sasuke back.
Since she was a field Kunoichi and not stationary like the ones that worked full time in the hospital or behind a desk full of paperwork, the blonde was first taught how to do the Hyorogan (Military Ration Pills) and the Zoketsugan (Blood Increasing Pill), stuff the stationary medics didn't learn since they were almost never out of the hospital. Modify the different kinds of chemicals to vary the effects of the little bombs that were made in the labs underground of the Hospital such as Kemuridamas (Smoke Bombs) and Hikaridamas (Flash Bombs), basic poison that was used in blades such as Kunais, Shurikens, Senbons, swords or the like, battle injection shots and how to counter each of them and create an antidote.
Of course, since Keimei was only beginning, she didn't know much more than the basics and theory – and boy how much theory there was to read – but being a medic required a lot of study and concentration not to mention patience because of the slow progress, and that she could do, the blonde learned at a very early age that rushed progress only had poor results. For her to use anything she learned in the Program on missions, she needed to pass a Field Test, that was a series of evaluations to see a Iryo Nin's competency in a certain skill and permit said skill to be used in field and without the proper supervision, almost four months of training in and the blonde managed to get permission to make and use the Hyorogan (Military Ration Pill) and the Zoketsugan (Blood Increasing Pill) in part because of her already relative knowledge in herbs due to her green thumb.
Kemuridamas and Hikaridamas however needed a lot of knowledge and precision on chemicals to have the particular desired effect and she was still learning, nonetheless she did already learn how to perform the basics of the Shosen Jutsu (Mystical Palm Technique) nothing that would help in a surgery and without assistance, the Kunoichi needed to use every drop of concentration she had in her to heal a pretty nasty laceration, for sure nowhere near the level that was needed to pass the Field Test let alone be useful on missions if it became necessary. After all, on field she wouldn't have the benefit of a very quiet hospital room with no danger around and a watchful professional eye almost breathing down her neck to make sure she didn't screw up; but any progress is still progress in her mind, especially since Genjutsu and Iryo Ninjutsu were two of the most difficult Ninja arts only losing to Fuuinjutsu (Sealing Techniques) and the ones who required the most chakra control.
With the Kage Bunshin, her elemental training went without a hitch, with 200 Kage Bunshin only on that daily and Asuma's help, Keimei manage to cut the leaves in half after only ten days, she still chuckled a little at Asuma's expression when she showed him the leaves. As the next step was more dangerous, she was introduced to Yamato, a Jounin with a serious, but pleasant enough demeanor and generally good-naturedly, he was there to suppress the Kyuubi chakra that was bound to leak in such an intensively chakra draining exercise. Both men were a little surprised that she didn't even cringe at the subject, her eyes darkened a little, but otherwise she didn't seem overly uncomfortable. Keimei was impressed a little by the waterfall that Yamato made, she didn't see how it would be useful in combat situations, but it was pretty exciting anyway.
"Ok, kid, here is the next step: the way you cut leaves? You'll cut the waterfall" without a word she made more clones and they jumped in the platform of wood in front of it. That part really stumped her; the amount of Fuuton (Wind Release) chakra that was needed to cut the waterfall was too great and left her completely drained after each, unsuccessful, try.
"My teammate is capable of using Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball) but I doubt he went under a similar training as the one I'm undertaking" she commented when they stopped for the day and the three Ninjas were drinking cool beverages in the shadows to ward off the Hi no Kuni's(Fire Country) summer heat.
"While there are many theories about Affinities; are they hereditary, psychological, due to environment? More commonly than not it's accepted that it's biological, even if it's not impossible that a child possesses a different affinity than the parents; the Uchiha were well known for their innate affinity for Katon Seishitsu Henka (Fire Release Nature Transformation). It is quite common that a member while not possessing the primary affinity for it, with the right training is able to use Katon (Fire Release) and just as strongly as their affinity, though perhaps not as easily. Now, without the training in Nature Transformation, you are only able to perform very basic moves, especially as a Genin, Sasuke probably has primary or at the very least secondary affinity for it. Don't be mistaken, if he had went through the same regimen, his Katon techniques would be a lot more powerful"
Gai was… something else, his training helped her tremendously, left her tired in a way that as soon as she got home she'd have just enough energy to take a shower, put on her pajamas and just drop, she's usually sleep deprived because of nightmares or plain insomnia, but Gai's training was so crazy that left her too tired for her usual three or four hour of sleep per day. And that wasn't counting the ridiculous weights he gave her, she was already tired by the time she reached him for her the day's training. With him, her speed and strength were improving so much that the blonde found unbelievable, as eccentric as Gai is, no one could deny the man was a genius at teaching, despite his… explosive personality, he was very patient with all her questions and always incentivized her curiosity, used to being dismissed or belittled for asking questions, Keimei was soaking it up for all it was worth like she did with Iruka-sensei. Gai was actually the one to give the 'overall' lecture.
"You have to compliment all your trainings, because one is only a part of your fighting style. You have to be able to use all of them at the same time in a battle, like in Taijutsu, the movements and decisions have to follow the former. For example: the control Kurenai is teaching you will allow you to use Iryo (Medical) and Genjutsu techniques in field situations and exponentially increase the power and speed and skill of the Ninjutsu Asuma is training you in, at the same time that Asuma's training is increasing your already vast chakra reserves. My physical training will help you with your sword stance and the practice you are getting from Hayate will give you more finesse in your Taijutsu and complement your Fuuton (Wind Release) Jutsus, the same way that my exercises of Taijutsu will give you more discipline in learning the other areas. Iryo training will give a deeper knowledge on where to strike and about how much you, your opponents and your teammates will be able to take after a prolonged battle, the theory is lengthy and complicated, but your training in Fuuinjutsu gave you the patience required to learn" Gai only winked reassuringly at her stunned expression.
Keimei never once revealed to anyone that she was teaching herself Fuuinjutsu (Sealing Techniques), there were no masters in Konoha and the only adept at it currently in the village was Kakashi… and that was the same as a dead end. It was arduous, sophisticated, and more often than not, very puzzling, the slightest mistake in stroke or chakra regulation could mean a very painful consequence. Yet… her very distracted mind just seemed to soak it all in. In seals there are many different things, many different elements all working together and apart and happening at the same time, but not in the same order. While one element controlled the intensity, the other could control the flow, while one was only redirecting the power to another, and one was reducing it before another began acting as a filter, or it could be purely structural, it was maddening, but… she understood it. Keimei only need a little bit of tolerance and her brain just seemed to… understand, she couldn't explain it until she read a book about an Uzumaki's brain biology that she found by accident when trying to research more about neurons for her Iryo (Medical) training.
"See how one is fundamental to the other? You remember that and I have no doubt you will become a splendid Kunoichi" and his smile turned softer, it still shined eerily, but…
For the first time since Umino Iruka, Keimei was left speechless by a teacher. Was it such a great surprise that Rock Lee, whom Keimei had the chance to meet officially for spars against a more skilled Taijutsu fighter, had such an idolization for the man? And for the first time since Umino Iruka…
"Hai, Gai-sensei" and she smiled with uncharacteristic shyness.
All four older Ninja gained her respect and the right in her eyes to be called 'sensei'. Gai-sensei just being the first to do so and, if she was honest with herself, the one she had the most respect and fondness for.
Keimei couldn't deny that Kurenai was a good teacher and if not for her, at least half of the progress that she had in the last five months wouldn't be there but Kurenai was a little quick to judge and, in Keimei's opinion she shouldn't coddle her students so much, her included but specially Hinata, they were bound to get hurt eventually, physically or otherwise and there was nothing she could do to prevent that, the only thing she could and should do was prepare them to the best of her abilities and while she had all the right in the world to be angered at those that wounded them, she could not discount her anger on those that did so, regardless if through threats, a simple glare or lectures, nor could she reprimand everybody that did something she disapproved of, she was no one's mother.
Asuma was pretty detached, blunt to the extreme and was not above using dirty tricks to get the desired results. Keimei could respect that since it was pretty much the ninjas' way, what truly made her laugh was watching him interact with Team 10, bribing Chouji with food and Shikamaru with matches of Shoji to train and battering right back when Ino got out of hand… which was pretty much all the time. All that aside, he truly focused on her training and didn't expect anything else but the most she could give, Asuma wasn't asking for her to do what she couldn't just to give it all and nothing less. He was pretty easy to understand and coexist with…and she was nobody to criticize people's habits, but that cursed cigarette! Keimei was always leaving his training smelling of smoke and while Asuma-sensei had all the right in the world to ruin his own organs if he so wished, she didn't want to turn hers into pieces of coal!
Hayate was a hard taskmaster, the man wasn't satisfied until the day's objective was met, there was no 'let's stop, we can try again tomorrow' with him. To learn swordfight, you didn't begin with a real sword, you begin with blunt or even wooden ones with the accurate weigh and length of the professional one that you'll eventually use, memorizing stances, be they soft and flexible or hard that uses the most of your physical strength, Hayate wouldn't leave her alone until all the stances were perfect and then she would have to practice with the training swords, the Tokubetsu Jounin not allowing her to even think about touching a real sword until her technique was adequate enough for Keimei not cut off her own limbs…his own words.
Hoshou was the more… normal one, for lack of a better term. He was fair, taciturn and non-nonsense that tolerated no jokes on the job. He taught her like he would teach anyone else, diligent and very detail oriented like all Iryo Nin, he only accept perfection, in his field there were no room for mistakes, but since Iryo Ninjutsuwas straining her focus a lot more than her knowledge – Keimei always had a knack for big texts – there wasn't much he did after a while besides making sure she didn't screw up somewhere and ended crippling someone and answering her questions about the theory, it wouldn't be until Keimei was more advanced and could actually practice what she learned that he would take a more active role.
Keimei never once chastised their eccentricities, not because they were training her, that would be hypocrite beyond belief, but because they were adults and it wasn't her place to tell them what to do or not do. The blonde fiercely believed that everyone had their lives and, if it wasn't negatively interfering with others aside from mild annoyance, who were other people to put their two cents?
All that aside from her daily missions with Team 7 and the solo ones she manage to squeeze in, she shook her head when Kakashi didn't even ask her why she was so tired every day. Keimei thanked whatever deity was willing to listen when it's Sunday or when Kakashi gave them the day off… which was a lot more often than the other Senseis gave their own students now that she was thinking about it.
But then, he might already know, but if he knew, he had to have found out about the Formal Complaint, he would have said somethingright? He can't be that aloof. On the other hand that was the man that shamelessly read porn in public so…
Oh well, not her problem, she thought a little irked, it has been five months since the formation of Team 7 and still in the teamwork exercises, seriously Kakashi? Not even chakra control? Or at the very least sparing sessions? She huffed a little, was it because of the Kyuubi? If so, it wasn't fair that Kakashi makes the whole team suffer just because of her, it wasn't fair to her either, but even less to the other two.
Asuma and Kurenai were already considering teaching a few high C-Rank Jutsus and upping their team's training for the Chuunin Shiken a month from then, and team 7? Just as they were at the beginning. Keimei rolled her eyes, the time stipulation of her Complaint was up and it will reach his official scores any time in the next month or so, permanent blotch in his historic it is.
Keimei stood beside her team as Sakura gave Madam Shijimi her cat, Tora back, the blonde took a step to the side when Sakura rejoined them, the look on her face as she stared at the cat was unnerving.
"Very well, now let's see, we have 'walking dogs', 'cleaning the hot springs in the northern…"
"Ok, I have had it!" Sakura yelled at the top of her lungs getting Keimei out her musings, the blonde blinked through the pain in her left ear and turned to the pink haired girl "Kakashi-sensei! How much longer will we do those chores?"
Sasuke nodded, for once in agreement with his heada-teammate.
"Sakura! Do you not even understand the purpose of D-Ranks? And you're just a Genin, a newly turned Genin for five months!"
"Ma, Iruka, let's hear what Kakashi has to say" the Hokage interrupted gently.
"Hm? Yeah, I think they're ready for a C-Rank" Kakashi said with disinterest.
Iruka looked worried and more than a little annoyed, but had a moment of wanting to roll his eyes when Sakura looked fearful, wasn't she the one who pushed for different missions?
"Well, there is one for Nami no Kuni (Wave Country), an escorting mission, please sent in Tazuna-san"
An old man came into the room drinking a big jar of sake.
"What? I asked for ninja and you give me those brats? Is the pink chopstick even a ninja?"
Kakashi had to restrain Sakura.
"Ma ma, Sakura, no attacking the clients and Tazuna-san, rest assured, I am a Jounin and will be more than enough against any threats"
"Humph, fine, I am the great bridge builder Tazuna! And I hope you protect me with your lives"
"JUST A LITTLE BIT!" Sakura was still trying to take a swing at the man.
The Hokage and Iruka watched the circus: Tazuna drinking sake, Sakura yelling bloody murder while being held back by a bored Kakashi while Keimei and Sasuke just stared with uninterested looks on their faces. Oh boy.
"Well, Team 7, meeting time: 0700 at the village gates". Kakashi eye smiled to which Sasuke completed ignored and Keimei gave him a blank look.
At precisely 1200 the next day, Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Keimei could be seen arriving at the gates, Sakura, that somehow still didn't caught the memo, was there since 7 am and it looked as if she didn't know whether to yell at the blonde or fawn over the raven haired boy. Kakashi's arrival made that decision for her.
"YOU'RE LATE!"
"Maa, I didn't find any clean sockets this morning"
"YOU DON'T EVEN WEAR SOCKS! YOU NEVER WEAR SOCKS!"
"Exactly"
Keimei's lips twitched a little, ok, the excuse of today were just as ridiculous as the numerous others, but some of them were actually pretty funny, in a childish sort of way, the blonde's eyes softened just a little, it's been years since she felt amusement for such a jokes. Damn, she was getting a tiny soft spot for the useless teacher.
"Ok team, let's move" he ordered while taking out his beloved porn.
A blue eye twitched before deadpanning. Yep, the soft spot just turned into steel.
