Chapter 7 – Climbing trees is not as easy as it seems…
(Sasuke is a bit OOC) So sorry Hikari gets superhuman strength as her Kekkei Genkai, I didn't mean to copy Tsunada, I actually really did have this idea before I even knew about Tsunade. Also her element of ability is water, if you ever watched Avatar, it's kinda like waterbending. Again, didn't mean to copy!
With Kakashi still healing, Tazuna offered for us to stay at his house until our Sensei was all rested again. We all reluctantly agreed, since we were still weary after the fight. He had a small little house in the center of the village surrounded my water (no surprises here). But it was a cute little place and it was easy for us to relax.
The next day after the whole Zabuza incident, we all decided that we should train harder, so we pestered Kakashi sensei to train us even though we were on a mission. He reluctantly agreed, and even in the condition he moved in, he was still able to train us.
"Listen up you 4, watch closely at what I do." Kakashi walked toward the nearest tree and placed one foot on its trunk. "Today's lesson is climbing trees."
All four of us started at him like he was crazy. Firstly, A. How is climbing tree's going to help us? And 2. How in the world is he going to climb a tree with crutches…=_=.
"And of course." Kakashi continued, "You aren't allowed to use your hands." Kakashi now put one crutch onto the tree trunk and started walking up the tree as if he was just walking regularly on solid ground. He walked until he finally was hanging upside down from the lowest branch.
"In this, lesson, the true objective is not to learn how to climb trees, but how to control and more importantly, maintain your chakra.
Well that answers both questions. He's using his chakra to climb the tree. "You can use your kunai as a marker; make a slash in the tree at where you stop so you know where you got to last time."
"Also, a little tip, since you guys are beginners, you might want to start by running up the tree to get momentum, and then start to actually use your chakra." He added. "Now, get started!"
Alright Hikari, run up the tree first to gather momentum, then use my chakra. No problem. Easy.
Okay, so maybe that was an understatement. My first try was basically just horrible, I barley went 4 feet without falling back down. After a while, I started getting the hang of it and in no time, I reached the 1st branch.
I don't know how Sakura does it, but in her 1st try, she got as far as I did on my 10th.
All in All, I wasn't that bad. I beat Naruto and Sasuke (which they weren't very happy about) but I was still way under Sakura.
"Well, would you look at that, the girls of this group managed to get much further than the guys. What a surprise. I though you guys would be a lot tougher. Guess not. Well, I'm off, got some business to do." Kakashi noted.
He shouldn't have said that, Naruto was practically foaming at the mouth, and if looks could kill. Sasuke's glare would've killed Kakashi in 2 seconds flat."
"I'm going to show him! Just watch me; I'm going to run all the way to the top by the end of this day! Believe it!" Naruto exclaimed.
Me and Sakura looked at each other and started giggling. We couldn't help ourselves. Just seeing the look on the guys so determined to beat us GIRLS was just hilarious.
This went on for a while until the boys finally swallowed their pride and came to ask us how it's done. Naruto went over to Sakura and Sasuke came over to me. (Sakura wasn't really happy about this).
"Hey, So Hikari…" Sasuke looked like he was going to die from embarrassment. "I've not iced that you're pretty good at this."
I looked down at my feet, "Um…Well…Sakura is a lot better. Maybe you should ask her."
"She would just start flirting with me if I did. It gets really annoying."
"Oh, I'm sure it does."
"Anyways, I was wondering…if…you could…well…."
"Yes" I urged.
"I…er…." He stammered.
I flashed him a grin, "Of course I'll help you!"
Sasuke's eyes widened. "How did you…"
"It's a girl thing."
"Hn…"
"Come on, I'll show you." I went over to the nearest tree and backed away a couple of steps. Then I ran as fast as my legs could carry me up the trunk. Just with my momentum, I managed to get 10 feet high. I began to focus all my chakra to my feet and continued running, careful to balance all my energy.
Within minutes, I got to the top. Wow, a new record, and I didn't even mess up in front of him!
I leaped back down.
"And that's how it's done!" I couldn't help but feel a bit proud of myself.
"As Kakashi sensei said, the key is being able to control your chakra smoothly, and to maintain the balance through the entire climb is even harder." I explained. " Try to focus all your chakra to your feet first. "
He did so with no problem.
I smiled, "Now the trick is, can you maintain it?"
"Now you try" I said.
Sasuke mimicked my starte position and raced up the tree. In a few seconds, he disappeared among the leaves.
I put my hand over my eyes to shade them against the sun and looked up. And there he was, at the top of the tree.
I beamed. He dissolved back into the forest of leaves and came back down with a soft thump.
"You did it!" I rushed to him and without thinking, I gave him a hug. Immediately, I remembered what I was going again and quickly back off.
My face was growing hotter but I willed myself to stop blushing and surprisingly, I felt cooler.
Sasuke on the other hand was as red as a tomatoe. I glanced around. Naruto's eyes bugged out and Sakura looked like she was going to skin me alive for hugging "Her" Sasuke. But at that moment, I didn't care.
"I'm sorry if I…."
"Hn…it's fine."
"Okay…"
"Let's go find " He said, still red in the face.
I nodded in agreement and waved over at the other two.
"Hey Naruto! Sakura! We're going to head back, come now if you want to go back too!" I called.
Then I ran after Sasuke.
When we arrived back at Tazuna's house, Kakashi was already there and dinner was cooking. My stomach rumbled. I was really hungry, and nothing works up and appetite than a hard days of training.
After dinner, Sasuke and I arranged to meet up back at the place where we trained for some more training. Naruto and Sakura wanted to came to. I bet Sakura didn't want me and Sasuke alone. I didn't mind, and I owed those two for spending so much time with Sasuke.
"Alright! Now that's I'm full, I'm sure to go to the top! Believe it!" Naruto hollered.
"Oh, we believe you alright." I muttered under my breath.
Sasuke and Sakura snickered. "What?" Naruto asked, clearly annoyed.
"Oh nothing, come on, we're got to hurry if you want to squeeze in some training before dark."
"Oh yeah! Well I'm going to train even after its dark! I've got to if I want to become the next Hokage!" Now Naruto's screams were echoing off the forest, which got a little creepy.
Within a few moments, the training grounds came closer to view. "Well, we've finally reached it!" I said cheerfully. "Now let's train!"
Sasuke agreed to help me train since I didn't even know what my Kekkei Genkai (Bloodline Limit) was. I was a pretty lame excuse for a Kunoichi. So it's time to step it up a notch.
He didn't go easy on me. With every kunai thrown, his aim got better until I couldn't even find an opening to attack. That's where I got frustrated. I grabbed the nearby tree and ripped it clean out of the ground. Woah, I didn't know I could do that! I flung the tree at Sasuke who was too shocked to move. Oh my gods! It's gonna hurt him!
For some reason, my hand flew up and I gestured at the tree as if to call something inside of it to come to me. And boy did that something come. All the water inside of the tree got sucked out and it headed straight in palm, hovering in an ever-changing orb.
I stared at my hand in amazement. I never knew, well, actually, Dan and Kanji never told me anything about my past, only that my parents, Lady Natsuhi and my dad Satorou were really powerful ninja that died in the Great Ninja War to protect the village. I could hardly remember anything about them. And sadly, they never left me any family heirloom, until now. They did leave my something better than anything else, the Kekkei Genkai of the Moriko Clan. My new powers.
