{{'Cause you're losing your mind

And you're sleeping with wide open eyes

Where is the edge of your darkest emotions?

Why does it all survive?

Where is the light of your deepest devotions?

I pray that it's still alive

~ Where is the Edge by Within Temptation }}

A/N: Yoo! Sorry it's been a while, I guess. I had to travel to Atlanta last weekend so I got quite a bit of time to write in the airport. Is it just me or does everyone hate airports?

Anyways, today I'm finally revealing a bit of Naruto's kekkei genkai. I'll elaborate more on the future, as Naruto isn't quite sure the limits of it quite yet. Kurenai's kekkei genkai will also be discussed in the future.

I have two short little questions for all you readers. First of all, I've only gotten two pairings mentioned so far. I quite like one of them (not quite sure how it'll be brought about) but any more pairings you guys want? I'm not a fan of Sakura with anyone…..but we'll see. I guess just let me know your opinions, please.

Beyond that, what do you guys think about the Wave mission?. Should it still be about the same, or should I change things up a bit? Obviously I have to include it…Sasuke needs his Sharingan, after all. Please read and review and tell me what you think. Well, time to get the ball rolling. I'm not sure if this will be an extremely long chapter or if I'll divide it into two…..probably just a giant one. Well, giant compared to my other chapters, anyways. xD I'm gonna apologize now for that, I'm horrible at starting and finishing things. In the middle, though, it should be smooth sailing.

Okay, babbling now. I'll let you get to the story. That is, if you're even reading this. I hope you are…but yup. On with the show.

Chapter 6: Maito Gai, Kekkei Genkai

"You've got to be kidding me."

Naruto stared. He couldn't stop staring. Why? Just why? Spandex is a bad look for anyone. Green spandex…..who would go there?

But green spandex, bowl haircuts, and the bushiest eyebrows imaginable….It's just the scariest combo.

/Kurou. I'm gonna kill you later…/ Naruto muttered to the fox, who only snickered in reply.

The green beasts of Konoha noticed Naruto's approach. "Naruto-san! How youthful of you to join us!" The taller one bellowed, charging towards him in an all together frightening sight.

Naruto winced visibly. "Y-yo…." He managed.

Gai pressed the heels of his hands to his forehead and yelled, "What a hip greeting! Lee! Naruto-san is clearly worthy of becoming your eternal rival!"

"Yosh, Gai-sensei! Our fires of youth will burn brightly!" Mini-Gai, apparently his name was Lee, had visible flames in his eyes. He was really freaking Naruto out.

Naruto sweat-dropped. "Um. Okay. I assume you are Maito Gai?" he addressed the taller one.

The man nodded, gave Naruto a thumbs up, and grinned hugely. His teeth sparkled and made a noise. "I am Maito Gai, and this is my cute student, Lee!"

The Gai Junior kid gave Naruto a salute. "Yosh! I am Rock Lee! It is good to meet you, Naruto-kun!"

"Likewise," Naruto mumbled, somewhat untruthfully. "I am happy to train with you and your….youthful sensei." He grimaced slightly, the words leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

Lee didn't seem to notice. His eyes were shining;. "Yes! Gai-sensei is the greatest and wisest sensei!"

Gai laughed freakishly. "Now we will train! Naruto-san! You will spar with Lee!"

Naruto's mouth quirked down on one side. He knew Lee had a year of experience on him, and that was a large gap to cross. "Yes, sensei. Any rules?"

Gai nodded wisely. "Taijutsu only!

Lee readied himself for the spar, seeming eager. "It is always a pleasure to test oneself against a strong opponent." He remarked happily.

Naruto inclined his head as reply and readied himself. He would not underestimate Rock Lee….

Gai was watching Naruto closely. "Yosh! Begin!" he said suddenly.

Lee immediately launched himself towards Naruto. "Konoha Senpuu!"

Naruto blocked with his arms and skidded back a few feet. This kid was strong, and fast. Without ninjutsu or his kekkei genkai, there was no way he could keep up. Of course, that was why he was here; so that in the future there wouldn't be a situation like this. But for now, he just had to do his best. He didn't know any special taijutsu forms yet…and the basics, when facing the student of a specialist, were not enough.

Naruto got in a hit or two, but the spar ended rather quickly with his defeat.

Lee helped Naruto to his feet. "Good fight, Naruto-kun. Surely you have much greater strength in ninjutsu. I am slightly envious. I cannot perform ninjutsu."

Naruto nodded. "So I've heard. It takes a lot of hard work to stand where you're standing, Lee. You are truly a genius of hard work."

Lee looked like he was about to cry for his happiness. "Naruto-kun!" he cried, lip trembling.

Naruto grinned back. "Call me Naruto. I'll appreciate your help during this training, Lee."

The green-clad ninja nodded vigorously.

Gai came over and put a hand on either boy's shoulder. "A shining display of youthfulness!" he exclaimed. "But now we must train for the explosions of youth ahead. Naruto-san, please address me as Gai-sensei. For the beginning of your training, I have something for you." From a bag on the ground Gai pulled out a strange mechanism with a few weights held in it.

Naruto quirked an eyebrow, interested. "Weights?"

Gai-sensei nodded. "They are to help increase your youthful power. Please, take them."

Naruto took them, and Gai showed him how to fasten them around his calves.

Gai continued, "You should be steadily increasing the weight. When you don't notice the weight anymore, wait two days, and then add one of these to each leg." Gai handed Naruto a bag full of 20 pound weights. "When your weight braces are full, come to me! For your fires of youth, I will get you heavier ones."

"Awesome! Thanks Gai-sensei!" Naruto grinned.

The green beast of Konoha waved him off. "It's nothing, Naruto-san! Now come, Lee, Naruto-san! We shall run 200 laps around Konoha!"

"Yes, sensei!" The two chorused. Naruto twitched. "Ehm, wait. Just call me Naruto. And…..please don't ever call me your cute student. And-" Naruto realized he was being left behind and yelled, "Ahh! Wait for me!" sprinting after the two.

Naruto fell back against the ground, exhausted. Before he forgot, he quickly made a clone and sent it to deliver the bag full of weights to his apartment.

Gai and Lee looked at Naruto. Both were grinning. "Until tomorrow, Naruto!" Lee yelled excitedly.

Naruto managed a smile back. "Yeah. Thanks for letting me train with you!"

Gai-sensei nodded. "It was my pleasure to assist you in the growth of your youthfulness! Tomorrow I will watch you burn bright when I demonstrate taijutsu forms."

Naruto's smiled widened. "Excellent." He caught a glimpse of someone approaching. "It appears your team is coming. I'd best join my team as well." Standing, Naruto gave a slight bow and left. On the way he brushed past a girl with twin buns on either side of her head. "Who's that?" he heard her ask Gai-sensei as he disappeared from view.

After a bit of Rasengan training, Naruto met his team at the usual clearing.

Kurenai-sensei beamed at him when he approached. "Naruto! I'm glad you're here. Now we can get started."

Ino was, as usual, pestering Sasuke. The raven ignored her and watched Naruto. He looked like he'd been doing hard training. He wouldn't lose to the dobe!

Naruto plopped on the ground next to Ino.

The blonde girl wrinkled her nose. "Gross, Naruto! You smell horrible!"

Naruto grunted. "As a kunoichi, that should be the last of your worries…..Ino."

Kurenai sent them both a stern look. "All right, enough. As Naruto has already been training, I thought it best we did some training. I have a scroll here for you two. While I speak to Naruto, you two practice these moves." She tossed a scroll to Ino and Sasuke. Turning to Naruto, she gestured for him to follow her. Out of hearing distance she told him, "I'm going to put Sasuke and Ino under a simple Genjutsu. They won't see anything, nor will anyone else who comes anywhere within sight distance. It's time for you to show me your kekkei genkai, Naruto."

Naruto nodded his assent. Kurenai performed a quick series of hand seals. "All right. Before you begin, will you outline the basic concept?"

The blonde let out a long breath. "Fine. My kekkei genkai, in a way, is sort of like a stopwatch. When something happens, I can sorta stop time." Fumbling for words, Naruto waved his hands a bit before continuing, "It's not all powerful or anything. How far back you can change things is limited by your chakra supply. And if it use it too much, there are…consequences." He paused again. "This is hard to explain. Umm, you know how the blood cells in your body attack foreign things they come across? Basically, if I use my kekkei genkai enough on the same person, I become the foreign thing. Whatever is affected by me changing things will unconsciously begin to attack me. I don't mean like, beating me up, " though that HAS happened…. "It's more like I'm an outsider. They won't trust me, and anything I say will be rejected subconsciously." Naruto's eyes darkened. "Is that enough? I don't like using it because of the consequences, so I don't really know much about it yet. It's not like there's scrolls lying around to teach me about it."

Kurenai kept her expression neutral. "Does it have any other…properties?"

Naruto thought about it. "It's a dojutsu. My eyes turn grey. As I haven't used it much, it's possible that it will develop further. Since it was my father's bloodline limit, and I don't have access to his scrolls, I don't know all that much about it, as I said."

Kurenai's eyes widened slightly. "You know who your father is? I've never even heard of your kekkei genkai before now."

Naruto realized his blunder and his expression became veiled. "I don't want to talk about it." He said simply.

Kurenai sighed. "I'll respect that. Will you show me now?"

Naruto grinned, hiding his discomfort. "It goes like this. I'm going to say something, jump back in time a bit, and ask you what I said. You'll answer instantly, and this conversation will flood back to you."

Naruto closed his eyes, and when he opened them, they were a murky grey color. "Clouds." He grinned. It reminded him of Shikamaru. Focusing his mind and chakra, he reached into the time flow…

"I'm going to put Sasuke and Ino under a Genjutsu. They won't see-"

Naruto interrupted, "Clouds."

Kurenai paused mid-sentence as she suddenly remembered their whole conversation. "That's incredible," she finally said.

Naruto only gave her a grim smile. "But not very useful when I know next to nothing about it. Are you okay? Sometimes a rush of information like that makes people lightheaded."

Kurenai-sensei ruffled Naruto's hair. "Don't worry about me, Naruto. Thank you for sharing this with me. I'm going to speak to the Sandaime about finding you more information. It's something you should have access to."

Naruto hummed for a moment. "I know where to look, but jii-san won't let me in there. My best guess says it's at the Namikaze complex." Quickly scanning his mind, Naruto came up with an acceptable lie. "He was the Yondaime Hokage, so a lot of the classified information is at his estate."

Kurenai seemed to buy it. "I'll speak to him about it."

Naruto couldn't resist a yell of joy. "Thank you, sensei! That's so cool!"

Kurenai laughed. "I'll always be happy to help you, Naruto. Is there anything else? Oh, and how did your training with Gai go?"

Naruto smiled. "Thanks. I don't think there's anything else. The training went well. Gai-sensei is…Gai-sensei. He gave me weights. They're already helping."

Kurenai snorted. "Gai is certainly…eccentric. I'm glad he could help you, though. We should get back to Ino and Sasuke now. They'll be getting suspicious." She laughed again.

The two headed back to the rest of their team.

Sasuke and Ino both stopped what they were doing to watch their approach, curious.

Ino was the first to speak up. "What were you talking about?"

Naruto answered for her. "I'm training with another sensei in Taijutsu in addition to Kurenai-sensei. We were just making arrangements."

Ino and Sasuke were both surprised. Naruto was receiving private Taijutsu training? "From who?" Sasuke couldn't contain his curiosity.

"Maito Gai, one of Konoha's Taijutsu specialists." Clearing her throat meaningfully, she added, "How are those jutsus coming along?" she asked pointedly.

Ino laughed nervously. "They'll take a few days, sensei." She told Kurenai.

The Genjutsu specialist just nodded. "All right. We won't be sparring today. There are a few things we should talk about before we move on to anything else. Regarding the teamwork sessions, I noticed some things that gave me a bit of worry. Sasuke, you tend to ignore your teammates. While perhaps this is fine outside missions and training, they are still a part of your team and you must act as a unit. Teammates must also have absolute trust and confidence in each other. As a kunoichi, Ino, I'm very disappointed in you. Naruto is a strong ninja, and you constantly insult him, showing you are really the weak one. With Sasuke, you constantly bother and annoy him. Unless you improve yourself, Ino, you will be the death of your team. I'm being very serious here and I expect for you to treat it as such. And Naruto, due to Ino's shortcomings, you underestimate her potential. You're reluctant to share anything of a personal nature with either of your teammates, simply because of your dislike for them." Taking a breath, Kurenai concluded, "Your teamwork sucks. Until it improves, I'm not allowing you to take any missions."

Naruto sighed and nodded. Sasuke seemed livid but he was smart enough not to protest. Ino looked a little green.

"Since we won't be doing missions, we'll work on fixing our weaknesses as a team. You'll spend time together outside of team sessions. An no, Ino, this does not mean a date." Rolling her eyes, the dark-haired beauty kept going, "Today, I want you to spend some time with Naruto. You two barely know each other. If you put aside your presuppositions, I think you would realize you are more alike than you think."

Ino and Naruto exchanged looks. "Yes, sensei." They chorused. Neither was very happy about this situation.

Kurenai seemed satisfied. "Good. You are both to take the other to three of your favorite places. And Sasuke? Your turn will come. Think about where you'd like to go. As for now, enjoy your day off. Oh, and once you've used three places, you have to choose three different ones for your other teammate. Ino and Naruto, when you finish going to those six places, you can head home. Have fun! I'll be going now." Kurenai made a hand seal and disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

Sasuke smirked at them and sauntered away.

Rolling his eyes, Naruto turned to Ino. "She said to improve our teamwork, so I'll tell you precisely why I don't like you. I don't like you because you suck as a ninja. You're a smart girl, but obviously somewhere along the way you devolved into an idiot fangirl. Sasuke clearly has no interest in you, and yet you squander away your career as a ninja to chase him. I will never understand someone as shallow as you. And unless you shape up, I'll never have any respect for you." Naruto crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at her. "If what I just said makes you angry, it's probably because it's all true. If things don't start changing, I'll be finding a different team. I can't work with someone I don't respect in the slightest."

Ino's mouth was hanging open. For once, she seemed at a loss for words. Finally she sputtered, "Naruto! It's not like you're so great yourself! Sasuke beats you every day! I got better scores than you in the Academy! And I may not be the strongest ninja around, but there is no way you can call me weak without fixing your own problems first! You're annoying. You're so average and don't stand out in anything. The only reason you've gotten away with making so much trouble is because your parents aren't around to scold you! In fact, you're lucky. My parents do nothing but nag. I'm under so much pressure from them, and I don't need it from you, loser!"

Naruto's gaze grew cold, and a painfully icy aura surrounded him. "Don't speak such crap when you have no idea what it's like. You know nothing of about the pain of being alone. My parents died upon the altar of sacrifice for Konoha. Sometimes I wonder if this village is worth it." Naruto's' eyes gained a far-away look. "Don't make the mistake of thinking I'm normal; I'm a sacrifice as much as they were. And the fact that you don't understand what I mean only proves my point."

Ino chewed her lip. "Okay. Fine. I'll treat you professionally if you do the same for me."

Naruto shook his head. "The difference between you and me is I actually act professional. You're just a little girl that gives kunoichi a bad name. Kurenai-sensei probably picked you for this team to fix you before you disgrace yourself further. If you were a true kunoichi, you'd understand how lucky you are. No, Ino, I won't treat you like a kunoichi until you prove you are one."

Ino's mouth firmed with anger. "Fine, forget being civil. This is why I hate you, Naruto."

Ino was shocked when Naruto simply laughed in reply. "One more person won't make much difference. Besides, I am being civil. I didn't lie to you. Would you rather I did?" he gave her a flat look. "Don't answer that. All I'm trying to say is, as my teammate, I don't trust you to watch my back. I'm sure Sasuke would say the same. That's a problem." He grinned slightly. "Sasuke's a bastard, but he is a competent ninja. He wants to be strong. Granted, he goes about it the wrong way, but he truly wants to be strong. I don't like him, but I can respect him. The only reason you've survived this long as a ninja is because of your family. Where do you think you'd be if you were like me? Have you even considered it? I don't have family techniques. My parents won't be contacting the Academy for private sessions and extra help. Since I was five I've lived alone, and I can't just ask for things I need. I have to work for them. Since the teachers hated me, I had to learn to do everything myself. You have no idea how far ahead of you that puts me. But I'm tired of talking about things over your head. Let's get this little side trip over with." Naruto turned and strode away, anger reverberating in his footsteps.

Ino grabbed his shoulder roughly. "Fine, then. You want me to prove myself? What do I have to do?"

Naruto didn't turn around, but he stopped walking. "Ask Kurenai what you need to improve. If she can't help you, figure out who can."

Ino's grip tightened painfully. "Fine. I'll join you for Taijutsu training at blah o' clock. I'll try harder. I'll do what you say, if it makes sense. But only if you treat me as an equal."

Naruto nodded once. "If you improve yourself, I'd be happy to."

Ino released him. "Good. Now where are we going?"

"Ichiraku. We can get lunch and knock out one of my '3 places'. Is that okay with you?" Naruto turned his blues on her.

"I guess so." Ino came beside Naruto as they walked. They stepped up to the ramen stall and sat down at the counter. After both had ordered and eaten, they left the stand.

Naruto was less grumpy now after a bellyful of his favorite food. "Where to?" he quizzed her.

Ino smiled. "My family's flower shop."

Naruto winced slightly. "Girls and their flowers…." He mumbled.

Ino's fist crashed down on his head. Just like old times. "It's my choice where to go, so you don't get to complain. Now let's go."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yes ma'am." He muttered sarcastically. Ino dragged him along to the shop and in through the door.

"Dad! I'm here for a quick visit!" she yelled, nearly deafening Naruto.

Ino's father emerged from the back of the store. "Honey!" Inoichi Yamanaka beamed at his daughter. "What brings you here?"

Ino tossed her head proudly. "I'm improving my teamwork! Naruto came along." She gestured behind her to where the blonde was standing.

Naruto waved. "Yo." He didn't bother introducing himself…he never did. Everyone knew him on sight, after all. It's why he never made friends.

Inoichi's lips quirked downwards somewhat. The Kyuubi brat is my daughter's teammate? "Hello, Uzumaki-san. I am Ino's father, Inoichi Yamanaka. It is…nice…to meet one of Ino's teammates."

Naruto could tell he was lying. It was obvious. He was an accomplished liar, after all. "Likewise." He said simply.

Inoichi's face twitched slightly. "Well, I'm sure you don't want to be chatting with me, so please feel free to look around." Wrapping his fingers around his daughters wrist, he yanked her away. "Ino, can I speak with you for a moment?"

Naruto sighed. "I'll be outside," he murmured, voice strangely subdued. He seemed smaller as he left the store.

Ino gave her father a quizzical look. "Something up, Dad?"

"Stay away from that boy, Ino. He's bad news." Inoichi released his daughter and went into the back of the flower shop, leaving her staring confusedly at his back. Huh. Well that was…strange. Guess I'd best get going.

Ino joined Naruto outside. He was staring off into space with a far-away look again. "Hey, Naruto. Sorry about that. My dad wasn't feeling too well." She didn't know why she was making excuses, but it felt like the right thing to do for some reason.

Naruto simply sighed. "It's all right, Ino. I'm used to it, you don't have to lie for him. We're going to the Hokage Monument next." He led the way.

They climbed the monument at sat on the Yondaime's head.

Ino was curious. "Why is this your favorite place?"

Naruto was staring out at Konoha. "It reminds me of what is really important."

The wind picked up, and Ino stared out at Konoha. She was interrupted from her thoughts when Naruto spoke up again. "Ne, Ino. Do you have a dream?"

She turned to look at him. He was still staring into the distance. "I don't really know what I want to do yet." She admitted. "I don't think I've found my niche. I don't know what to specialize in yet. What about you?"

Naruto finally looked at her. "If you'd asked me a few years ago, I would've said 'to be Hokage'. But I've come to realize just how much responsibility that entails, and I don't know that I love this village enough to be able to pull it off. I've changed my goal to becoming a seal master."

"Seal master? Wow. I don't think I've ever known one. It must be difficult. Wasn't the Yondaime one?" Ino's brow wrinkled in concentration.

Naruto's faint laugh barely carried to her. "The Yondaime was a seal master, yes." Irony colored his voice. Shaking his head, he lapsed into silence.

"You know, Naruto, as much as I hated you this morning, I think Kurenai-sensei was right. We really don't know each other. Granted, I still think you're annoying. But….I guess Sasuke is a little bit, too."

Naruto faked a gasp. "Comparing me to your precious Sasuke-kun?" he phrased it as a joke, but his tone was definitely not very lighthearted.

Ino didn't seem to notice. "Shut it. We're going to the park next."

Naruto frowned slightly. "Which park?"

"The south one. Why?" Ino put her hands on her hips, ready to scold him if he complained.

Naruto grinned slightly. "That's my third place."

Ino stared at him. "You like the park? Isn't that…you know, kinda more of a girl thing?"

Naruto scowled at her. "You'll see when we get there. And not once in my life have I ever been accused of being girly, so can it. Sasuke's way more girly than I am."

Ino growled. "Fine, let's just go, loser."

Naruto couldn't hide the slightest tensing of his facial muscles, but luckily Ino wasn't a very observant person. He followed her to the park, and around to her favorite spots. When they got to the garden, she stopped. "This is it. I love coming here. The flowers are so beautiful and so well-cared for."

Naruto scowled. "Uh, whatever." He didn't see the appeal in flowers.

Ino strolled along by the flower bed for a few minutes, admiring the colors. When she looked up, Naruto had disappeared. After searching for a few minutes, she found him near the playground, surrounded by kids.

He looked up as she drew closer and rubbed the back of his head, grinning. "Ehehe. Sorry, they kinda dragged me off. This is Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi. Guys, this is my teammate, Ino."

Ino smiled. The kids looked cute. "Hi, what are you playing?"

"Ninja!" Moegi piped up, beaming at her.

Ino sent Naruto a strange look. "A ninja playing ninja with kids?" she questioned.

Naruto simply smiled. "Why not? It's fun. We teach each other some things. Kids can think of so many things I can't. But as I was saying, Konohamaru. I can't play with you right now, because I'm on a mission."

Konohamaru's eyes lit up. "A mission? What kind of mission, Boss? Can I help?"

Naruto grinned and ruffled Konohamaru's hair. "Top secret, kid." With a conspirator's wink, he added, "But if you're really good today, I'll tell you next time."

Ino smiled. Naruto was really good with kids. Perhaps because he acted like such a kid sometimes…

Konohamaru grinned brightly back at Naruto. "You got it, Boss! We'll be good!"

The Konohamaru Corps scurried off into the distance, most likely to find their parents.

Naruto smiled somewhat wistfully after them. "So now you've seen my three places. Where to next?"

Ino smiled mischievously. "My favorite store."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Oh, no. Tell me you're joking. Anything but that."

Ino shook her head, grin growing wider. "Nope. Let's go~~~" she dragged him off.

Reaching the store, she also dragged him inside. "Look at this plethora of purple!" she exclaimed, looking around like she'd discovered gold.

"Umm. Yeah, it's impressive." Naruto stared around in horror. She should've saved this one for Sasuke. He'd have loved it.

Every single thing in the store was purple. Except for Naruto, of course. /I think my eyes died./ Naruto lamented to the fox, who ignored him.

Ino spent nearly thirty minutes sorting through all the purple merchandise before she finally left the store, huge bag in hand. "That was so much fun!" she squealed.

Naruto looked slightly sick. "Umm. Well, we're done now. I'm leaving. Bye."

And he ran, as fast as he could.

Purple was a scary, scary thing.

(A/N: Ehe. I got boored. Thanks for reading, once again, please review! It makes me more inclined to write quickly. So pleeease. I'll give you a glop of purple goo. –puppy dog eyes-)