Yay, more stuff to read!
Normal talking will be like this.
A full sentence of italics represents thoughts
Using italics on one or two words in a sentence is for emphasis!
A full sentence of bold is for beings of extreme power (Gods/Demons).
A single word that is bold and Italicised is for extra emphasis!
If you come up with a way for poor, broke me to get the rights to Naruto I'd love to hear them. Until then I don't own anything.
IX
The dark wrapped around him, hiding him far better then before in his darker color scheme. Flickering shadows and their bright counterpart danced at the end of the alley, but Naruto didn't move towards the light. His mind was in a state of confusion, so much so that the boy didn't know if he could handle being around other people at the moment.
There was a phantom clinging to him. Slender arms wrapped weightlessly around his neck and shoulders, holding itself against him as he felt the slightest movement of the air near his ear.
"Thank you." it whispered.
He had almost lashed out when Hinata suddenly flung herself at him, scared that his team-mate was attacking him. But before he could settle on a course of action she had been around him, holding him tightly, but not painfully in a physical sense. Naruto couldn't settle his rolling emotions, part of him enjoyed it, a touch that hadn't hurt him. She was the second person to hug him, at least from what he could remember of his hazy past, to come into contact with his flesh while not trying to do harm. He had no explanation, no memories to fall back on, no previous experiences of how to react to the tender gesture. He heard a deep, rumbling voice in the back of his mind laughing.
All to soon he was standing before a familiar apartment, but once he opened the door and saw the dark and pillaged living room he remembered. He didn't live here anymore.
Walking slowly into the almost pitch-black house the boy reached for anything familiar. The pots were gone from their hooks, the back of the rickety couch didn't meet his groping fingers. It was empty, and didn't even feel like it was his anymore. Shuffling through the oppressive dark Naruto felt a small flash of pride at how thoroughly his clones had been.
Returning to the door and swinging the portal open he looked back, the living room was barely illuminated from the streetlights around the corner. Soaking in one last look at the place that had been his home for eight years Naruto smiled bitterly.
"I'll be going then."
Leaving, racing forward towards a goal that others mocked and told him was impossible, to far to reach. But he wasn't the boy they had laughed at and jeered towards any more. He was a ninja, the first step on the path and already further than many expected. He was changing, growing, and it was only fitting that he move on past the empty, lonely room he had cried himself to sleep in far to often.
Letting the door shut behind him and breathing in the chill air Naruto broke into a smile as he leaped towards his brothers apartment. Iruka had promised to show him more forms, and after walking Hinata home the boy was more then ready to drown his emotional turmoil under hours of physical torture.
He could handle that, the burn that settled into his muscles after going over a form again and again. The sweet ecstasy that came knowing he had grasped the movement of a particular style. The way he could let his mind focus completely on guiding his limbs exactly how they should. In contrast emotions were too messy and difficult to grasp or deal with.
After a few moments the boy landed lightly outside the door to his new home. A fresh start for him, along with his new clothes, new teacher, new team-mate, and old rival. His grin only grew bigger as he pushed open the door and saw Iruka had already cleared a space in the living room and had changed into a set of light, billowy training clothes.
"Welcome home, Naruto." he said, standing up and motioning the boy in. "Are you ready to get started?"
"Hell yes!" the boy shouted.
Slapping a hand on the alarm as it's first 'Beep' sounded through his room Sasuke, already dressed and prepared, slipped out of his apartment and headed for the bridge they had been forced to wait at yesterday for their sensei.
Hoping that Kakashi would demonstrate some professionalism and arrive on time the Uchiha noted he was once again the first to arrive. He was always the first, since his brother had turned traitor and fled. He tried to deliberately forget that Hinata had been the first to actually land a blow on their mutual teacher. Failing that he settled for being the genius behind her success.
Leaning against the railing Sasuke felt his mind returning, as always, to the past. The warmth of his mother, the pride he felt every time he gained his fathers approval, the simple joy of having Itachi there to learn from. The thought of his brother pulled up another, far more miserable memory. The feeling of his kind, loving brother slipping knife after knife into his skin. For three days he had endured it, the helplessness of watching the brother who meant more to him than anyone cut him over and over as he pleaded and begged for it to stop. Itachi had ignored him, his siblings face grim and hungry as he chained Sasuke inside a genjutsu that made three days of torture occur in seconds.
He was going to kill Itachi. Kill the man who had fooled everyone with his faked smiles, faked love, and faked care. Sasuke had seen the true Uchiha Itachi that night, the man who slaughtered his entire family just to test his limits. He was a monster in human skin, so Sasuke was determined to become a monster as well. One who would destroy the beast who took everything from him but his life.
Noticing his hands were clenched tightly the genius forced himself to relax. The first step to his goal would be learning everything Kakashi had to teach, to draw every technique and form he could from the near-legendary ninja. Maybe then he would be strong enough to face his brother.
He saw the Hyuga girl approaching, her steps light and delicate as always, the grace that Hyuga's instilled their clan with since birth obvious. Her normal bulky coat was gone, replaced by a grey zip-up hoodie that looked almost too small, the skin of her wrists was exposed for the first time in a few years.
Hinata was a pretty thing, dark hair and milky skin, delicate features that promised beauty once she matured, but he didn't have time for such things. Her infatuation with Naruto and her clan were enough for him to remove her from his potential list of wives. The Uchiha would be revived, not swallowed by their rivals the Hyuga. Though even his clan's survival was only a secondary concern for the avenger.
"H-hello." she stuttered, one of her few physical defects.
"Hmm." he replied with a short grunt, not feeling like talking and knowing she wouldn't try to start a conversation, something more girls their age should focus on doing.
As almost always he was right, she squatted on the opposite side of the bridge and leaned against the red-painted wood, looking about for a certain blonde occasionally. He caught a few light blushes on her cheeks from time to time as they waited for their last two team-members, no doubt thinking about the idiotic blonde.
Naruto was... different, from the rest of their class. He was loud, argumentative even with his superiors, but above all refused to back down. If Sasuke had any one good thing to say about the boy it was his spirit, despite his lack of form or techniques no one else could match the boy when it came to sheer determination to succeed, except of course for Sasuke himself.
He actually reveled in the boys challenges, even as he won almost effortlessly it made his palms sweat and heart race that the boy would always be back. Always with a new plan, always with a different approach. Naruto's futile efforts to beat him none the less kept him sharp, reinforcing that he always had to ready for anything. The best was only a title you got by constantly holding it and defeating all challengers, there was never time to rest, never time to get complacent when people were after you.
Naruto was always there any time he thought he had gotten strong, and every time Sasuke found himself fighting harder then he should have to. It drove him, almost as much as the thought of his brother, he was the best and no-one would take that title from his living hands, certainly not one brash blonde.
As if thinking about him had summoned the boy Naruto dropped out of the nearby trees and ambled up to the bridge, yawning. Checking his watch Sasuke sighed. While not as bad as their instructor Naruto was still late. Though Sasuke noted his new attire, which was far more suitable for their job then his signature orange jump-suit.
"Morning." the boy said, hand still over his mouth as he sprawled against the wooden rails, avoiding looking at the girl who's face had gone bright red the moment he appeared.
"Your late." not really knowing why he bothered Sasuke never the less spoke to his companion.
"You see Kakashi?" the boy replied, leaning his head back and glaring out of one eye.
Grunting again Sasuke turned back to the water below him.
"Then I aint late yet." the boy continued. "Wake me up when he gets here." thirty seconds later the other genin heard his breathing slow in the thralls of the boys dreams.
"Lazy idiot." Sasuke muttered.
"H-he was t-training with Iruka l-last night." Hinata quietly mentioned after a few more minutes.
The idiot, training with someone besides their assigned teacher? The black-eyed boy almost didn't believe it. Since it was Iruka though, who he noticed had a soft spot for the blonde, Sasuke gave his team-mate the benefit of the doubt.
Two hours later Sasuke turned around just as the silver-haired jonin landed in the middle of the three genin. Throwing a small pebble at the blondes head to wake him, noting it failed the older boy slouched over and smacked him on the head.
"Oi!" instantly awake Sasuke swayed back to avoid a flickering jab, noting with surprise that Naruto had switched to using Iruka's preferred taijutsu, Swirling Leaf,instead of his own seemingly made up one.
"Kakashi's here." keeping it simple for the dense blonde Sasuke turned back to face their teacher.
"Well now that everyone is conscious..." the jonin stated, pulling a small packet of paper from one of his pouches. "I'd like you all to take a sheet of this paper."
As each of the three genin took a sheet of the small paper from the booklet in Kakashi's hand they all exhibited different effects.
"Lightning, and fire." Kakashi said as Sasuke's paper crumpled in his hand before lighting on fire.
"Water and earth." he continued as Hinata's slip wilted under its waterlogged weight then crumbled into soggy pieces.
"Wind... and water." he finished as the group watched Naruto's split evenly down the center before drooping as Hinata's had.
"Those are your primary and secondary affinities, though I suspect none of you will be particularly strong with your secondary as of this moment." the jonin said, slipping the booklet of chakra papers back into his pocket.
"Let me do it again Sensei!" Naruto shouted, "I wanna get fire!"
Palming his face Sasuke didn't even bother to listen as Kakashi explained that affinities weren't something you picked or got, they were what you naturally would use best. After a few minutes of pouting the blonde gave up and let Kakashi continue.
"Lightning is good for offense and defense at short ranges, Wind is strongest at attacking in short or medium ranges. Water is perhaps the most versatile of the elements for fluid transitions between offense or defense at multiple ranges, Fire is strong for mid to long range attacks, and finally Earth is best for defensive or impairing techniques. However having an affinity doesn't mean you can't use other elements, it only means that you will be naturally stronger with those that you have a natural affinity with." Kakashi explained while turning and waving for the trio to follow him.
"Now that I know what your affinities are I can start each of you a list of techniques that will compliment your fighting styles and positions, you'll start learning them after a few days of demonstration and instruction on your taijutsu." stopping in a sunny clearing Kakashi turned to face his followers.
"Sasuke, your instructor in the Uchiha clan techniques for today is myself, I'm afraid some... complications arose. I am more then proficient enough to train you for now though."
Considering for a moment Sasuke decided it was possible that the 'Copy Ninja' could have a working knowledge of his families styles. That didn't mean he was a master though, and the black-haired boy was hell-bent to prove that.
"Shall we spar then, Sensei? Crow's Flight style?" he inquired, picking on of the forms he knew best.
"A good choice, even if it is still a building block to Waltzing Crow." the silvered jonin replied. "Give me a moment to get Hinata and Naruto started as well and I'll be more then happy to fully test your progress."
It was much easier to believe that the older man had witnessed, or at least heard of the Uchiha's styles now. Waltzing Crow was not well known and Sasuke only knew of his brother and father being true masters of the forms. He didn't like to admit it, but he had yet to even feel proficient with them yet.
"Hinata, I want you and Naruto to practice climbing trees till I'm ready to test you as well." Sasuke heard the jonin state.
"What the hell! I can already climb perfectly fine, look!" Naruto roared, quickly scaling into the upper branches of a nearby tree.
"Quite quick, however..." Kakashi said, walking slowly up to the same tree. "I meant for you to climb it without using your hands."
"Fine." the blonde stated, hopping out of the tree.
Bracing himself Naruto leaped into the air, almost high enough to land among the lowest boughs. Cursing he landed, crouched in preparation, and fell over as Kakashi put a hand on his head.
"Like this." the jonin stated, placing one foot onto the trunk.
"No... freaking... way." Naruto stated in disbelief as the jonin casually walked up to the top of the tree, at a ninety-degree angle from the trunk the whole time.
"That's not possible, what kind of tool are you using?" the boy continued as their instructor returned to the grass.
"Do you remember the exercises you preformed in the academy that involved picking something up with chakra?" Kakashi asked. Sasuke saw Hinata nod while Naruto blushed slightly and looked away.
"The principal behind this exercise is the same. You will produce a small amount of chakra, then hold yourself to the tree with it. Then you will do the same for your next foot, and finally release the first foothold so you can continue to climb." demonstrating each step of the process Kakashi directed Naruto and Hinata to different trees, though both within a few feet of the other.
"If you put too much chakra into your step you'll be unable to touch the tree, too little and you won't be able to hold your weight." the jonin said, finally turning and ambling back towards Sasuke.
"You'll be joining them when we finish." he said before slipping into the first stance of Crow's Flight.
Looking over his teacher carefully Sasuke grimaced. Kakashi held his body perfectly, arms out to the sides and bent at the elbows towards his chest, one foot slightly behind the other and shoulder-width apart. He also did it with practiced ease that Sasuke was certain he himself hadn't reached yet.
Bowing slightly Sasuke took his own stance before launching a controlled attack. Focusing more on his technique then speed or power. Kakashi smoothly raised an arm to slip the attack around him before sending the second towards Sasuke's stomach. Noting that the jonin was also moving fairly slow the black-eyed boy brought his defending hand down to knock the attack away. They continued to trade blows, slowly increasing the pace of their hands till they began to blur.
Finally one of Kakashi's attacks slipped through his tight defense and Sasuke stumbled back slightly. Cursing he switched from Crow's Flight, to Dancing Fire, his instructor simply shifted his own stance to match.
Crow's Flight was a defensive beginners style, focusing mostly on shifting aside blows without having to move and keeping a solid base for its few strikes. Dancing Fire on the other hand, was a far more advanced style that focused on constant offensive movement to avoid strikes and set up the opponent for his own attacks. It also included kicks, something that Crow's Flight was sadly lacking.
Slowly circling each other Sasuke was the first to attack, spinning as he launched a foot towards the jonin's head. As expected the attack was avoided, Kakashi was sticking to just Dancing Fire, which did not incorporate many blocks. Continuing his rotation even as he fell Sasuke drew his outstretched leg and extended the other, trying to catch his Sensei's ankles with a sweep.
The jonin lithely stepped over Sasuke's leg and brought his knee up towards the boy's face. Seeing the danger the Uchiha dropped his forward shoulder and used the momentum from his attacks to roll to safety. Holding back anger that someone knew his preferred style better then himself, and a smile at finding someone who was finally a challenge, Sasuke regained his feet and threw himself towards the advancing jonin.
The best way to get stronger was to fight, to bleed, to struggle, and to feel your blood pounding along it's endless track as adrenaline sharpened your thoughts. Kakashi was going to make him stronger, Sasuke was sure of it, his thundering heart beat confirmation enough.
"Right, well I suppose we better get on with this silly exercise then." Naruto said as Kakashi and Sasuke began their spar, not noticing the Hyuga heiresses blush when he spoke to her.
"So... uh... Focus your chakra." he mumbled to himself, mentally picturing a fire burning in his belly.
Dragging a whisper of flames from the center of himself Naruto directed the energy towards his feet. He could feel the energy dissipating, portions escaping his control and either returning to their home or winking out of existence. None the less he managed to collect a handful along the bottom of his right foot.
"Right, now step onto the tree, nice and easy." he continued to talk, mostly to avoid forgetting any of Kakashi's meager advice.
As his foot neared the trunk Naruto began to feel resistance, stubbornly refusing to believe the tiny amount of chakra he was using was too much. After a few minutes he realized the bark under his foot was beginning to flatten slightly and the boy slumped back with a defeated sigh.
"Well I guess it really doesn't take much chakra at all." he stated, looking over at his quiet team-mate, choosing to ignore the multitude of questions he had for her, most notably "Why did you hug me?".
She was trying not to look at him, though every time she did a light blush was covering her cheeks and the girl would quickly look away, usually to their currently sparring teacher and team-mate. Her hands had also formed a small bridge that swayed back and forth.
"She looks almost like Sakura when she's looking at Sasuke..." he thought glumly.
Why wouldn't Hinata like Sasuke, he was smart, talented... and a freaking EMO GOTH! Slapping his cheek Naruto instantly brought himself back to reality. Sasuke just had a bit of a head start, Naruto was going to be the strongest ninja in Konoha, become the Hokage, and gain everyone's respect. Then it wouldn't be Sasuke getting those glances, though the blonde couldn't say exactly why it mattered so much to him.
"Shouldn't you be doing this too?" he asked innocently, almost laughing at the horror-stricken face Hinata suddenly wore.
"S-sorry." she said, quickly rising to her feet and approaching her own tree.
Shaking his head Naruto decided to get back to training as well, resolutely ignoring his flood of questions for the girl. Repeating the process of drawing chakra from his body and condensing it around the bottom of his foot, making sure to reduce the amount he had used. Sure enough, he got closer, but was still almost a full inch from being able to plant his foot on the bark.
Snarling Naruto released the energy, and looked over at his partner. Hinata was hanging perpendicular to the trunk, three feet off the ground. Staring open-mouthed Naruto saw her concentrate before taking another step. As her back foot came off the tree however, her leading foot started to slip. Suddenly windmilling her arms Naruto saw Hinata start to fall despite trying to recover her grip, and also noted a pair of largish rocks in her imminent landing zone.
"Crap, can't have her breaking her head open." the boy thought, Hinata's tenuous grip on the tree letting her hang long enough for the blonde to slide under her as she fell.
Groaning slightly as one small elbow dug deeply into his shoulder and one of the rounded rocks dug into his spine Naruto started to get back to his feet. Hinata had decided to freeze up completely though, stalling his attempts to climb to his feet. Looking at the back of her head Naruto lightly poked her side while saying "Hey."
She was tense, but somehow clenched her muscles even tighter as his finger drifted along the side of her ribs. Naruto could have swore he heard something along the lines of a laugh escape his captor as well. Only able to see the slender blue-black strands of hair that decorated her head Naruto couldn't see if she was upset or not.
"Hey!" he said again, poking slightly harder. There was a definite giggle this time but the Hyuga was swirling to her feet before Naruto could comprehend why.
"I-I'm sorry, a-are y-you ok?" she asked, hiding her face to the side and behind her longer bangs.
"I'm alright, how about you?" the boy replied, clambering to his feet and dusting off his shorts.
"F-fine!" she replied, almost before he had even finished speaking.
"Good. You need to be more careful." he said, starting to turn back to his tree.
"S-sure." she quietly stated, still hiding her face but Naruto could feel her eyes on him.
Hunching his shoulders slightly he tried to draw an even smaller amount of chakra to try tree-walking again. It was hard, to pluck the tiniest fragments of his inner power out. Naruto always found it easier to just grab and yank as much as he could hold in his mental, or perhaps spiritual arms and force the mass into the proper shape through seals. With no seals to focus the volatile energy the boy was having extreme difficulty bending it to his will.
For the next quarter hour Naruto grew increasingly frustrated, he had managed to almost get to touching the tree, but still hadn't been able to even take his other foot off the ground. Hinata on the other hand, was making rapid gains and would soon be reaching the middle of the tree before having to catch herself.
"How do you do that!" he finally shouted in frustration, gaining a quick glare from Sasuke and Kakashi, and a startled 'eep!' from the focus of his misplaced ire.
Luckily Hinata had been on the ground preparing for her next attempt to climb, otherwise she probably would have catapulted herself away from the tree. The girl quickly dropped her head and stammered an appology.
"What the heck are you sorry for?" the blonde retorted, stomping back and forth. "Your freaking half-way up the tree already, that's great, it's amazing, it's...impossible." snarling he finally leaned back against the rough bark and scowled up at the blue sky.
"A-are you h-having p-problems?" she squeaked a moment later, still hiding behind her bangs.
"Damn, what gave it away." Naruto sighed, starting to regret lashing out at one of the few people who tolerated him without cruel glares and harsh words.
"I just... I can't figure this out. I keep grabbing smaller and smaller amounts of chakra, but no matter how close I get I can't grab the tree." he finally admitted, daring the dirt under his feet to mock him. "I wish I could just see what I'm doing wrong."
"See? Sight, eyes, bloodline, HYUGA!" the boy slapped himself for his own stupidity.
"HINATA!" leaping over to the shy girl Naruto planted himself right in front of her.
"You can see chakra right? Or something like that?" he asked, peering through the slightly tangled hairs to find pale eyes. She nodded slowly, hesitantly but it was enough for the boy.
"So you could tell me what I'm doing wrong!" wanting to race in circles because the answer to his problems was so close Naruto none the less contained himself... barely, when the girl nodded again.
"Byakugan." she intoned, her eyes hardening slightly and the veins around them starting to stand out.
"YES!" quickly running through the steps again, taking the smallest amount of chakra he could fumble free, Naruto pressed his foot against the bark.
Once again stopped a centimeter from the actual surface he looked over to his team-mate hopefully. The girl was quiet for a few minutes, though she did move slightly for a different look at the boy's situation. Finally she looked up and at him, her usual blush absent.
"When... y-you push against t-the tree r-relax your control f-for a second, t-then hold it a-again." she said in a rush, ducking her head slightly as the blush bloomed on her cheeks again.
"Huh?" not quite comprehending the idea Naruto mulled it over for a moment.
"Y-you can't g-grab anything with a-a rock." Hinata said, quoting someone by the sound of her voice, "T-the chakra has t-to be s-soft to mold w-with the s-surface."
"Oh." thinking about it that way suddenly made a lot more sense to the blonde.
If he was holding his chakra tightly it would resist changing shape, but if he relaxed that hold slightly it would morph like water to wrap around the crevices in the tree. Then if he tightened his grip a little it would hold it's shape, letting him use the tiny cracks to support his body weight.
Putting the theory into practice Naruto tried to relax his control over the small bundle of chakra hovering at the bottom of his foot. Sure enough it loosened and he felt his foot touch the bark for the first time since he started trying to climb the tree. His success was short-lived however, as the chakra began to escape, flickering away before he could grab hold of it again and leaving him just leaning against the tree trunk.
"Gah, this is rough." he muttered, "I think I got the idea now though. Thanks Hinata!" flashing a quick smile to his team-mate Naruto turned back to the tree.
He had to take it slow, carefully control his chakra and mold it to his will. Breathing deeply Naruto focused on the small gains he made as he repeatedly walked himself through the steps. Later, how many times he didn't remember, he almost deafened his team when his foot stuck and he was able to stand, perpendicular to the trunk for the first time that day.
It was slow, painful, and tedious, but Naruto wouldn't give it up for the world. He wasn't practicing anything flashy, but he was learning, growing, and soon enough he would be noticed.
"Excellent job." Kakashi said to the exhausted Uchiha who panted, hands on his knees, beside him. "Your self-teaching is well within the standards and you don't have any glaring defects that I need to work out. Take Hinata's place on the trees and send her over."
"S-sure." the boy stuttered, probably more winded then he had ever been in years.
Watching Sasuke interact with his team-mate drew Kakashi's brow together in a scowl. The boy was still dismissive and made it obvious that he thought he was the superior. That arrogance would have to be shredded and maimed soon or it would become as large a problem as Hinata's hesitance.
"I'll see if your words can reach him... Obito." he promised to pass along the words he had come to live by from one Uchiha to another.
"P-please t-take care of me." the small girl stammered while bowing deeply to him.
"Lets start with the initial movements of Heavens Gaze." the jonin said, sifting into the stance himself and almost laughing at how wide the girls eyes went.
"H-how d-do..." she started
"I know Gentle Fist?" he finished for her. "Give the ninja world some credit Hinata, Gentle Fist is nothing but another taijutsu style, what makes it feared is your clans unique eyes and chakra manipulation."
"O-oh." she replied, mind churning with the obvious yet often over-looked fact.
"Shall we? No chakra please." Kakashi pressed slightly, Hinata exhaled an apology before moving into the same stance.
Keeping his motions deliberate and slow Kakashi began to walk her through the forms, his uncovered eye checking for hundreds of possible flaws or errors each second. What he saw frustrated him. Her form was spectacular, some of the best he had seen, but he could feel the reluctance in her mock attacks. Like she was scared to hit, and even more terrified of being struck.
"Hinata." he said softly, seeing her eyes lift to meet his own Kakashi continued, "Hit me."
Confusion was written on her face for a moment but the girl did attack, Kakashi easily brushed the fear-filled swing to the side.
"I said hit me." he chided.
She tried again, and once more he slipped her hand, missing its deadly covering of chakra, harmlessly away.
"Stop." he said quietly, seeing her face fall as she only slightly relaxed. "What are you doing wrong Hinata?"
"I-I..." she was looking, searching for an answer but failing to find one.
"Your scared." Kakashi told her, watching Hinata carefully. "Your scared of being hit, your not putting any intent to kill in your attacks, in essence your hiding."
Hinata's head dropped with each word and Kakashi could feel her trying to will herself into the ground. She was too important to his team to be this broken. Something had happened to her, when exactly Kakashi didn't know, but she was far more intimidating during the test yesterday then she was now.
"Attack me." he said, louder then he had before.
Resuming her stance the girl cautiously threw a pointed finger at his chest. Slapping the hand away Kakashi retaliated with an attack of his own that lightly hit her in the center of her chest. He saw her whole body flinch as his hand landed.
"She's been hurt before." the silver-haired ninja thought grimly. It was expected for participants in a spar to hit each other, however the exaggerated motion Hinata showed meant that she had developed a conditioned response to any attack, anything that hit her reminded the girl of what must be years of full-strength Hyuuga strikes. Effectively crippling her before she even started fighting.
"Why are you waiting?" he questioned her sharply, startling the girl from her frozen stupor. They continued to trade blows, Kakashi parrying or blocking Hinata's before landing his own soft attacks for a few minutes.
"Move left." he suddenly said right before his hand reached her, following his voice the girl swayed sharply to her left and his hand missed it's target. As she swayed back Hinata looked at him questioningly.
"ATTACK!" Kakashi roared, hearing an indignant shout from the distracted blonde as he lost concentration and plummeted to the ground in a painful heap.
Hinata jumped and lashed out at him again, Kakashi predictably knocking the blow away and snaking a hand towards her arm while shouting "Down!". Following his instructions again Hinata managed to lower her arm enough to avoid the attack.
As he pushed her, Kakashi slowly started letting Hinata's own attacks start to slip through his defenses. Her hands lightly brushing his skin and clothing, feather-light touches that would be all she needed once her hands were wrapped in chakra. He continued to shout instruction's for her to avoid his own attacks, driving the movements into her muscles memories, his constant pressure for her to attack him keeping Hinata on the offensive.
Slowly her attacks became for firm, more focused as more and more of them began to touch him. Kakashi continued to slowly, painfully build the girls confidence in her own strikes. She was too use to being blocked or avoided by stronger ninja, but under the stress of his demanding voice, the lack of being hit, and the shock of actually hitting herself Hinata was beginning to shed some of her fears.
"Enough." he said after Hinata dodged another of his attacks. "Naruto, Sasuke!" he shouted.
"What!" the blonde's voice came from the lowest branches of his tree.
"Come here." the jonin replied, somewhat impressed at how quickly the boy was grasping the tree-climbing technique. He had begun improving far more rapidly then the notes his teachers had left for Kakashi would suggest.
"What?" Naruto said crossly a moment later, standing next to his team-mates in front of the jonin.
"Naruto, I need you to create four clones." Kakashi stated.
"Right!" suddenly eager the blonde quickly formed his seal and with a small 'pop' created the requested number of copies.
"Now, Sasuke, Hinata. Each of you will take two clones with you and walk them through the forms of your preferred stances." Kakashi said.
"Why?" the Uchiha queried.
"It will reinforce your own understanding of your styles. Teaching is often the best way to master something. But your also doing this to make Naruto more effective." the jonin replied.
"Huh? I don't wanna fight like that goth." Naruto stated, pointing at the Uchiha. "What's wrong with me fighting like myself?"
"Sasuke, turn around, you two use the Transformation Technique, to look like Hinata." Kakashi said, pointing to the two clones that were standing next to her.
"You heard the boss." the original said, glaring at the copies as Sasuke turned away from the group.
Shrugging the clones proceeded to transform, each becoming a carbon-copy of the shy Hyuga. Kakashi instructed them to shuffle around for a few minutes before asking Sasuke to turn around.
"Can you tell which is the original?" Kakashi asked.
"... No." Sasuke admitted after a moment.
"Take your fighting stances." the jonin told the trio of girls. One hoodied girl slid into an obviously different stance then the other two.
"Who's who?" Kakashi asked the dark-haired boy.
"Obviously that is Hinata." Sasuke retorted, pointing at the only girl in a Gentle Fist stance.
"Do you get it?" Kakashi asked Naruto pointedly.
"Oh!" the blonde shouted. "If I know how to stand like her then no-one would be able to tell if it's the actual Hinata or one of my clones... How does that make me more effective though?"
"Almost managed to grasp the concept." Kakashi sighed in his head.
"Well if no-one can tell your clones apart from the originals you could hide Hinata or Sasuke to give them time to prepare a different attack, or you could distract a tracking team by spreading out multiple teams of clones that look, act, fight, and possibly smell like the originals. You might even trick someone into thinking our team is at a gathering or party while we are actually infiltrating or escaping." listing just a few of the possibilities Kakashi saw Naruto's eyes widen.
"You, Naruto, can hide us in a field of clones until we understand an enemy's tactics and abilities, drastically reducing the danger of facing a previously unknown opponent. If we mix in with clones that look, act, and stand like us we could constantly try different attacks or techniques and then be able to disappear in a crowd of look-a-likes before the enemy can retaliate." Kakashi pressed.
"You will probably be the hardest worked individual here." the jonin said quieter, "You will have to learn more, use more energy, be put in more danger, and feel more pain then any of us. If you don't think you can do that I won't force you, but I think you can succeed in this role."
All five of the Naruto's were very quiet, a few crouched or sat on the ground. Kakashi could see the boy considering his words, and the possibilities that were available. When they looked up as a group Kakashi had to smile though, he knew the boys answer. An answer he had come up with five times.
"I'll do it." the said, five voices blending together.
"Excellent. If you two want to get started then?" he said, looking at the other two genin.
"Makes sense." Sasuke said, rising to his feet and motioning for the two clones next to him to follow.
"Remember this." Kakashi called after the boys, "The effectiveness of your team-mate is going to be directly reflected by how well you teach him. If his disguise is weak it will be your fault that he can't cover for you."
Black eyes regarded his for a moment before the Uchiha nodded, turning to face the clones. He slowly began to walk them through the beginning forms of the Uchiha styles. On the other side of the clearing Hinata, blushing deeply and stuttering every word, was doing the same. Looking down to the last boy left in front of him Kakashi grinned.
"You seem to have gotten better overnight, Naruto. I'll have to thank Iruka for getting you to use Swirling Leaf, it is a solid style that will serve you well through the years. Now, do you think you could handle learning one more? Or should we wait till you have a better grasp of Hyuga and Uchiha basics?" Kakashi asked.
"I'm always ready for more!" the boy shouted in reply, his limitless energy shining through.
"Right, since you can use the Shadow Clone technique I think you'll find Snickering Cackle fits you perfectly. It's a style that is designed to be used in a group setting, from two up to six different fighters all preforming different attacks or blocks at the same time." the jonin said.
"That sounds pretty awesome Sensei!" Naruto stated. "I've noticed it's really hard to fight with more then a couple clones without getting in my own way."
"Good observation, and I think it would be best to teach you this to keep you from spending more chakra then necessary to make clones that won't be helping in the fight. However, this isn't a fancy, flashy style that will win you points with the ladies, Naruto. It was designed with one thought in mind; weaken, overwhelm, overpower, and kill your target as effectively as possible." Kakashi replied as he began to guide the boy into the first set of forms.
"People will call this a cowards style, you will be mocked for using it until the instant you tear your opponents throat, lungs, and stomach out all at once. The ultimate goal of any fight is to win, even if you have to play dirty." the jonin continued, but the boy only seemed more set to learn after hearing him. "And Naruto..."
"What Sensei?"
"Remember to thank your team-mates for being willing to bend the clan rules and teach an outsider their techniques." Kakashi said.
"Of course." the boy snorted, though he probably didn't realize just how much the rules were being bent to make their team as effective as possible.
Shadow Clone's were both a blessing and a curse. Naruto would never build his muscles or power by training his clones. He would feel every blow and cut they received, and he would mentally exhaust himself trying to maintain his sanity after spending five-times more time training then anyone else. If he could survive it, and remember even a small part of what he learned from day to day though...
Maybe his team had one more genius on it then anyone would have guessed.
Hinata was exhausted, sweaty, and extremely pleased with herself. Team 7 had trained for hours between tree-climbing, Kakashi's personal instruction's, and then walking Naruto through the basics of their different styles. Best of all was the fact that two Naruto's had watched her like a hawk, listened to every word that she managed to say while she was demonstrating the Gentle Fist for him.
She knew that her father and the elders would tear the boy apart if they knew what she was teaching him. Hinata was sure she would be severely punished for even considering going through with Kakashi's plan, but it was solidly grounded in practicality instead of tradition. Since disobeying her sensei would land Hinata in trouble as well she had sided with Kakashi, spending time with Naruto was just a bonus. Or at least that's how she justified it to herself.
Kakashi had released them for the day after spending a few more hours inspecting their team-mate training and correcting a few flaws that he had picked out. Hinata was in the process of leaving the clearing when Naruto suddenly shouted and stopped her.
"Hey!" he said, quickly closing with her, "I need to say thanks... I know you could get in big trouble for teaching me, but I'm really glad your doing it."
Trying desperately not to pass out from the still vibrant memory of his chest pressed against her own, his finding of her ticklish spot, and his heartfelt statement Hinata didn't manage to even squeak out a reply. The boy, still energetic after their long day, was already turned around and chasing down Sasuke before she managed to capture her voice. Content that Naruto had taken the time to thank her Hinata turned and started the walk home.
She had only made it a short ways past the end of the clearing before she heard a crash. Turning to her side Hinata saw Naruto had somehow slipped off a tree-branch and collapsed head-down into a bush beside her.
"Hi!" he said brightly while extracting himself from the small branches.
"H-hi." cursing her stutter Hinata waited patiently for the boy to remove himself from the shrubbery.
"Right, lets go." he stated after picking a few stray leaves out of his hair.
"H-huh?" she replied dumb-struck as Naruto started ambling in the same direction she had been traveling. His house was in almost the opposite direction.
"I'm gonna walk you home, I'd feel horrible if something bad happened." he said, parroting Iruka while looking over his shoulder with a goofy grin plastered over his face.
Hinata immediately flushed cherry-red from the tips of her toes to the ends of her hair. Trying to word a reply she found her tongue had wandered off yet again. Unsure of what else to do Hinata settled for just falling into step with the blonde.
The walk passed in a blur, and Hinata couldn't remember if they had talked or just enjoyed the ever dimming, sunlit walk through the woods and into the village. Before she knew it Naruto was waving goodbye and racing back towards his own home. Lifting her own hand Hinata watched him till he disappeared into the sprawl of houses. Turning back to the gates of the Hyuga compound Hinata felt the constant pressure the place exuded dampening her spirit slightly.
Resolutely walking through the gate and greeting the guards Hinata made her way to her room, and changed into a more comfortable training uniform. Her extra lessons with Hoheto were scheduled to begin in a half-hour. Sitting on her bed Hinata pulled a photo-album from her desk into her hands. Flipping through the few pictures the heiress felt a smile tug her lips as she watched the frozen moments of times that were far happier.
Her mother smiling and holding her and Hanabi right after the younger girl was born. The woman painfully tired but shining with life and light. Even her father in the captured images seemed to be happier. After her mother passed away Hinata had begun inserting some of her pressed flowers into the book since her father stopped taking pictures. The colors shifting and jumping out with each page she turned.
Looking up at the clock Hinata gently replaced the album and made her way to the dojo. Slipping the door open and quietly closing it behind her Hinata took her place in front of Hoheto and waited for the last few minutes to pass before they began.
"Good evening, Hinata." the older man said rising to his feet and bowing slightly.
"G-good evening, Hoheto." she replied, repeating the motion.
"Your father has asked that I instruct you, we will train here every day until you meet my standards. Do you understand?" he asked quietly, a Hyuga never raised their voice unless absolutely necessary.
"Yes." she said just as softly.
"Good, then let us begin." at his words the two pale ninja activated their blood-line and shifted into their stances.
Hinata hung back slightly, worried both about hurting her family member, and of the pain that she would be feeling shortly. Sensing her reluctance Hoheto attacked first, a thrust towards her forward leg. Shifting the limb out of the way Hinata continued to procrastinate, avoiding putting herself in danger. Hoheto replied by stabbing towards her with both hands. Caught by the un-orthodox attack Hinata squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the pain.
"DOWN!" came a familiar voice, ringing through her as the girls body instantly responded, slipping under her cousin's attack.
"ATTACK!" the voice roared through her, and Hinata could do nothing but give in.
Her right hand lanced out, landing lightly against the inside of Hoheto's elbow before he could withdraw. Surprise was evident through the usual Hyuga mask the older man wore, but Hinata was still moving. Just as Kakashi had instructed her, time and time again that afternoon, she moved her hand even further towards her cousin and tagged his shoulder. She saw it, the spike of her chakra stabbing into his shoulder, darkening the brightly glowing bundle that marked the major nerves necessary to move the limb. Like oil dumped in the glowing river of Hoheto's chakra coils they darkened from his shoulder to fingertips as the lingering chakra dissipated.
Staring in awe Hinata felt his retaliatory strike land on the right side of her chest. She felt his chakra twisting inside her, just like her own had done to him. Half her chest was numb, her breath suddenly short, but she could still move her arms, and her Sensei's voice demanded she get compensation for the attack. Rising like graceful birds her hands tapped their way down her cousins previously un-touched arm, the darkness of his blocked chakra coils following her nimble fingers. Her fingers came to rest delicately against the top of the mans shoulder.
For a few minutes neither Hyuga moved, Hinata stunned by the fact that she had effectively removed her cousins means to fight, and Hoheto looking at her wide-eyed in shock. Looking at him Hinata saw something in his eyes she hadn't seen since her mother passed away. Pride.
"Excellent." Hoheto stated, looking at his arms intently, "You've completely immobilized my right arm with two strikes, and shut down fourty-percent of my left with a perfect counter. Since I can no longer spar till the damage lightens I'll have you go through the forms of Shaping Grace while we wait."
Only years of training in etiquette kept Hinata's jaw from dropping. She had never been in this situation, where her instructor was incapable of fighting her. Always she was incapacitated and left lying on the floor as they preached of her weakness, her laziness, or her lack of attention.
She wasn't hurt, her chest did feel slightly tight, but Hoheto hadn't managed to hit any major points with his strike. Unable to hold it in Hinata dropped her Hyuga mask and threw her arms around the older man's middle, hugging him as tightly as she could and trying desperately not to cry.
Unable to remove the girl Hoheto simply stood, quietly watching the door as the girl's tears began to flow. After a few moments his right hand drifted up to hold the girls shoulders, but made no motion to dislodge her.
"Next round we only use a quarter of the usual amount of chakra." the man said quietly, the reduced energy wouldn't be able to completely shut down a chakra point. It would reduce it, making it easy to tell who had been hit, but there would only be discomfort, not pain.
That was also the way most Hyuga trained, only the head of the family was expected to spar against members who were using their full-strength. Hearing that Hinata felt a fresh batch of tears brewing, both in gratitude and shame. Thankful that Hoheto was willing to save her pain, but knowing that her father would not be pleased.
"It is for my own safety." the man continued, gently rubbing her shoulders, "I can not instruct you properly if I can not move, and I cannot expect my student to fight under a handicap I am unwilling to take myself."
Looking at the man in wonder Hinata tried to think of a reason for his protection. That was what he was offering, a way to learn without being reduced to a shivering mess of pain and aches. He also would take the blame if her father learned of it, as it would be shameful for her to not follow her teachers instructions.
"T-thank you." was all she could say.
IX.
Whew. Some good progress there if I do say so myself.
Couple things that you might be interested in:
Dual affinities: They all have two, I know it isn't quite cannon but since ninja aren't limited to using strictly their affinity I thought I would expand a little. It will also make it easier for me to create their combination moves and techniques (Remember, I'm pushing teamwork and group-before-self mentality onto them through Kakashi. It's the reason our military is the strongest in the world, we never fight alone.)
Naruto using clones to learn new taijutsu: If it works for ninja techniques it must work for physical memory somewhat as well, regardless of it it helps Naruto become physically stronger or not he does remember what something feels like, that alone will make learning taijutsu easier (it is also how I suspect he improved so rapidly after the academy, his body learns his opponents attacks and he finds ways to avoid them.). However, Naruto will not be fighting with Gentle fist or any Uchiha styles, he will only be learning enough to make his clones harder to tell apart from who they are copying while focusing on Iruka and Kakashi's styles for his actual fights.
A Cackel is a group of Hyena's, just to get the point across that Kakashi is teaching Naruto how to kill. It won't be graceful or pretty, it won't look cool. He will be cutting people to shreds, crushing their will while taking away their ability to fight piece by piece until they sucumb to the unrelenting pressure he puts on them, Naruto's Talk Technique won't be appearing very often. If you don't like that realize he does the exact same thing in the manga, makes almost every fight he is in is a 100-to-1 fight for his opponent, I just have him using clones for more then just punching bags.
Hinata suddenly fighting back: She has been trained, she knows the steps, she has become increadiably effective at them through years of training (since birth pretty much). What holds her back is years and years of fighting stronger opponents who hit her with their full power, leading her to not believe in her own strength and spend too much time trying not to get hit then to fight back. Kakashi has begun the process of breaking this habit, and Hoheto will be assisting (For how long... who knows.).
Strength of Team 7 seem too high? It won't, because this is the sort of training and learning every team of ninja (at the very least from Konoha) is going through. Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, and even Sakura will have their strengths reinforced by their jonin instructors. I dislike how Naruto and Sasuke are seemingly stronger, despite their lack of training (seriously, walk up a tree... now your way stronger! Make your friends look like easy fights.), then their peers even during the first portion of the chunin exams, it makes their classmates seem lazy and stupid. I refuse to let that happen, refuse to believe a jonin of Konoha would let their students waste time when they are in a profession with such a high morality rate. Team 7 will also be best when fighting together, and that will be demonstrated constantly once missions start. They might be able to take down a jonin together (not anytime soon), but any of the three on their own would be slaughtered unless they managed to escape. I hope that will keep some of the apprehension about god-like heroes down till I actually get the chapters out.
Lack of villians? I've got it covered, Danzo will start making an appearence soon (I got all kinds of plans for Konoha's Root.), Orochimaru is still going to show up, and I have a couple baddies roughed out for missions as well. The Kyubi is quiet for now because he has nothing to tempt Naruto with (for now...). I apologize for not including them more often but I wanted to get through some more team-building and training before starting the real struggles.
Wave Arc? Kinda? The issue I'm having is I wanted to do some missions that would cover everything the cannon mission did for the characters, thus meaning the wave arc from cannon would be worthless (character development wise). Currently I'm working on how to include Haku (Male regardless of if I include him or not.) and Zabuza as they are the reason most people like/hate the wave arc without actually having to do the cannon wave arc. They will not be joining Konoha as that would be the equivalent of the Hokage saying Zabuza was working for him when the man tried to kill the freaking Mizukage! That would almost certainly mean war with the Mist and we know our third Hokage is not the type to start a war over something so easily avoidable.
Your reviews and comments help me focus and direct my writing. Let me know when things bother you, or if you liked something. When you do I can make changes accordingly =)
~SimplyWaters~
