Chapter 9:

Chakra Control and Manipulation

The Konoha Twelve assembled on the next day at around ten o'clock on Training ground 27. It was Monday - the start of a new and important week in their lives.

Their first training session as a team.

Sakura had done a research the day before the meeting and had a good idea of what to do. She looked at the group and decided to start with basic questions. However, she noticed that Lee had sat down away from the rest. He didn't really need those lessons, but had resolved to come, just to be there.

"Alright, I suppose you all know what chakra is and basic control, meaning molding it. Have you done any exercises for control?"

"S-Sakura-san, we've already d-done the tree walking e-exercise with Kurenai-sensei," replied Hinata. She really hated the fact that she stuttered so much, but knew that it had to do with her lack of confidence, although it had increased after the Chunin Exams. She thought that those lessons and interaction with the others could do something about it, that she could show them just how much she had improved.

"We've already mastered that, too," remarked Shikamaru.

"And we're already pass the water walking one," remembered Tenten.

"So, Team Eight and Team Ten haven't mastered water walking. We too have mastered it, so I want you six to follow me. The others wait here, I have an exercise ready for you," instructed Sakura and lead the two teams towards a small river, near the bridge where Team Seven's meetings were usually held.

Sakura explained how to do the exercise and told them to be careful in the beggining and not go too much into the water. She told them to come back once they've mastered it.

The pinkette returned to the others and took a deep breath.

"Tsunade-sama said that we should train by helping each other out. I have an idea how you could train your chakra control, using weapons. For now, only Tenten will be able to do it effectively, since she is the only one who could wield a weapon well enough, but I think that in time, most of us could learn how to do it. We could emb chakra in weapons, but they have to be made by special metal, like Asuma-sensei's knuckle knives. I found out that, although rare and on the slightly pricey side, this metal is definitely worth it and there are a few people in Konoha who could actually craft with it. Tenten, your father is one of them, but before you start making offers from his name, I'm pretty sure that none of us would want your father to work for less money than he deserves. Toghether, we could save money from missions and whoever wants to could buy a weapon of choice, made by this metal. First, he'll need to master it. What do you think?"

"It's a good idea, Sakura-chan," Naruto said and the others nodded. Even Lee had come to join the conversation once he heard about the weapon's part. After hearing what it was about, though, he sadly tilted his head down.

"Lee, I wanted to ask you something," the green-clad ninja suprisingly raised his head, "Can you also tree and water-walk?"

"Yes, yes I can, Sakura-san," he replied.

"Please, you don't need to add the suffix. Anyway, yesterday I researched your problem. Since you can mould chakra, I think that your inability to do ninjutsu and genjutsu is something else.

Ninjutsu is composed of one of the following - Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation. Very few shinobi can use both. In fact, Sasuke and Kakashi sensei's Chidori uses both. Nature Transformation is actually an advanced form of chakra control - it requires both moulding and defining chakra into an innate type of chakra nature, altering it's properties and characteristics.

Shape Transformation is also an advanced form of chakra control. It consists of manipulating chakra's physical characteristics - form, size, etc.

However, this chakra metal does not require direct Nature Transformation, nor Shape Transformation. It requires the so-called Chakra Flow. You literally just need enough chakra control to flow your chakra through the metal. You don't have to manipulate it - you just channel chakra and it could gain the properties of the chakra nature. For example, Wind natured chakra can make it extremely thin and sharp, while Fire - engulf it in flames and thus incinerating everything in it's path.

Lee, what I'm trying to say is that there is a way to apply chakra in your fighting style. Taijutsu will remain your first and foremost weapon, but if you do master three weapons and learn how to channel chakra through them..." Sakura's voice faltered and took a look at the taijutsu user.

Lee was staring at her.

Since the day he found out that he couldn't use ninjutsu or genjutsu like the other kids, he had became the laughing stock of the Academy. After he had miraculously graduated and was placed on Team Gai, he had started training non-stop with his sensei. So what if he could not use ninjutsu or genjutsu, he asked himself. He was going to become an extremely powerful shinobi regardless. When they had learned the tree and water walking exercises, he didn't know what to think. Sure, he knew that he had chakra (every living thing had) and that he could mould it, but his condition wasn't furthermore explained and so he didn't know whether or not he could control it. Later that day, after his teammates and jōnin instructor had gone home, he had tried to do a simple Henge. After yet another failed attempt, he didn't know whether to feel relief that his countless hours of training hadn't gone to vain or to scold at himself because of the former. Of course his hard work mattered! He hadn't only learned taijutsu with Gai-sensei - he had also learned how to embrace the Power of Youth!

Still, he had been excited when his idol had started teaching him on how to open the Chakra Gates, even if he wouldn't use them often.

Because, even though he wouldn't admit it, Rock Lee had always wondered what it would be like to use chakra in his fighting style constantly, without much side effects, besides exhaustion. And now, an opportunity awaited him. He just needed to work a little harder.

He started crying from happiness and spontaneously hugged Sakura, shouting, "THANK YOU, SAKURA-SA - I MEAN, SAKURA! May you, youthful cherry blossom, remain this youthful for the rest of your life!"

Sakura was touched. She was getting accustomed to Lee's unusual antics and knew just how much this probably meant to him, for he was using youth only two times in one sentence. It usually reached beyond four. She hugged him back and when he let go, he whipped his tears away and smiled widely.

"Okay, then," the 'teacher' clasped her hands toghether, "Naruto, do you know about the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu's special side effect?"

The blonde shook his head.

"The effect is that all the memories and knowledge, gathered by the clone, return back to the user. You probably haven't noticed, since you use it only for battle, but it is usually used for stealth missions and information gathering. Imagine it this way - you are training a technique which will take you one week to master. If you create one shadow clone, you will be done in half the time, because you are doing it twice as fast. If you create two clones you will be able to master it in one third of the original time, since there would be three of you doing it."

Naruto had a thoughtful expression on his face. Sakura gave him a little time to think - she knew that he wasn't good with theory. Slowly, his expression changed into one of realization and he looked at her again.

"Okay, so basically if I create shadow clones, my training will go smoother."

"Yes," the pinkette replied, relieved that he had gotten the concept of it. Now all that he needed was to apply it.

"However, remember that you divide your chakra equally amongst the clones and that their exhaustion will also come back to you once they've disspelled," Sakura stated, "Now, I know that you probably have the largest reserves in the group, so you are the one that has most troubles with chakra control. Even if you have mastered the Rasengan, you still have to do it with a clone. I want you to master a different technique - one that requires smaller reserves and thus greater control. Make four clones, please."

Naruto did his signature jutsu and the five blondes waited for further instructions.

"Now, Naruto, what I want you to train is...

...the Bunshin no Jutsu."

The number one suprising ninja visibly paled. It had been that one technique that he had failed at doing in the Academy every single time. It wasn't even a ninjutsu, but a low-class genjutsu.

If he didn't die after that, he was so going to get Iruka to treat him to ramen.

Naruto wordlessly went away from the others and started training the technique. He remembered the hand-seals all too well - he had had enough nightmares with them. The clones did the same.

"Okay, as for the rest of you," Sakura looked at Lee, Tenten, Neji and Sasuke, "You, Sasuke, will be doing basic Nature Transformation for Lightning types."

The pinkette took out two pieces of fabric, which Sasuke recognized as wool, and a pair of gloves. He raised his eyebrows at her.

"Don't look at me like that. Even though you've already mastered the Chidori, which is both Nature and Shape Transformation, you still have to go through the basics to be able to performe other jutsus. I don't know if Kakashi told you this, but Lightning Type chakra could cut through objects, like the Wind one, but there is an additional numbness to it. The key is to increase the high-frequency vibrations of your chakra. If you master this and apply it to a weapon, you could paralyze the target and finish it off easily. Got it?"

"Hn."

"Good, now go and train. You will try to cut through one of these pieces, because it channels electricity. That way, you will know whether or not you could achieve the side effect - numbness. Once you could slice through it, try it with the rubber gloves on and the other cloth, increasing the vibrations."

The last Uchiha went without another word.

"Now, you three. What I said earlier is true - a special metal is required to use the Chakra Flow to it's full potential. However, you could use it with normal kunai and shuriken, it just isn't as effective. Here," she handed them chakra paper, "Let's see what your natures are."

It turned out that Tenten and Lee were Fire natured, while Neji - Earth natured.

"Okay then. Tenten, Lee, you know what your nature does. Neji, Earth Type can increase a weapon's defensive power and reinforces the inherent properties of the material involved. In other words, it could make your weapon harder. I think that if you manage to use the advanced form, few things would be able to not break under your weapon. I want you three to channel chakra through your kunai and shuriken, with Tenten trying with other parts of her arsenal. Tenten, Lee, when you flow chakra though your weapons and try to destroy tree branches. Start with thin ones and proceed with thicker ones. Be careful and do it near the river, in case you start a fire. Neji, I want you to flow chakra through one of your oldest and most uncherished kunai and try to make a dent in it with another one that you don't use. Once you can't make a dent in the one with chakra, but rather with the one without chakra, I want you to show me both kunai and tell me through which one you chanelled chakra," finished Sakura. The members of Team Gai nodded and went to do their tasks.

The pinkette decided to check on Team Eight and Team Ten. She found them at the river bank, the girls talking (Hinata was red, so the topic was obviously Naruto) and Shino staying a little bit away from them. Shikamaru, Chōji and Kiba were still trying to stay on the surface of the water. The had made progress, but were still having some difficulties. Shikamaru was even grumpier than usual, repeating 'troublesome' every five seconds like a mantra or something. Kiba was trying to get Akamaru to try - after all, he couldn't just leave his ninken on the shore during a mission. And Chōji looked saddened, because his usual bag of chips had gotten soaked.

Sakura instructed the ones that had finished the exercise to help the others and she herself helped. After another fifteen minutes everyone knew how to water walk and headed towards the others.

The first one they spotted was Naruto. He did look like he was making progress - there were two Bunshin, although they looked sickly. Sakura told him to dissolve all the clones and then work with the newly gained knowledge. He did so and made new ones. Then, he managed to do two successful Bunshin. Sakura told him to try and make one and then he would be finished for the day.

Next, they went to Sasuke. He had managed to cut the first cloth, but was having trouble with the second. The pinkette explained that it was because of the glove - he had to first channel chakra through it and then into the fabric, so it was basically another layer. She then took out a third cloth for Hinata and told her how she was supposed to make it damp, using chakra, kind of like a preparation for future Suiton techniques. Sadly, Water chakra couldn't be applied efficently to weapons, because it would make them rusty. The Hyūga heiress wasn't planning on becoming proficient in that area anyway. However, the pinkette explained that it could be used to sabotage the enemy's arsenal. Sakura also gave Kiba a leaf and told him to try and incinerate it, explaining how. He went right to do his task. Chōji got the same assignment as Neji, but he was to make a piece of wood harder. Sakura told him to show her that piece later.

She turned to the others - Ino, Shikamaru and Shino. Sakura said that they are to train their reserves and that she was also going to train with them. Shino, Ino and the pinkette all had completed the chakra exercises fairly easy, which showed small reserves. Or, in Shino's case, great control. As for Shikamaru - if he had had bigger ones during the Chunin Exams, he would've won his match. Not that he wasn't promoted anyway, but if it were a real battle, he would've lost his life. So, the four of them had to continuously climb trees until they felt too exhausted to do so.

In the end of the day, everyone were exhausted, but glad. Neji had managed to make a small dent in his second kunai, Naruto - successful one Bunshin. Hinata had dampened the cloth, Kiba had burned half of his leaf and Sasuke had made a cut into the second cloth. Lee and Tenten had successfully incinerated some small branches and even one or two with middle thickness and Chōji had presented a harder piece of wood. As for the other four, the results of their training were going to be made clear after time. Sakura congratulated everyone and told them to continue their training, makng it harder. After that, they parted ways and decided to meet the next day for their first training in 'Deception'.


A/N: This chapter came out later than anticipated, mostly because I had no motivation to edit it, meaning - no reviews. Please, understand that at the moment your opinions are very important. We are talking about their training regimen - it will make them stronger and it will change a lot of things in the future. So, please, review and tell me what you think.

On a side note, I want to tell you about what will happen with major character's deaths, such as Asuma's, Jiraiya's and Neji's.

As you probably know, the first two had to happen because they were the keys to certain characters' developments (Shikamaru and Naruto's, mostly). Meaning that they might be avoided in this fanfic, depending on how the Twelve grow up.

As for Neji, I have already decided. You will have to wait until the end of the story to find out.

Anyway, that was a really long chapter! :) There will be more omakes in the future, revolving around the Twelve's training. Also, important announcement: on the third of August I will be going on a summer camp and I won't be returning until the seventeenth, meaning that I won't be able to update for two weeks! I will try to update at least once before that and I promise to come back with lots of new ideas! Meanwhile, you enjoy other writers' works. I would personally recommend 'It's For a Good Cause, I Swear!' by Sarah1281 or 'Hakumei' by Pryotra.

'Till next time. :)