"Alright, I'm here. What did you want to talk about?"
"Just a second, first I'll show you the new jutsu." He walked up to Kiba and placed a hand on his shoulder. He surrounded them in his chakra and then they were standing on top of the craved face of Shodaime.
"How the hell can you do Shunshin Naruto? It's a jonin level skill."
"I did it accidentally yesterday, and I've been able to since then at will, probably because of the Sharingan. No one I'm worried about can get here, so down to business. I was wondering if you would teach me the basic skills of the Inuzuka clan."
"Why learn when you could use the Sharingan to see it once and be able to do it?"
"If I did that, I wouldn't have earned the right to use it. I'll work my ass off to do it and if I should still fail so be it. I won't resort to taking the ability, especially from my own family."
"I suppose I can try, but I don't know how much help I'll be."
"Thanks Kiba. I plan to kick Sasuke's ass next time."
"Good, if you don't I was going to kick your ass."
"Like you could. Besides it's not wise to insult your only way off here." Kiba looked around and then gulped. Naruto laughed. "Don't worry, I wouldn't leave you up here. You've got to meet Hinata and I already told you I didn't want to get on her bad side." He repeated the process, and appeared at the base of the mountain. "Take a bath first though, you smell like shit, and I doubt she would appreciate you showing up with that god awful smell."
"Maybe you're right about that. Don't want to leave a bad impression."
"See you tomorrow, tell me how it goes." He lifted his hand in goodbye and disappeared in red chakra. Kiba looked stunned and then ran home to get ready.
------------------------
There was a knock on the door and Kakashi reluctantly moved to open it. Naruto stood outside. "Didn't expect to see you for awhile, figured you'd still be mad."
"Can I come in, it's not something we can talk about out here." Kakashi moved back inside and Naruto followed after shutting the door. "My chakra problem has been fixed. Kyuubi was nice enough to slow the flow of his chakra, though he couldn't stop it. It shouldn't effect me, but it's still enough to make doing Bunshin impossible for me. That's why I'm here actually, the old man said that you knew four other types, I was hoping you would teach me one."
"He could have taught you the one he knew."
"Yeah, but with all the work he has to do already, he wouldn't have time. I think he also wanted to make sure that I would talk to you sooner. I was planning on telling you that I'm okay anyway, you should know about that at least. You also have a more to choose from. So, will you help me?"
"In all the time you've known me, have I ever refused to train you?" Naruto thought for a minute then shook his head. "Well then, which did you want to learn?"
"I've never heard of shadow clones before, what element do they use?"
"They don't, these clones are solid, use more chakra then regular ones, but are created the same way."
"I think I'll go with them, it could give me the advantage in a fight because if they appear like normal clones, people won't expect them to attack."
"Hmm, you know I never thought of using them like that, but it could a good strategy. I'm impressed Naruto. Okay when do you want to start?"
"Right now if possible." Kakashi just pocketed his book and lead him to the training field beside the memorial to the fallen ninja. Naruto had come here once a week to pay respects to his parents, both of whom had their names engraved in it.
"Do you plan on using the Sharingan, or working for it?"
"I'll do it myself. Even the fox detest using it for taking abilities, but he's an honorable… being, I guess that's the best word for him now."
"We could be here awhile, best get started." Kakashi made a single seal, using his index and middle fingers to make a cross. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." A line of ten Kakashis appeared and each pulled out the orange book from a breast pocket. Soon after, he dismissed them.
Naruto smiled and made the same seal. He started drawing on his chakra, he wasn't sure how much more chakra was needed to make these clones, so to be safe he used the same amount that it took to use Shunshin. A large cloud of smoke appeared and when it dispersed, thirty Narutos stood in the field. In another, they were gone.
"You used more than enough chakra, but for a first attempt it's pretty good. Since your problem is that you have so much chakra, instead of working up the number of clones, I want you to try for just one. When you've done that, I'll tell you something interesting about shadow clones that could come in handy later."
Naruto nodded and went to try again. 'Just to be safe, I better try the smallest amount I can.' He tried again doing just that, but nothing happened. 'Well at least I know I can make only one. Maybe as much as Kawarimi.' He made across again, and this time there were only five Narutos. 'Still too much, but five's getting closer. The only thing less that I know of is Henge.'
Kakashi was watching, very amused from atop one of the three wooden posts near the memorial. He wasn't the only one, Anko watched from a nearby tree. "In three attempts he has gone from thirty to five. He might be able to learn this before dark. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I'm not surprised you noticed, but the brat hasn't. Something changed after he met with Kyuubi, it's like he's not the same kid anymore."
"He has shown more intelligence. He thought of a way to use shadow clones has an ambush, but it would probably only work on stupid or low ranking ninja. Regardless, the method could have been useful during the war because of how the villages were sending out such young ninja."
"So he thought of something you didn't, it's probably suicidal like every other battle tactic he comes up with."
"Actually, this one could be used as a distraction as well. Depending on how the enemy reacted to the clone, the user could either attack as well or run if the enemy prove too strong."
"He didn't say that did he?"
"No, the way he said it, he used it as a surprise attack. The enemy would think it's a normal clone and be surprised when it suddenly attacks."
"That really isn't that bad of an idea. Look, he's trying again." They both stared out towards were Naruto stood, his hands were together in a cross and his eyes were closed. There was a pop and a puff of smoke, standing there was two Narutos, both were smiling and started walking towards Kakashi. Anko dropped out of the tree and walked over as well. "Nice job kid."
"Hi Anko. I was wondering who Kakashi was talking to. Even if I didn't mean to, the Sharingan activated and I could see his mouth moving under his mask. But because of the damn thing, I couldn't tell what he was saying. You been here long?"
"Yeah, I saw your first try. We were actually talking about the use for shadow clones you came up with. And I must say, coming from you, it genius."
Naruto pouted. "That's not very nice Anko. I talked Kyuubi into helping me, and Kakashi said he was impressed by it."
"He also said it's flawed."
Kakashi put his hands up, but Naruto expression never changed. "I never said that, but there are some things about it that could be improved."
Naruto shrugged. "I never said that it was perfect. I said that it could give me an advantage in a fight and catch people off guard, if only for a moment. Even the best tactics could use improvements."
"You learned that jutsu faster than I had expected for not using the Sharingan, so as a reward, I'll take you out for dinner. But first, what I promised you. When shadow clones disappear, you gain the knowledge they had. You can use them to learn jutsu and to gain information from text but not anything physical, that you have to do. So Naruto, where would you like to eat?"
'Great, more ramen.' Naruto gave his answer, but it wasn't what either jonin had expected. "Wait, what did you say?"
"I said, I wanted to go to that dango place you like Anko." He smiled at their shock.
'Sneaky brat, he plans on have Kakashi pay for what he owes me.'
Kakashi could swear he felt his wallet getting lighter already. "Alright, let's go."
----------------------------
Naruto woke up the next morning with his head pounding and didn't know where he was. He looked around. 'This place is a fucking mess!' Wherever he was, he had slept on the couch and was about as big as his apartment. The door just to the left of the couch swung open to reveal Anko and a bundle under her arm. She smiled when she saw him.
"Finally wake I see. You're such a light weight, you only had one cup."
She started laughing, which made his head throb. Then the memory of the dinner rushed back to him.
Flashback:
Anko and Naruto sat on a bench outside the restaurant, while Kakashi sat against a tree read from his orange book. Anko had a bottle of sake and was still eating, when she finished a stick, she threw it at the tree. They had been there awhile, so needless to say, there was an outline of Kakashi of dango sticks. The bottle was nearly gone, but Anko didn't seem to be even slightly drunk, though she did smell of alcohol.
"Hey Naruto, you did so well today, that I've got something special for you. You get to try a cup of sake."
"Anko, you know he's too young to drink."
"It's not like it's gonna kill him, it's one cup not the whole bottle." Kakashi just sighed as she pour the sake and put it in front of Naruto. "Go on kid, try it." Not one to back down, Naruto picked it up and finished it in one gulp. Bad idea, his throat started to burn and his reaction caused Anko to laughed. The last thing he remembered was Kakashi moving over to him before he passed out.
End of Flashback:
"You're evil, pure fucking evil."
"I do my best. Here." She threw the bundle over to him.
"What is it?"
"Some new clothes, you said you needed some and that orange thing that you wear screams 'Here I am!'"
"I like orange, but you're right. It's got me into trouble before." He pulled open the bundle and inside was a sleeveless black trench coat with a red spiral on the back, a pair of black boats, which when he picked up he found that they were weighted, some dark blue pants, and an almost blood red T-shirt. He ran up and hugged Anko, much to her surprise. "Thanks Anko."
"No problem brat, pretty soon you're class will be able to disable genjutsu, then where would you be?" He gulped and hugged her tighter. "Besides, even though it was funnier than hell, I wanted to make it up to you for last night."
"Sake doesn't taste as good as I thought, but it's still not bad except the burning."
"That was because you drank to fast, you suppose to sip it."
"You don't."
"That's because I'm use to it and I've drank stronger stuff before." He thanked her again and left the room to change. When he came back, he was smiling and there was no trace of the genjutsu. Anko's jaw dropped. 'How long has he used a genjutsu? His hair is close to mid-back.' "How long did you have a genjutsu on?"
"Since I found out about Kyuubi, why?"
"Your hair's so long, it looks like you have for months."
He reached back and felt his hair on his back. "Hmm, I guess it is pretty long, could have to do with Kyuubi. Maybe another change from when I use his chakra."
"Hold still, there's something else different about you." She walked over and looked him up and down before realizing what it was. "It seems that you got taller too, by about seven inches. You keep this up and we'll only be able to know it's you by those whiskers of yours."
"Anko, what do you think, cut my hair or leave it?"
"Long hair doesn't suit you, and it gets in the way during battle."
He nodded after thinking about it. "Would you help me cut it, I can't see the back to do anything."
"Sure brat, any particular way you want it?"
"Actually there is, but I don't know how to describe it, so I'll be back it a minute." He disappeared in a swirl of red and reappeared holding a picture. "I borrowed it from Kakashi." He pointed at the picture. "Could you make it like that?"
"I do my best." He turned around as she drew a kunai for her pouch. After a half hour or so, she stopped and led him to the bathroom so he could see. "It may not be exact, but it's pretty damn close."
"It's perfect, I couldn't be happier with it." She smiled and left when there was a knock on the front door.
When she opened it Kakashi stood there. "Kid, Kakashi's here!"
"So he's awake, that's good. Iruka would have my head if he missed class because you gave him sake."
"He's better than wake, he's got a whole new look to him, but I won't ruin the surprise." Kakashi went to sit down while Anko searched the cabinets for something to eat. 'What the hell is take him so long.' "Brat, get your ass out here, you have to go to the academy today remember!"
"I heard you the first time! I was trying to find something in my old clothes." He walked out and Kakashi was stunned, Naruto looked like a blonde Obito, but his clothes had Anko written all over it. He walked over to Kakashi and handed him the picture. "Sorry, I needed to borrow that so Anko had a basic idea of how I wanted my hair cut."
Kakashi was at a loss for words and Anko was smiling in the kitchen. "I told you, he's barely recognizable. How many people do you think will know it's you when you get to class?"
"Kiba and Akamaru at least, maybe Hinata, Shikamaru and Shino. Everyone one else is too absorbed in something else, the girls with Sasuke, Choji eating, and the rest just don't give a damn. I gonna go now to see how Iruka will react."
Anko's smile widened. "Just be sure to tell me afterwards, I hold it over his head for awhile." Naruto nodded as red chakra surrounded him and he was gone.
Kakashi still sat stunned on the couch. "He's progression is astounding, if he keeps going like this he'll surpass most jonin in two years, he could very well be at Sannin level by the time he's eighteen."
"I don't think rank matters to him. Protecting those he cares for is more important to him then any title. The Hokage himself said Naruto could have graduated by now."
"I doubt that this is connected to Kyuubi, it may be the strongest demon, but he didn't even have excess to its power until a little while ago. By then he had the second stage Sharingan and knew almost every fire jutsu I do. He's never used the Sharingan to copy techniques, but he learns them at impossible rates. The only one Kyuubi's affect was the Shunshin, he used it out of the desire to leave and because the Sharingan was active, he can use it at any time now."
"He's definitely someone to keep an eye on through, look at how the last two turned out."
---------------------------
Iruka walked into the classroom to prepare for class, but was startled to find someone else there. He drew a kunai and moved into a defensive stance. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"That really hurts Iruka-sensei." The person looked up with a fox–like grin.
Iruka took a slow step forward. "Holy shit, is that you Naruto?"
"The one and only. You know I think that's the first time I've heard you curse Iruka-sensei."
"Yeah well I had good reason. What happened to you?"
"I had my hair cut, and Anko bought me some new clothes because my other ones weren't wearable anymore."
"I can tell she picked them out."
"Yeah she did, but I like it. My old clothes were hot and restricting, these are comfortable, easy to move in, even with the weighted boots. The coat's got a lot of extra pockets for scrolls and stuff."
"I glad to see the two of you are getting along so well."
"Yeah, we're a lot alike. Hey Iruka-sensei, could we do sparring again today, I promise I won't use jutsu again."
"I suppose we could, and since the whole class knows some jutsu, I can allow those three."
"Thanks Iruka-sensei. I'm gonna go grab a bite to eat before class, see ya then."
"Alright Naruto, but be on time."
"No problem." Iruka jumped back as Naruto was surrounded by red chakra and disappeared.
