Chapter 8: Naruto's Persistence (And luck)

A/N: Over 50 follows! =) Ty all!

Shoorrt chapter today I'm afraid… however, I've written a lot of chapter 10 (or 11 that is tbd) … 4k words on it already (Have yet to start chapter 9 however) that chapter I already started should be pretty long by my story's standards. Anyhow, I best not get so far ahead of myself… enjoy

Hiruzen coughed profusely having made a mistake with his pipe upon hearing the surprising request. Kakashi gave a slight look of concern but Sarutobi waved it off. "I'm fine, do not worry. I may be old but I'm very healthy," The Hokage smiled. "Your request has caught me off guard however… Are you sure this is a good idea? Your team is very… ineffective."

Kakashi nodded. "I've tried everything, and this might be just what they need…"

Sarutobi nodded thoughtfully. "Very well, I know just what to give you then."


"But why not? You're my sensei aren't you supposed to teach me stuff like this?"

"Yes Naruto, but how can I teach you about a weapon I don't use?" Anko rebutted. "If you want this so bad, you'll have to find someone to teach you on your free time."

"Damn," Naruto grunted, but at the same time realized something else. "Oh! I know who to ask! I'll see you later Anko-sensei, Kiba!" He promised and sprinted away without another word.

Kiba snorted as the figure of Naruto grew more distant. "Who do you think he was talking about?"

"Hell should I know," She shrugged. "But since we're alone now we may as well work on your summoning jutsu. First, I want you to fill me in on you and Naruto's conversation the other day though."

Kiba openly appeared surprised. "Uh what conversation?"

"The two of you decided to have lunch together after Naruto was acting that weird… without a conversation of any meaning? I find that impossible to believe. Spill it, kid."

Kiba sighed. "All right all right… He said he was distraught because when the Kyuubi talked to him, he had a plan for Naruto to follow that thanks to you he didn't have to use. That monster was so desperate to keep out of Inoanji's grasp that it was willing to work with and help Naruto out. He said that's when the whole point of it hit him. Inoanji wanted to extract the ninetails to slaughter the shinobi world… So Naruto felt a bit shook up about the fact he was the key to that."

"That makes sense, and he seems to have relaxed since then," She noted, however tallying entirely different thoughts in her head. Inoanji would have used Naruto in just as bad of a way the Akatsuki would like to. Kid doesn't even know they exist; they want to take him… use him… and fuck the whole world over. Anko compared. We should tell him, but the Hokage doesn't want to. It's not right, how can we not tell someone a group of S-Class criminals want all the Jinchuriki and he needs to be as prepared and strong as possible? It was stupid.

"Anko-sensei?" Her attention returned to Kiba.

"I'm ready if you are."


"Where are we going Kakashi-sensei?" Ino prodded.

Before the ex-ANBU captain could answer another ninja turned the corner in front of them and ran right into Sasuke causing to two of them to consequently fall down with simultaneous grunts of discomfort. "NARUTO!" The extremely angry Ino and Sakura shouted barely keeping their fury from skinning their poor classmate alive.

Sasuke got back on his feet, intentionally kicking dirt into Naruto's face as he did so. "Loser," he spat. "Can't you do anything right?" he asked as Naruto coughed because of the dirt, unable to respond right away.

"Why don't you teach him a lesson eh Sasuke?" Ino encouraged with a smug expression.

Sakura was also about to join in on the 'fun' but Kakashi intervened. "That is quite enough, we have a mission and you three are wasting my time."

Naruto got to his feet as well and straightened up. "Sorry Kakashi-sensei, it is partly my fault I guess," He admitted. "You weren't who I was looking for… but maybe you've seen Genma today?"

"Hey! You can't just run into us and ask for a favor! And why did you apologize to Kakashi? Sasuke's the one you negligibly barreled into!" Sakura reminded.

"For once billboard brow has a point," Ino sided.

"I don't have to apologize to Sasuke because I don't want to!" Naruto clarified.

"Why you-"

"INO, SAKURA. ENOUGH," Kakashi warned, shutting the both of them up instantly and even Sasuke showed a minor sense of intimidation even though it wasn't directed at him.

"Naruto, I believe Genma is working with his team in training area twenty-two."

The blonde flashed a grateful and excited smile. "Thanks Kakashi!" He stated and ran off again.

Hatake began walking again and his team a second behind. "To answer your question… We're headed to the Land of Waves; there is someone for us to meet at the gates. A bridge builder… We're on escort duty."


Genma's team was training with vigor in a free-for-all between the three. Shino tried to maintain range, knowing it was not only his strength but both his teammates were close range fighters he could not hope to compete with in taijutsu. Hinata was a problem in that regard for obvious reasons. But Choji's jutsu were also a nightmare in a close range duel. Genma analyzed closely as his pupils went at it.

"Human bowler!" Choji shouted, going after Shino as he didn't want to willingly get close to Hinata's Jyuuken. The Aburame ironically rolled out of the way, if just barely. Choji rammed into a tree and Shino sent a wave of bugs to try and captivate his teammate before he could react. However, Hinata charged at him knowing she probably wouldn't last long if it was just her versus Shino. She forced him to break off the attack and send the bugs her way instead.

Genma nodded approvingly even though none of them saw it, but then his attention was pulled away from his team as he heard another ninja approaching him. "Whoever it is, get lost."

He could hear a kid grumble in retaliation and he sensed that the Genin watching was continuing to walk towards him. "Kid, I don't like repeating myself," Genma warned without turning his eyes away from the free-for-all.

"Sorry Genma-sensei but I desperately need your help!" A voice replied that he recognized as Naruto Uzamaki.

"Desperately huh? Your pranking routine must be growing rusty," The Jonin belittled.

Naruto snarled. "Hey! I don't do that anymore! And I really do need your help; believe it!"

The Jonin rolled his eyes. "What do you want?"

"Well, they say you're the best senbon user in the village… So I've come seeking your instruction."

He wants to learn how to use senbon? While mildly interesting to Genma, he certainly didn't want a forth apprentice to deal with. Naruto's anger began to rise as he watched the back of the Jonin's head shake to deny his request silently.

"Come on! I'll do whatever you want! This is important!"

Anything… Genma thought and then scolded himself for having the thought that followed. "Kid, why does it have to be me? And don't give me any more of that crap about how I'm the best." Even if I am.

"Well, you know we fought Inoanji Yamanaka, right?" He watched the back view of Genma nodding. "One of the guys he had control of was using chakra powered senbon needles… they were real cool. The lightning ones were undodgeable! So fast… And the wind ones hurt like hell!"

Genma finally turned to face him in surprise, revealing that he actually had a senbon sticking out of his mouth as per usual. "He used wind and lightning style senbons…?" He repeated, and Naruto nodded. Genma adjusted his bandana to get the sun out of his eyes and regarded Naruto with newfound interest.

"So you're assuming I know how to do the same? Which is why you had to learn from the best…" He trailed off.

"Yeah. Wait, does that mean you'll do it?"

Genma pondered this with careful consideration as the Uzamaki started in anticipation. I'm the only one in the village with that particular skill set. If I turn him down he'll either never learn it or he'll have to figure it out on his own… Likely the first option. On the other hand, I don't want another student… these three consume enough of my time. He sighed as he came to a decision. "You said you'd do anything," he reminded, hating himself for what he was about to ask.

"Yep! Whatever you want!"

"You have a deal… IF you can get me a date with Anko Mitarashi."

The blonde's eyes practically bolted out of his head. "WHAT!?" He yelled so boisterously that the free-for-all halted in confusion.

"Wh-How am I supposed to do that? And more importantly WHY would you want that! Do you know how creepy she is sometimes!"

"Accept my terms or just leave and don't come back for my help."

"Fine… The impossible it is then…" Naruto surrendered glumly.

Genma summoned a scroll and handed tossed it to him. "That will teach you the basics of wielding senbon. You have to start from the beginning before you can ever graduate to the advanced techniques you want to learn. That scroll teaches nothing you couldn't learn without me, I just don't want to spend a bunch of time with you on the easy stuff. Master everything on the scroll; I won't do you any more favors without you meeting your end of the bargain."

"What about ammo? I don't have any sen-"

"You have money, buy some."


"No."

"C'mon… I'll owe you!"

"No."

"But it's for my training!"

"No."

"Anko-sensei…"

"I'll tell ya what… convince my boyfriend to let me go on a date with Genma, and I'll do it… But good luck with that."

"I didn't even know you had a boyfriend…" Naruto muttered.

Anko laughed. "What did you think I swung the other way or something?"

Naruto's face reddened a little. "Well no but… uh… forget it."

As usual Anko took strange pleasure in his discomfort and a smile crossed her lips and as they approached the doors to her home. "Come on in, you can meet him if you really want… I'm pretty sure he's here right now."

Somewhat curious, Naruto decided to accept though it was partly because his only hope of receiving senbon training from Genma laid in this man's hands. As he stepped through the doorway, his face went blue and he very quickly wanted to unsee everything he was seeing. A man with not one, not two, but three naked women draped over him on the couch started at the sound of the door shutting and the girls screamed as he began to panic at the sight of an IMMENSELY PISSED OFF Anko.

Before Naruto could truly register the movements Anko had already swung the door open and threw him out into the street. He got up as fast as he could and sprinted to the door in what little clothes he still had on but she slammed it in his face and turned to face the women. "BITCHES! OUT THE BACK DOOR RIGHT NOW! IF HE TRIES TO GET IN ON THAT SIDE YOU CAN TELL HIM THAT I'M GOING TO KILL HIM FOR BREAKING AND ENTERING!" The panicked bunch of cheats raced to gather their clothes before rushing out as Anko's threatening eyes danced to each one venomously.

Eventually, they all retreated out the door and Anko looked at her lone present Genin and studied the mortified look on his face. Well… at least he's not Jiraiya… even if he's primarily just too stunned to have enjoyed the view. "You aren't going to need counseling or anything, right? Cause I don't really want to pay for it," she joked.

"A-Aren't you mad?"

"Why should I be? You brought me a replacement right before I caught him…"

Naruto's eyes widened in realization of what she just said. "Still," She continued. "I can't believe that asshole did that in my house," she turned to the couch which still had a few garments of clothing on it, left behind.

"And now I need a new couch," she grumbled.


The look of surprise on Genma's face when both Naruto and Anko approached the training grounds the next day was positively priceless. His mouth actually widened and the senbon accidently dropped from the gap. The smirking Naruto just laughed at him and Anko stared waiting for him to speak.

"She actually said yes?" He stated deadpanned.

"Why didn't you just ask me?"

"I don't really know you," he shrugged. "I didn't really think Naruto had a chance of making this happen though so I figured it was a good way to get rid of him."

Anko's eyes narrowed. "So you don't even want me in other words?"

Genma blinked. "What? No… I mean yes. Ugh…" He gave up, sounding incredibly stupid.

"Gee… thanks for the reassurance," Anko sarcastically replied. "Sorry Naruto but this is ridiculous," she turned to leave.

"Maybe you'll find this reassuring… Izinaki's at seven?" He offered.

A/N: Yeah short I know… but I covered all I needed to for this chapter as I knwo that if the next one were combined with this it would be too.… well it wouldn't flow well so they have to be separate no matter how short this one is :(

Anyhow I hope some of it was amusing at least… next chapter is serious.