Shades of Cool

Chapter 7 - Compliance

Chapter Description: It's another training day with Sasuke, Hinata, Shinra and Sumire and with rumors flying about Sasuke and Hinata, Naruto comes to question it.


Nearly a week had gone by, and Shinra and Sumire could say that training with Uchiha Sasuke was not what they expected. True, they stalked the young adult around and knew that he was a quiet and reserved individual who though his time was golden to those who came across him. However, now that they trained under the Uchiha (barely, for all he instructed them to do was try to climb a tree) both children knew that Uchiha Sasuke was a tough sensei.

After day 1 when Sasuke had told them to watch what they ate (only eating a big breakfast, a small lunch and a medium size dinner - rich with vitamins and protein) Shinra took it seriously. Every morning he ate a big breakfast (much to his mothers curiosity and grandmothers amazement) and ran to school to gain stamina (like he heard Sasuke once saying to Hinata-sama).

After each day of the Academy, Shinra and Sumire would sprint towards the training grounds, bow to their sensei and Hinata then get with their training. Sumire had improved, only being able to stay on the tree for a few seconds at a time. Shinra, despite his boast that he would be the first to the top of the tree, had not made much improvement. They boy feel as soon as both feet left the ground.

Sasuke noted that the Shimura was not the one to give up, however. Each time he feel on his back, the boy stood, dusted himself off and went back to his training. Hinata noticed, as well, that both children were determined. Though they complained constantly about one another (and how they could not stand the other) they had grown. While Hinata volunteered in the Academy, Shinra was a loud mouth (though he still his) that boasted about each and every achievement while Sumire was a more reserved, but was not afraid to tell off anyone who thought deserved it. In a way, the duo grown.

"I wonder what Sasuke-sensei has after the Tree Climbing Technique." Shinra panted, having fallen off the tree once more. This time, he landed on his feet.

Sumire shrugged. "Who knows. This is killer though."

Shinra nodded in agreement. "Whatever it is, I hope it's easier."

"You should know Sasuke-sensei by now, Shinra." Sumire scoffed. "He hasn't gone easy on us yet!"

Sumire took a few deep breaths. Her mind spanned to when she and Hinata had conversed. During a break when Sasuke had had suggested that the both of them along with Shinra and Sumire grab something to dine on. While Shinra harassed the Uchiha with questions, Sumire stood back with the heiress. She offered a kind smile and welcoming silence. Sumire was not the one to ask for advice or help, but seeing as though Hyuga Hinata was a ninja herself...

Sumire had asked the heiress what she had done upon the same technique she had been instructed to do now. Hinata had hummed and told Sumire the truth. She was not as skilled as she brought out to be, not as she was now. She told Sumire that it was her persistence that allowed her to succeed. "After all, chakra is a spiritual. If you focus on the tree and clear you mind of your surroundings, I'm sure you'll get it!"

'Clear my mind...and I'll get it.' Sumire thought to herself. Taking a few more breaths, Sumire felt the loud chirping of birds die down. The bushes and leaves blowing through the heavy wind seemed to disappear, as well did the loud panting of Shinra.

Soon, Sumire found herself running straight towards the tree, finding herself running upwards. As she run upwards, her hair swooped around around her. Her ears prickled and she heard her feet pounding on the tree bark as she rushed onto the tree.

"W-Wow!" Shinra gasped with wide eyes. He watched the black haired girl reach the top of the tree and kneel down. From the distance, he could see her chest rising up and down in a pant. "S-Sumire did it."

The ginger eyed girl smirked to herself. "I did it!" she cheered.

From a few yards away, his back against a small, leave-less tree, Sasuke hummed. "Well done." he called to Sumire. The girl clapped her hands together. "Now come down."

As Sumire did as she was told, Shinra clenched his fists. 'Stupid Sumire!' he hissed in his head. 'She's always trying to steal my shine!'

"Sumire-san! Congratulations. Right on time, as well." Hinata smiled. She had been instructed by Sasuke to practice her kunai and shuriken throws. Upon overhearing Sumire's cheers and witnessing the young girl atop of the tall tree, she felt herself become proud. It was as if Hanabi had come home to her and gushed about the mission she had completed.

"Huh? Is it time for dinner?" asked Sumire as she dropped to her feet, feeling the grass tickle her toes though her sandals.

Hinata nodded. "Do you know what you'd like to have?"

Sumire pondered. 'That's right! Sasuke-sensei said I can have any meal I wanted! Great!'

Shinra growled and turned away.

"Haha! Can we go to Yakiniku Q's, Sasuke-sensei?" Sumire asked, a wide smile on her face.

Sasuke grunted. "Fine." he spoke. "Let's go now. It'll be getting dark soon and I would rather not risk your parents finding you."

Hinata and Sumire walked ahead while Sasuke turned towards Shinra. "I'm going to continue. You can go without me."

Sasuke frowned. (Though, was it an actual frown if he rarely smile?) "You wouldn't want to overdo yourself."

Shinra snickered. "Well maybe I need to! How could I let a girl get ahead of me!" he hissed. He clenched his fists and began to run towards the tree once more.

Sasuke felt as if it was deja vu.

"I won't stress myself talking you out of training." Sasuke spoke. He began to walk after the Hoki and Hyuga. "You know where to locate us. If we are not back by sun down, go home."


A few days prior from Sumire completing her technique, Hinata has yet to complete her own. Like Tenten said, she had came back to following days to practice with Hinata on her kenjutsu. Still, she ran in the early mornings with Lee then sparred with Sasuke before Tenten would arrive and teach her a few more basic Katana technique's and methods. Sasuke had requested that she perfect the cover strike while in a sparring battle with him. How she would do that was beyond her.

"Like with the air strike, I want you to hide within the shadows and then attack me undetected." Sasuke instructed. And, as he said is how he meant it. Throughout their days, Sasuke and Hinata sparred. Tenten, on occasion, watched as the two sparred (noticing that Hinata became faster of her feet) and gave a few tips on the sidelines. When the brunette had to leave (which was around the time the Academy let out) Shinra and Sumire would stammer from behind the bushes, bow to the both of them, then get to their own training.

Sasuke wondered why the heiress had to take days upon days to complete a certain training method, but he stopped questioning it. After all, she was not the same as him. However, she was close and Sasuke knew after her five months, she would be closer to his level then she ever thought she'd be. "A-Are you sure-"

"Yes, Hyuga." Sasuke snapped. It had been the third time she had asked if he was sure that she should be trusted with a katana. His nerves were growing with her nervousness.

"O-Okay..." Hinata sighed. She was truly defeated. Sure she and Sasuke sparred the past few days with Katanas (one which was his and the other that was borrowed from Tenten) and though she had gotten better, she was still rusty compared to Sasuke. She did not want to trip within her two feet and fall a top of the Katana (something she was sure could happen dealing with her).

"Cover your tracks." Sasuke spoke, turning his head away from Hinata. His eyes turned towards the two children struggling with the tree climbing technique. "I will do the same."

Hinata nodded.

"Now, run." Sasuke forwarded his eyes back to the heiress. Gulping, Hinata placed the Katana behind her back and strapped it around her shoulder. She turned and ran off deeper within the training ground, dashing through tree's, bushes and branches. Before Sasuke had to tell her, she activated her byakugan, observing her surroundings.


"Thank you, Sasuke-sensei." Sumire spoke as she bit into her steak, savoring the taste of barbecue. Rarely did she eat out, and when she did it was only cheap places where she had a coupon to like Ichiraku's. Her clan, mostly her sister, was against going out and spending money when they're was "perfectly edible food at home".

Sasuke grunted. He bit into his own food his eyes on the marble table.

Hinata beamed. "Itadakimasu." she replied in her usual soft voice.

Quietly, the trio began to eat their dinner. The chatter from the other customers surrounded them as they chewed on their food peacefully. For Sumire, the young girl would often halt her chewing to look around her, her eyes roaming at the sea of eyes watching them. Deciding to ignore it, she swallowed her food and placed her chop sticks besides her plate. Slowly, she gasped her glass of water (something Sasuke told everyone had to drink upon arriving) and took a sip.

"Sumire-chan?" Hinata furrowed her brows. "Everything alright?"

"Uh..." Sumire placed her glass atop of the wooden table. "Why is everyone...looking at us?" she asked, her voice lace with confusion.

Without caring, Sasuke began to eat once more. He grown accustom to the villagers stares upon him every foot he stepped within the village. Their eyes did not phase him (not like they ever did). However, Hinata and Sumire were both newbie's when it came to disapproving stares.

"O-Oh..." Hinata reddened, turning her head slightly to confirm that the customers were staring at the trio and whispered among themselves. Hinata began to hide behind her hair.

"Ignore them." Sasuke grunted, chewing down his steak. "It's of no importance."

Sumire nodded, biting her lip. "Sorry, sensei..."

Sasuke glanced at the girl before returning to his food.

Hinata sighed inaudibly. If there was rumors going around (and there was - confirmed by Tenten) then Hinata showing her face around Sasuke in public prove to be a risk. Though, obviously, the rumors are false, still, she had her own reputation to be held. It was not as though she was afraid that Sasuke would ruin said reputation, she couldn't care less what the villager's thought. Konohagakure being the village that it was, word travelling as fast as the speed of lightening and she was sure sooner or later, her father would hear of said rumors.

"Well,"

Sumire whipped her head to the sudden voice that seemed louder than the other voices surrounding them. Her eyes widen.

"N-Naruto-kun!" Hinata gasped, her mouth agape and her eyes wide with shock.

Naruto flashed a small grin. "Hey, Hinata." he said, though his eyes did not reach his smile, Hinata thought nothing of it.

"A-Are you...okay?" she asked uncertainly. She was unsure if the blond knew that she was the one who knocked him unconscious or if he spoken to Sasuke since then.

"Oh, yeah!" Naruto chuckled. "All good as new! Tsunade-baa-chan told me to just take it easy. But you know me, I probably won't be taking it easy."

Hinata offered a small and short smile.

Sumire gasped once more. This was, only the second time, that she seen Uzumaki Naruto in person and so close. She was marveled.

"Anyways, I came to see Sasuke." Naruto adverted his eyes to the Uchiha who decided, up until his name was said, to ignore the Uzumaki and continue eating.

"Hn." Sasuke grunted.

Frowning, Naruto crossed his arms.

"How did you know I was here." Sasuke replied, his voice rather low.

"You know how Konoha is. Word travels." Naruto shrugged. And, when Sasuke decided that Naruto was worthy of their eyes to meet, Naruto flashed a knowing look. "You are the talk of the village."

Giving a scoff, Sasuke replied, "When aren't I?" Though it was more of a statement then a question.

"More today then ever before." Naruto said. "You and someone...else." Hinata had not noticed, but Sasuke had when his eyes adverted to the heiress when he spoke of a "certain someone else". Humming, Sasuke sat back a little, pushing his plate of food away. He grasped his glass of water and drunk it until it was empty.

"I have to go." Sasuke replied. He placed the glass down and turned towards Sumire. "You know when you're to arrive."

Sumire nodded. "O-Okay, Sasuke-sensei!"

Naruto shook his head. 'Sensei?'

"You," Sasuke turned towards the heiress. "know the routine."

"H-Hai." Hinata nodded. "I'll take Sumire-chan home."

Sasuke didn't reply. He, while having a few eyes on his, stood and faced Naruto. "Let's go, dobe." he said. "Since you stalked me."

Sumire turned towards the heiress. Hinata gave her a welcoming grin. "We can leave as soon as you're done." she assured.

"I", Sumire glanced to where the two ninja's scurried away from. "am done."

Hinata tilted her head. "Are you sure? We have not even been here for more than a half an hour."

Sumire nodded. "I am sure. I was looking forward into doing something before I went home. So you do not need to walk me."

Frowning, Hinata shook her head. "It wouldn't be a bother." she replied. "Beside's, it is past curfew."

Sumire groaned. She forgotten about curfew. Konohagakure now had a curfew for minors (anyone younger then a Genin) around 7 o clock when the sun began to set. As the Hoki was still in her academy schooling, she was considered a minor and would be in serious trouble if she was caught roaming the streets at night while the ANBU patrolled. That, and she would have to hear her sister's mouth when she returned home. "I forgot." she sighed,.

"No worries." Hinata piped up. "Where is it that you had to go? I do not mind accompanying you."

Sumire found herself starting at the Hyuga. Hyuga Hinata was a beauty, of course everyone in the village agreed. She was kind and welcoming. Her eyes, though weird upon first glance, became as welcoming and warm as her smile and as soft as her voice. "A-Arigato." Sumire stuttered, her cheeks flaring when she realized she had been staring far too long. "I just wanted to give Shinra some food."

"I'm sure he'd appreciate that." Hinata nodded.

And with no other words spoken, the duo left with a to go box in Sumre's hands. As they walked towards the training grounds in hopes of finding Shinra still training, Sumire could not help but wonder what the heiress was to Uchiha Sasuke. She wondered for a few days while she constantly seen them together, though barely speaking unless it was about training and technique's. Still, it made her curious.

So she asked.

"So," Sumire caught herself breaking the silence. "Is Sasuke-sensei your sensei too?"

Hinata kept her eyes ahead of her. Without thinking, she shrugged. "I suppose so." she answered. "Though, my training is far different then yours and Shinra-kun."

"Why is that?" asked Sumire.

"Well, I have to become stronger for my clan." Hinata replied. "And Sasuke-kun is willing to help."

"Your clan?" Sumire pondered. "And you and Sasuke-sensei friends? He must like you to agree to help you!"

Hinata found herself, for what seemed too many times for her to feel comfortable, blushing.

"Or...are you two..." Sumire smirked. When she noticed the redden cheeks on the pale heiress, she decided to tease. It was something she would do if she was in the academy surrounded by school girls. "boyfriend and girlfriend?"

Hinata gasped. She felt herself choking, finding it hard to swallow. "N-N-No!" she yelped, her face becoming hot.

"Just kidding!" Sumire laughed, closing her eyes for a second before opening them. Ginger eyes gleamed with mischief. "I think I see Shinra there, Hinata-sama! Hey Shinra!" as the Hoki girl shouted for the boy a few yards away strolling towards the way Hinata assumed was to his home, she decided it was her time to breath.

'What in the world...' she thought to herself. This was not the first time she heard of this and knew it would not be the last. Though Sumire was but a child, her questions embarrassed her to the end and wondered if other people would grow to ask her the same questions. If so, would she and Sasuke still be able to train together as comrades? Or would she have to tone it down a bite and only be with the Uchiha while the trained..."

"Huh?" Shinra twisted his head around to see his teammate. "Oh, Sumire. Hey."

Sumire glared. "Not so happy to see me, huh?"

Rolling his eyes, Shinra waved her off. "If you're here to boast then you might as well leave. I have to get home before my mom comes looking for me herself." the Shimura spoke before he began to walk. The last thing he needed was his mother, frantic, panicking and angry, to search for him.

"Well, if I knew you'd be a jerk I wouldn't have gotten you food!" Sumire hissed at the boy.

Stopping in his tracks, Shinra widen his eyes. "Huh? You got me food?" he asked, his head whipping to see if the small, squared bento box was indeed his. "Oh wow, Sumire! Thanks so much!" he laughed. The Shimura danced his way to the girl and grabbed the box. "I wonder what it is? Steak? Pork? Chicken? Oh boy!"

Hinata couldn't help but giggle when the box excitedly thanked the girl and began to munch on his food.

"I was soooo hungry at the training grounds." he told. "I stayed and tried to complete the technique."

The trio - Hinata, Sumire and Shinra - began to walk down the dim lit trail to take the two students home.

"How is it coming?" asked Hinata.

Shinra frowned. He bit into his steak. "I'm getting higher, at least. Still can't focus on my chakra enough."

"With a little more practice and patience, you'll be sure to succeed, Shinra-kun."

Even though Shinra enjoyed Hinata's kind words of wisdom and hope, they could not always go through to him. After a week of barely any progress, he was beginning to think that he was not destined to be a ninja (or a ninja training under Uchiha Sasuke) at all. He could not focus enough, and when he did it was only for a mere second. Sumire was better than him (though he would never tell her or admit aloud to anyone) and that alone made his furious. Sasuke had given them a week, and on the second to last day, Sumire completed it with ease. "Well, here I am." Shinra said. He turned to wave to Hinata. Then, he nodded to Sumire. "Thanks for the food."

"Uh, sure." she said, scratching her arm awkwardly.

As she watched Shinra stroll into his home, his back sulking, she turned towards Hinata. "Do you think he'll complete the Tree Climbing Technique?"

Hinata, blinking a few times, nodded.


"I suggest you learn how to cook." Naruto spoke as he entered Sasuke's kitchen, noticing how spotless it was from the lack of cooking the young man did.

Sasuke grunted. "I did not invite you here to eat." he said. "So it does not matter."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "I don't have time for your attitude."

Sasuke opened a cupboard and grasped a small, glass. He turned towards the fridge and slid it open. "Then why are you here?"

Naruto sat at Sasuke's breakfast table (If it could be considered that. He knew more than anyone that Sasuke barely sat at the table let along his home when he did not need to sleep). The blond boy leaned back into the seat and sighed. "What is it between you and Hinata?"

Sasuke's eyes strolled around his fridge until it landed on some (possibly expired) Sake in the back of his fridge. Grasping it, he flung it out and began to pour it into his glass.

"Don't ignore me." Naruto hissed.

Sasuke gulped own the bitter taste of the sake. "Why is it anyone's business?" he asked after a while. "I cannot breathe without a rumor flying around."

"So it's just a rumor?" Naruto asked, his eyes staring at his friend.

Sasuke shrugged. "I do not find it of any importance to answer, honestly." he replied. Was it anyone's busness who he spent his time with (either if it was just training or not).

"Kami, Sasuke!" Naruto hissed. "Dammit it is important-"

"Is it only important because you want her?" Sasuke interrupted. He leaned against his counters and pour another glass of Sake. "You don't want her...that is why you ignored her."

Naruto frowned.

"And which is why she knocked you unconscious in anger."

Naruto gasped. "So Tsunade was right? She knocked me out?"

Sasuke nodded.

"B-But..."

"While we was speaking, she must have been there listening." Sasuke concluded. He down his Sake. "I had instructed her to hide her tracks while I find her. She must had found us and heard the conversation."

Naruto groaned. "Damn..." he cursed.

'Damn indeed.' Sasuke thought, pushing back a burp.

"I should apologize." Naruto clenched his fists.

Sasuke shrugged. "I don't care." he spoke truly. "Do not do it on my time,however."

Naruto tilted his head and squinted his eyes. "What in the hell do you mean "your time", bastard?"

"When I am training her, dobe." Sasuke hissed. "I have no time for any distractions. The girl is work just as she is I do not need any lovers quarrel getting between her training."

Naruto frowned. He crossed her arms. "Why are you so keen on training her? You refuse to train with anyone else beside's me so what makes Hinata different?"

Sasuke pondered. What did make her different?

Maybe she was different because the two of them were not as different as they thought.

They both of them came from royal and powerful clans and possessed their own kekkei genkai and have special technique's within their clan.

As he been told from stories, she was in the shadow of her sister while he of his brother, and both of their father's focused on one child that out-shown the other.

"You were never interested in anyone else before. Especially a girl." Naruto chuckled and shook his head.

Sasuke groan. "I am interested in her and her clan abilities." he spoke, it was not a lie. The byakugan amazed him and knew that, like his Sharingan, that the byakugan had many unknown features. "That, and I found this."

As Sasuke went into his pocket cloak pocket and took out a folded paper that looked as though it would crumble in seconds if not careful.

"What's that?" asked Naruto.

"Here." Sasuke muttered, throwing the paper at the blond. Said paper had fallen into his lap. Grasping the paper slow and gentle, Naruto unfolded the paper. "What you read stays between-"

"You and me." Naruto nodded in agreement. They were friends after all. As the Uzumaki's eyes scanned the paper, his eyes began to grow wide. "Oh...wow...where did you get this?"

"Clan manners. Tsunade said she kept them while she was in office as the Godaime." Sasuke answered. "She gave them to me without going through them. I found that a while back..."

Naruto began to re-read the text, hoping to find anything between the lines. "What are you going to do?" he asked.

Sasuke shrugged. After take a few more sips of Sake, he answered: "I agree with it."


"I cannot let my sister down." says Hinata as she leaned against the tree of the training ground, the wind blowing through her hair as Sasuke stood across from her. His eyes adjusted on the ground before him.

One would wonder how he had gotten there into this situation/conversation with the heiress. It was simple at first, he arrived when she had. She bowed, he grunted. Before they sparred, Hinata asked her daily questions and her questions turned into a life story of the sort. Sasuke stood only grunting out a few response.

Hinata told him a lot, and only once did he question (out of the open book of her life she voluntarily read for him): "Why is becoming head important?"

Hinata was not expecting a response out of the Uchiha when she spoke to him. At first, she thought he would grunt and tell her to shut the hell up and get ready to spar. To her surprise, he listened closely (his grunts as her replies). "It was my destiny to become head, either way." her soft voice sighed. "I can change the ways of my clan."

Again, Sasuke grunted. "I doubt that."

Frowning, Hinata turned her head away.

Sasuke knew that look, for he seen Sakura with it whenever he offended her. "Hyuga-"

"F-Forget I said anything, S-Sasuke-kun." she stammered.

"It was not a offensive remark." Sasuke spoke above. "Your clan was much similar to my own clan when they strove to greatness."

Hinata took a breath.

"Not only that, but such a powerful clan as the Hyuga would be quite difficult to change their Anarchy type tradition."

Hinata and Sasuke talk about her title as heir and how she admits she does not want it, but would take it because it would leave Hanabi with a better life.

"I suppose you're correct, Sasuke-kun." Hinata smiled sadly, her eyes adjusting to her hands on her lap. "But I cannot let the dreams of my sister perish because I had not tried my hardest."

Sasuke nodded. He understood the girls frustration as well as her determination. Years ago, before the downfall of his clan, Sasuke and she wore the same shoes. He too strove to be the greatest and head of his clan and knew the difficulties he faced while Itachi had their fathers attention. Now, he could at least say, that it was no longer any trouble with becoming head of his clan.

Sasuke chuckled bitterly.

"Enough about my complications, Sasuke-kun." Hinata said, "What do you have for today's training? More kenjutsu?"

"You have the basic idea of kenjutsu. Rusty you are, but the basics." Sasuke stood straighter. "I think we should try shurikenjutsu."

Hinata nodded. Throwing shuriken was not as extreme as holding a sword against Sasuke and she had he time with practicing shurikenjutsu. By now, she knew with Uchiha Sasuke - expect all sorts of training.

"Are you good with shurikenjutsu, Sasuke-kun?" asked Hinata as she stood herself and began to stretch.

Sasuke stood silent before answering, "Why do you ask?"

"Tenten-san said the Uchiha were skilled in shurikenjutsu." Hinata spoke softly.

Nodding, Sasuke grunted.

Hinata took it as a matter he did not wish to discuss.

So she hadn't.

"Uh..."

"I would like you to get use to bukijutsu." Sasuke interrupted, finding his way out of her question. "Using weaponry could be proven useful in battle."

Hinata nodded. She clasped her hands together.

"We will practice shurikenjutsu for now. When Sumire and Shinra arrive, we'll switch to Kayakujutsu."

Hinata gulped. Her eyes widen a bit. "Kayakujutsu?"

Sasuke nodded. "It shouldn't be a problem."

Hinata was new with kayakujutsu - using explosive tags while in combat. But she had to constantly remind herself that with the Uchiha, nothing is never too fast while training.

"You're right." Hinata bowed. "I'm ready."

Nodding as well, Sasuke placed a few shuriken in front of her.

Picking them up, Hinata prepared to throw one.

"You have two hands and a total of ten fingers." Sasuke spoke, his eyes on the sky above them. "Make them useful."

Blushing, Hinata nodded. "S-Sorry..." she trailed. She knew it wouldn't be this easy.

Hinata grasped several shuriken within her two hands.

"Now, throw it at the tree where the target is placed." Sasuke instructed. He motioned towards a far tree across the training grounds.

Before she was told, Hinata activated her kekkei genkai and clenched the shuriken within her hands.

Without a second though, she threw the shuriken's towards the target. Within seconds, they hit said target.

"Decent." Sasuke spoke. "Not in the middle as it should be."

Hinata frowned.

"Do it again." Sasuke commanded. "I have enough shuriken to last until you do hit the target."

And again she did. She did it for the next few hours, and while some of the shuriken did hit the target, it was deemed unacceptable because "Not all of the shuriken" hit the target as Sasuke said. While Hinata trained and Sasuke stood with one arm hidden behind his cloak, Hinata spoke. Sasuke had not told her to be quiet or seemed annoyed with her questions or random statements.

So Hinata continued.

The Hyuga asked if Sasuke thought Shinra could pass the Tree Climbing Technique. Sasuke answered that if he and Naruto could do it, so could he. When Hinata had asked what else he would teach them, he answered that he reflected that the Suimen Hokō no Gyō - The Water Surface Walking Technique - was next. Hinata argued that maybe the shadow clone should be next, something light and easy. Sasuke remarked that she had no business in commenting in affairs she was not wanted in.

Fair enough, she thought.

Sasuke had told that he desired to show the two children the more difficult technique's first, for that the easier technique's would pass quicker with better chakra formation. In order, he spoke: The Gake Nobori no Gyō (Cliff Climbing Technique), Manji no Jin (Manji Formation), Kawarimi no Jutsu (Body Replacement Technique), Henge no Jutsu, (Transformation Technique) and Bushin No Jutsu (Clone Technique) would be taught in that order.

Hinata wondered why Sasuke would teach some technique's that could be taught within the Academy. When she asked, Sasuke told that it would be easier if the duo was skilled before hand and Hinata understood that - even if Sasuke swore that he would not train the two persistent children - that it was clear that (by as much as he thought into training the two) that he would not leave them as he said he would.

At this, Hinata smiled.


A/N: I hope this chapter was a good enough chapter. I do apologize for being gone as long as I was.