Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its component characters. trademarks, etc. Nor do I own any of the other works that are crossed or referenced in this story, either explicitly or implicitly stated to be such works. This includes, but is not limited to, Avatar, X-men, and Magic the Gathering. This story is the first part in a three story arc involving a multiverse. The entire three part story is hereby known as "The Phoenix."


Chapter 9: Training

Hokage's Office, 9PM

The Sandaime Hokage sat wearily behind his desk. Before him stood ten Jounin instructors and Iruka, who was reading the collated report on the 'survival tests."

"Team 1. Failed. Team 2. Failed…" It continued in this manner until "Team 7. Passed."

Everyone in the room looked at Hatake Kakashi in surprise that he had passed a team. Sarutobi merely raised an eyebrow, pleased that Hatake took his request that he train the last Uchiha to heart.

"Team 8. Passed."

"With flying colors, I might add." Kurenai interjected, earning her a glower from Iruka before he continued.

"Team 10. Passed. Team 11. Passed." Iruka finished speaking and rolled up the scroll.

"Hmmm. So, four teams out of ten. Not bad. Not bad at all. Tell me, what are your opinions so far of your teams." Sarutobi asked.

"A bunch of idiots." Hatake Kakashi spoke bluntly.

"Surprising and inventive." Yuhi Kurenai said proudly.

"Troublesome." Sarutobi Asuma said, not realizing he had picked up his student's favorite word after only a couple of hours.

"A bunch of misfits. I'm surprised they passed." Gekko Hayate finished with a cough.

Sarutobi sighed and stamped several forms, speaking as he did so.

"Teams 7, 8, 10, and 11 are hereby officially convened under the listed Jounin instructors. The members therein are officially registered as Genin of Konoha. Dismissed."

The ten Jounin dispersed in various means, some walking out of the room, while others shunshined away. Iruka remained behind.

"Hokage-sama, I'm worried about Naruto." Iruka said after a few moments.

Sarutobi looked up from the paperwork on his desk.

"I'm afraid that the social isolation he has been under, caused because of the hatred most of the village holds for him, will ultimately lead to him lashing out."

Sarutobi could see that Iruka was honestly worried. After a long moment Sarutobi finally replied.

"I don't think we have anything to worry about, Iruka. Despite that, despite everything that the villagers think about him or have attempted to do to him when he has entered the village, he still views it as his duty as the Yondaime's son to protect Konoha."

The Hokage went back to smoking his pipe as he returned his focus to the thrice-damned paperwork.


The next morning Naruto arrived at Training Ground Sixteen to find Hinata and Ino already waiting for him. The two kunoichi smiled and waved at him as he walked between the posts. Naruto smiled and waved back before dropping his pack on the ground and dropping to the ground on all fours, promptly beginning a series of pushups. When he looked up a few moments later he stopped, seeing the confused looks on both Hinata and Ino's faces.

"What?" he asked, "You didn't think I was just naturally in this kind of shape did you? I work out a lot."

Naruto grinned and pushed off with his feet, ending in a hand stand before he removed one hand from the ground, balancing on a single hand.

"My dream is to be Hokage one day, after all. That means I need to be the strongest ninja."

Naruto gave both girls a fox like grin before he closes his eyes and began performing hand seals with one hand while he began to pushups into the air one handed. Hinata and Ino just stared in shock before turning slowly to look at one another. Both girls shared the same though.

Hot…

Their various fantasies were interrupted by the arrival of Kurenai, striding confidently between the two posts Naruto had entered earlier. As Naruto launched into the air and performed a flip before landing on his feet he noticed that his new sensei had several scrolls under her left arm and a few small cream colored cards in her right hand.

"Good morning team. I trust all of you are ready for your evaluations." Kurenai said as she approached, setting down the scrolls and the cream colored cards. "Now, first, I need to know what jutsus you all know. It will give me an idea of where your skills with jutsu are, as well as a beginning for me to plan out your training. Naruto, why don't you go first?"

Naruto grinned and took a seat in front of Kurenai as she sat down. Ino and Hinata walked over and joined him. Once he was settled, waiting for his two teammates to be seated first Kurenai noted, Naruto began.

"Well, let's see. There's the Academy jutsus of course, Bunshin, Henge, and Nawanuke. I also know Tajuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, Kawarimi, Seiteki no Jutsu…"

All three kunoichi groaned at the mention of 'that' jutsu.

"…Raiton: Dengeki Haaku, and Sen'eijashu." Naruto finished, smiling.

Kurenai had to blink at this last one.

"Did you just say…Sen'eijashu?" She inquired, suspicious.

Naruto sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Yeah. Why?"

Kurenai studied him with a calculating gaze for a moment.

"How, may I ask, do you know that jutsu?" she finally asked.

Naruto looked at her with confusion.

"How? Didn't it say in my file Kurenai-sensei? I received specialized training from Mitarashi Anko for most of the past year."

Kurenai shook her head, sighing.

No matter where I go 'she' still manages to reach me. I swear, Kami must have it in for me. She thought.

"Um, Naruto-kun, that jutsu. Why is sensei surprised that you know it?" Hinata asked.

Kurenai looked up from her musings and watched as Naruto replied. As she did, she finally took a closer look at Hinata. She had escorted her to the Academy when she was younger, but there was barely a trace remaining of the shy timid girl she remembered.

"Well, probably because it's a rare jutsu, and only a few Jounins know it, that's all." Naruto replied, shrugging his shoulders.

"Well, interesting Naruto. Now, Hinata, how about you?"

Hinata took a breath before speaking confidently.

I don't want to seem timid in front of Naruto. Hinata thought.

"Well, I know all three Academy Jutsus as well. And…um…well, I also know one of my family's special techniques, Hakke Rokujūyon Shō."

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Getting nervous isn't going to do you any good. Hinata thought to herself.

Kurenai blinked. She knows the Hakke Rokujūyon Shō? Her chakra control must be impressive, even for a Hyuuga. She thought to herself.

"Very impressive as well Hinata. And you Ino?" She asked, turning towards the blond.

Kurenai had to admit to herself that she had been surprised when she was assigned Ino. She had expected Asuma's request that the Ino-Shika-Cho trinity be formed from this generation. Apparently the Hokage cared more about building strong teams than about giving that lazy-ass son of his an easy job.

Ino grinned and leant forward on her knees, excited for her turn.

I hope Naruto is impressed by what I know.

"I know all three Academy jutsus as well sensei. On top of that I also know my family's Shintenshin no jutsu, and my father has been teaching me Kawarimi, though I'm having trouble mastering it."

"Ne, Ino-chan." Naruto interrupted, "Have you tried visualizing yourself in the object' place rather than the object in your place?"

Ino looked at Naruto blankly for a moment before replying. "No…my dad says you're supposed to visualize the object in your place. He says doing this when you perform the jutsu right will cause you to switch places with the object."

Kurenai was the one to reply, having understood what Naruto was getting at. "While that is technically true Ino, there are those who that just doesn't work for. For some, like Naruto I'm guessing…" Naruto's sheepish grin confirmed her suspicions. "…and now possibly you, imagining yourself in the object's place is actually easier, as you are focusing on your movement and letting the object be swapped by the chakra, rather than using more chakra to force the object to come to you and then switch."

She looked at Naruto again. "I'm impressed Naruto. Most shinobi aren't aware of the distinction. I'm guessing you had your own trouble mastering the technique as well?"

Naruto just nodded. Ino's embarrassment at having trouble with it evaporated as she realized that the guy she now liked had had difficulty learning it as well. Hinata meanwhile felt embarrassed that she hadn't learned the jutsu either.

"Ok, so jutsu wise Naruto seems to have learned several, including several advanced techniques. Ino has learned one of her family's special clan techniques, and Hinata has learned the first of her clan's most advanced jutsus. I'm very impressed with all of you. Now, I'm not going to teach you any jutsus beyond Kawarimi at first, but I am going to assign some chakra control exercises until I feel you are ready to learn some new techniques. But first, I need to know one thing so I can decide what jutsus to teach you."

Kurenai picked up one of the cream colored cards and held it in her hands.

"This card" she explained "is a tool used to determine a shinobi's elemental affinity. Now, which of you know what that means?"

Hinata and Ino both raised their hands, remembering the lecture on the subject. Naruto looked slightly confused.

"Ino, why don't you explain for Naruto's benefit?" Kurenai asked, smiling faintly.

Ino grinned from ear to ear before she began explaining.

"All shinobi, with very rare exceptions, have an affinity for a specific element. This makes it much easier for them to perform jutsu of that element, as well as giving them the ability sometimes to apply the element to other techniques to modify them. Some people are actually born with multiple affinities of varying strengths, but it's rare."

Ino took a deep breath as she finally finished speaking, smiling.

"Oh…ok, that makes sense." Naruto replied enthusiastically, smiling now.

"Exactly right." Kurenai said. "Now, I'll demonstrate how to use the card first and then I'll explain how they work."

Kurenai pursed her lips as she focused some of her chakra into the card and Hinata, Ino, and Naruto all watched in amazement as the card became soggy.

"As you can see the card became soggy. This is because my chakra has a water affinity. If you have a wind affinity the card will cut in half, it will ignite if you have a fire affinity, crumble to dust for an earth affinity, and crinkle up for a lightning affinity. All you do is hold it and focus some of your chakra into it."

With this said she passed the remaining three cards out to her team.

"Now, you try, and let's see what your affinities are." Kurenai had to admit to herself that she was curious what their affinities would be, simply as their teacher and not because

Careful Kit. I know I haven't brought this up before, but my presence in you could affect this.

What? Why?

Because it is possible that you may have received my affinity on top of your own.

Naruto face palmed inside his own mind. Ok, well, I guess I better hope for the best, and hope no one suspects something is up. Ino did say that some rare people have multiple affinities, so hopefully she and Hinata won't suspect anything.

While this discussion was going on inside his own head both Ino and Hinata had successfully used their cards. Naruto noted with some surprise that Hinata's had crinkled, and Ino's had turned soggy just like their sensei's. Naruto hurriedly focused on his own card before anyone noticed his distraction.

When he focused his chakra in the card it split in half instantly…

Well, not really surprising. My dad was a wind chakra user afterall.

…only to have both halves ignite in a bright flame before burning to ash.

Ino, Hinata, and Kurenai all looked at Naruto, a sweat drop on Kurenai's forehead.

"Well, that was certainly…surprising. It appears that Naruto has a very strong affinity both for fire and wind." Kurenai said, composing herself. "Ino, you have an affinity for water. Hinata, you have an affinity for lightning." Hinata smiled and Ino cheered.

Kurenai gathered their destroyed cards and stuck them in a pouch before standing.

"Ok, now that I know that I'll instruct you in today's exercise." Kurenai said as her students all stood.

"Now, one of the most fundamental abilities a shinobi needs is good chakra control. There are a few exercises used to improve one's chakra control, and learning them also makes a shinobi more versatile in the field. The first and easiest of these is the ability to extrude chakra from the soles of your feet in order to stick to objects."

Kurenai demonstrated by performing a hand seal and walking over to a tree. She promptly proceeded to walk up the tree until she was hanging from the bottom of a branch about thirty feet up.

"Remaining attached to a tree requires a small amount of chakra, but it must be precise. And because the soles of your feet are the hardest areas to mold chakra, if you can master this you can theoretically master any jutsu."

Kurenai released her chakra flow and dropped, flipping and landing on her feet.

Now, I want each of you take a kunai and mark the point you reach. Use that line as a measure of how far you have gotten and try to get farther. Now, as you are just starting you should use a running start to get going up the tree."

Kurenai turned and began to walk back towards her bag. Behind her she could sense two of her students begin to mold chakra so that they could expel it from their feet, but the third…

"Um, sensei? Is it alright if I ask you for another exercise? Maybe taijutsu practice or a jutsu I could start learning?" Naruto asked from behind her.

She turned around and saw Ino and Hinata make it about halfway up a tree out of the corner of her eye.

"And why do you ask that? Do you think you are too good for a simple tree climbing exercise?" Kurenai crossed her arms.

"No. It's just that I've already mastered how to walk on surfaces and how to walk on water." Naruto replied with a shrug.

Kurenai looked at Naruto in shock. He keeps surprising me.

"Hmm, well, I could do some taijutsu sparring with you while Hinata and Ino work on the tree climbing." Kurenai replied after a moment. Naruto grinned at this. "Meet me over at the field of posts over there and we'll do some sparring." Kurenai turned to face her other two students.

"Both of you keep working on this exercise. I'm going to spar with Naruto and evaluate his taijutsu, as it's been made clear that his exam scores are inaccurate." Ino was too busy focusing on climbing the tree without falling to hear her, but Hinata nodded in acknowledgment.

When Naruto finally joined Kurenai at the posts she found that he had shed his jacket, and was instead simply clothed in his pants and his green under shirt. Naruto hopped up onto a post about fifteen feet away from her, balancing smoothly on one foot, the rest of his body slipping into a taijutsu stance that she well recognized.

Hebi Style…Damn Anko! You taught him your taijutsu two?! Kurenai thought dismayed. Sparring with her new genin was going to be a challenge right from the start it seemed.

Without any forewarning Kurenai rapidly moved across the posts, throwing the first set of blows. She was not surprised when Naruto rolled around her attacks like a snake, spiraling and striking back with light quick strikes, targeting weak points and pressure points.

I take it back. You didn't just teach the gaki your style. You made sure he mastered it! Kurenai screamed inside her own head as the taijutsu spar developed rapidly into an all out battle that had the Jounin pulling out all the stops just to keep up.


That afternoon Team 8 gathered in the Hokage's office to receive their first mission. The three Genins' excitement at finally receiving a mission quickly died as they realized that D-rank missions were little more than glorified chores; in this particular case, helping rebuild a bar that had been damaged the previous week in a drunken shinobi brawl. Kurenai raised an eyebrow when Naruto let out a loud laugh when he heard the name of the bar. She quickly realized that Anko must have told the gaki about the fight, which she had been a part of. Kurenai was privately thankful that she hadn't let her friend drag her out that night, or she'd have ended up involved herself.

As the three Genin went to work repairing the interior of the restaurant Kurenai was quietly thankful that she seemed to have three dedicated and driven shinobi to train.

The next three weeks consisted of a standard routine. In the mornings Kurenai would either have them working on sparring, chakra control exercises, and a lecture on shinobi tactics or jutsus. In Naruto's case she spent extra time sparring with him, and was surprised one day two weeks into the routine when she arrived to find he had arrived early and that there were about fifty clones all meditating in the middle of the training ground. When she had asked him what he was doing his only reply was that he was "communing."

Kurenai of course realized instantly that he must mean with his 'prisoner.' When she asked why he needed fifty clones to commune with his prisoner Naruto's reply drew a raised eyebrow from the Genjutsu Mistress.

"Oh, they aren't communing. They're all thinking about applications and way to modify jutsus. There is an idea I've had for a technique, but I first need to think through a number of permutations before I try to develop it." He said matter-of-factly.

Kurenai couldn't believe her new student was talking so blithely about developing new techniques, but then, given how surprising his skills had turned out to be already, she wouldn't be surprised. If the gaki could actually pull it off. He was his son after all. She didn't have a chance to inquire further though as her other two students showed up

Three weeks into this routine was when Kurenai finally began lecturing on the subject of her specialty, genjutsu.

Sitting in front of her students on a grassy section of the training ground, Kurenai began her lecture.

"Genjutsu differs from Ninjutsu in that rather than using chakra to perform direct attacks or manipulations of the environment, you instead use your chakra to manipulate others' perception of the environment. The level of control and focus required is also greater than most ninjutsus." She spoke, happy to be discussing her specialty. She noticed that all three of her charges were paying rapt attention, as they always did when she lectured.

Well, I guess it is good for my ego that they hang on my every word. Kurenai thought, smiling to herself.

"Um, sensei? Does that mean genjutsu are not combat techniques?" Ino asked with a look of curiosity on her face.

"Quite the opposite Ino. Not only can genjutsu, when applied properly, give a ninja an advantage over the enemy, but some of the more powerful genjutsu techniques are capable of injuring or even killing a target, simply by the power of suggestion." Kurenai noticed that as much attention as Naruto and Hinata were paying her lecture that Ino had an even more interested look on her face as usual.

In fact, Kurenai noted, she hasn't shot Naruto a blushing glance once during this lecture.

"In fact, some of my more powerful techniques can bind or kill an opponent with the power of suggestion. All it takes is for them to be distracted for mere moments and my genjutsu can get its hooks in them."

Kurenai noticed that Ino was now staring at her with a look of awe on her face, while Hinata's was merely thoughtful.

"Ne, Hinata. I guess all this is pretty boring to you, since you can see through any genjutsu with those Byakugan eyes of yours, ne?" Naruto asked, interrupting with a grin before Kurenai could continue.

Hinata blushed, and Kurenai noticed Ino look at her with a jealous look.

Those girls…they really should just tell Naruto how they feel, but the boy seems oblivious. Kurenai thought shaking her head ruefully. Meanwhile Naruto was dealing with inner thoughts himself.

I'm telling you Kit, both girls like you. Just ask one out already and end this dance. It's annoying. Kyuubi sighed. Things were so much simpler in the summoning realm. You like someone you jump their bones and move on.

Shut up Baka-kitsune. I'm trying not to cause a conflict between my teammates; if I ask one of them out the other will sure to be disappointed. Naruto shouted back, mentally bopping Kyuubi over the head.

"Yes, while it's true that Hinata's eyes will allow her to see through most genjutsu, they must be active for them to work. She can still be caught by a genjutsu as easily as either of you if you aren't aware of your surroundings. Now, the reason I've brought up genjutsu is that the Hokage has informed me that he is going to assign us and another team a C-rank courier mission next week." Kurenai continued, drawing her three students' attention back to her.

"Um, sensei?" Hinata asked quietly. "If it's only a C-rank mission, why are two teams being assigned to it?"

"Because this is a regular courier run there is the danger that another country might try to intercept it. It's not highly sensitive material, but it's economically valuable. Since there is no known plan to steal the information it's merely listed as a C-rank mission, but the Hokage still assigns two teams since the likelihood of it being upgraded to a B or even A-rank mission is high." Said, explaining in her 'lecture mode.'

"Oh." was Hinata's short reply. Kurenai smiled at the girl before continuing.

"The point of all this is that during the mission, there is the possibility that teki-nin might attempt to steal the information. If they do, they are likely to use a genjutsu to trap and distract us to make their job easier. I want you all able to recognize and break a genjutsu before that happens."

Kurenai now had their full rapt attention.

"Now, there are two primary methods of breaking a genjutsu upon oneself. The first method involves suppressing one's chakra momentarily, causing the hooks of the genjutsu to slip. This is good if the genjutsu is tied to your own chakra. But if the genjutsu is tied to the natural chakra around you, or even to other ninja, it won't be as much help. This is the easiest method though. The other method involves channeling your own chakra into the subject of the genjutsu or illusion and disrupting it. However, which an area genjutsu or multiple subjects caught under it, this method is very impractical, as you would have to perform it individually on every single person caught in it. Naruto, could you use Henge please?"

Naruto grinned and performed a few quick hand seals, transforming into a copy of Uchiha Sasuke with a puff of smoke. Hinata blinked in surprise and Ino stared at Naruto. Inside Ino was torn between a sudden desire to glomp him; the desire to smack him over the head.

Why do I feel this way? I gave up on Sasuke, I like Naruto now… Ino thought.

"Hinata, with your Byakugan activated you can tell that Naruto is under a Henge and you can see through it. But unless you do something he's still under the Henge and no one else can see him properly. But if I do this…" and Kurenai brought her hands together to form a seal, saying "Kai!" Naruto's Henge died in a puff of smoke, leaving the genin blinking. "I can break simple illusions and genjutsu."

Kurenai saw both Ino and Hinata's faces light up, but Naruto's face darkened.

Is he annoyed that there is a method to break his Henge? Kurenai wondered. She didn't have to wonder long though.

"Kurenai-sensei?" Naruto asked. The fact that he used her name in this private place rather than simply calling her Sensei told her he had something serious to ask. "For reasons I'd rather not talk about right now, it's impossible for me to suppress my chakra. And my control isn't fine enough to perform the second method, at least not at that scale. Are there any other methods?" Naruto asked with a questioning look.

"Hmm. How do you know your control isn't fine enough Naruto?" Kurenai asked. Her question was swiftly followed by Hinata's comment that Naruto "should have more faith in yourself." Naruto sheepishly scratched the back of his neck before continuing.

"Well, my Aunt tried to teach me that method a few years ago, and for some reason I just couldn't control it enough to break anything beyond a simple genjutsu tied to an object. But, because of my high chakra capacity and training I was doing to learn a special taijutsu style, she was able to help me develop an ability that I don't need seals for. Um, if you could put a light genjutsu on a kunai or something I could demonstrate."

Kurenai, curious as to what sort of ability he could have developed, pulled out a kunai and Henged it into a brick. Naruto took it from her proffered hand and placed it flat on the ground, pressing all five fingers of his right hand on top of it. Naruto smirked and then Kurenai felt a small pulse of chakra and suddenly the illusion vanished as if a wave had rolled over it. Her eyes opened wide in surprise.

"My my my, this is surprising. It seems that you can use a much more complicated technique." She said. All three genin looked at her in confusion, so she began to explain. "What Naruto just did is a variation on the third method of removing a genjutsu. It's rarely taught as it requires a large amount of chakra, and is indiscriminate in what genjutsu it affects. Hinata, you might be able to learn this if you wish, but Ino, I'm sorry to say that you likely lack the necessary skill to perform it." Ino looked dejected at this, but Kurenai noticed that Hinata was quietly comforting the girl.

"The reason is because what Naruto did is similar in nature to the Hyuuga Jyuuken. He projected a blast of chakra from his hand in such a manner as to wipe away any illusions in place. Hinata, if we can teach you to release the chakra as a diffuse wave rather than a strike, you may be able to learn this method as well. But, as you witnessed, its usefulness is limited to removing small illusions. The true third method actually involves a three hundred and sixty degree release of chakra in this manner, allowing a shinobi to completely slip free of any genjutsu on them without requiring hand seals, and in the case of those with a larger chakra reserve, allows them to remove genjutsu from their fellow shinobi. For the purposes of this mission, I'm guessing you want to be taught this more difficult method then?" Kurenai asked, sighing as all three genins' faces lit up.

Well, better a group of overachievers than a lazy Nara, a hungry Akamichi, and an Aburame. Kurenai respected the Aburame clan's skills, but their stoic behavior just creeped her out.

She proceeded to spend the rest of that morning teaching them the harder method of breaking genjutsu. While Ino barely managed to free herself using it, she demonstrated that she had mastered the Kai ability simply from watching Kurenai demonstrate it once. Hinata was able to create a pulse that reached a few feet away from hers, but it left her sweating and grinning afterwards. And Naruto caused several passing ANBU to come investigate the source of a chakra pulse that covered almost all of Konoha. Kurenai shook her head sighing as she explained to the ANBU just what had happened. Thankfully most of the villagers bought the Hokage's explanation to the council that an experimental jutsu had gone wrong.

That night at dinner Kiba let out a long howling laugh when Naruto informed him of his latest prank.


Two days later, Northern Wind Country, Shortly before dusk

A group of Iwa-nin were heading towards the border, hurriedly moving, hoping to exit the Country of Wind before Sunagakure realized that they had kidnapped one of the Kazekage's children.

The leader, Shiseiji Yogore, was disguised as a Suna ANBU, but his mask now dangled from his neck, revealing his Iwa head band and his scarred face. Shiseiji was a veteran of the war with Konoha, and received his injuries in battle against Konoha's Kiiroi Senkō himself.

He was followed by three other Iwa-nin, all disguised as Suna ANBU. Two of them carried swords at the ready, prepared to intercept any threat, while the third and largest, a bulky ninja named Daiyama Ishi, carried an unconscious and bundled up blond kunoichi.

Yogore grinned as the tree line of Hoshi no Kuni, the relatively small country situated between the Wind Country and the Earth Country. The section they were heading for was comprised of huge redwood forests almost the entire way through, with the exception of a couple major trade routes. It would limit any chance of them being spotted by shinobi of the small nation's village. While Iwagakure and Nagareboshigakure had a peace treaty, Yogore did not wish to push it by alerting them that Iwa had used their country as an escape route for a kidnapping attempt with their neighbors, Sunagakure. He was under orders to lie about the identity of his prisoner if he did encounter any Nagareboshi-nin on the return trip.

Almost there. There is no sign of pursuit, so if we can just make it safely to the tree line Suna will never be able to track us. He thought, his grin deepening. And when we get back, this little bitch will be pumped for all the information we can get. And maybe the Tsuchikage will let me have her as a toy after they have finished interrogating her.

Yogore was torn from his dark musings as a huge stone wall rose out of the desert sands before them, stretching far off in both directions and completely blocking off the forest.

"State your business Shiseiji Yogore." A gruff male voice came from the base of the wall, drawing Yogore's attention, and ire.

"HOW DARE YOU INSULT ME YOU PIECE OF NAGAREBOSHI-BEN!" Yogore screamed, veins popping out on his face. One of his ninja stepped closer to him and spoke softly, calming him down.

"Um, sir? You did it again."

Yogore blinked and then looked around sheepishly. He had the bad fortune of being named by a drunk uncle, who thought it would be hilarious to name his new nephew after himself. Unfortunately, he named him after the nickname he had received during an earlier war.

"Ahem." The Nagareboshi-nin cleared his throat.

Yogore turned his attention back to the man who stood in front of him. He stood nearly seven feet tall with decent girth, much of it clearly muscle. He wore intricate black plated armor with the crest of Nagareboshi's Kakkojimen clan, a clan of Doton specialists, emblazoned on it in green, and had a huge black sword strapped to his back. He had long wild flowing brown hair and his face was covered in a series of red markings. He wore a plated hitai-ate that wrapped around his entire head, but instead of the usual eight-pointed star of Nagareboshigakure no Sato it bore the kanji for turtle. He looked to be in his thirties, and his dark green eyes sparkled mischievously in the fading sunlight. Yogore recognized him instantly from a captured copy of another Hidden Village's Bingo Book.

"Kakkojimen Isamu, the Iron Turtle." He said, gritting his teeth. The so-named Isamu blinked.

"Huh, I wasn't aware I was famous enough to be known in Iwa." The black-armored ninja mused, seemingly ignoring Yogore for a moment.

"Damn it Isamu, I don't have time for delays. I have an important package to return to Iwagakure, and it can't wait. Move aside and let us pass. Tell the Ryuu that Iwagakure will pay the usual fee for using your country as a travel path."

Isamu tut-tutted Yogore, waggling a finger back and forth.

"I am afraid that the Ryuukage will not accept that this time. We received an official request for a mission and were dispatched to find you and retrieve your 'package'."

Yogore growled, both in anger that his mission was actively be interfered with by the Nagareboshi-nin and outrage that the scum had dared to refer to the leader of his pitiful little village with the title of Kage. As he prepared to speak he noticed that all three of his underlings were on heightened alert, having caught Isamu's indication that he wasn't alone.

"And just who gave you this mission request?" Yogore growled, his hands twitching, aching to perform a Doton jutsu and kill the interfering Isamu.

"From the Kazekage himself." Isamu replied, his voice becoming like steel. "Ren, Sora, Arashi. By the order of the Ryuukage himself you are authorized to use any means necessary to recover the target."

Yogore did not here their response so much as see it. At the remaining three cardinal direction geysers erupted from the desert; one of wind and sand to the south, one of water to the west, and one of fire to the east. When the geysers died down three Nagareboshi-nin were revealed standing there, their hands flashing through hand seals. Yogore and his squad barely had time to dodge as four elemental pillars sped through the desert and collided where he had been standing. He barely had time to reorient himself though before he found all four Nagareboshi-nin running towards him and his squad. Yogore prepared to square off with Isamu himself as Daiyama Ishi dropped the bundled kunoichi to the ground and brought his armored right arm up to block several kunai thrown by the Katon user. Meanwhile, his remaining two teammates, Daiyama Ken and Itsuwari Shin faced off with the Fuuton and Suiton users respectively.

Yogore was very quickly in a running battle with the powerful Isamu, who seemed to be able to channel his chakra into his iron-knuckles. He dodged and blocked the blows sent by the powerful Jounin for several seconds before he saw his opening and dove under the leaping Isamu's guard, slamming a pair of kunai through an opening in his armor and straight into his chest.

Or so he thought.

Isamu made a great show of clutching his chest and stumbling backword before he suddenly recovered and started laughing. Reaching up he pulled the two kunai out from where they had slid under his armor, revealing the tips to have been flattened and spread out, making them harmless.

"Now it's my turn." He said, a demonic gleam in his eye. Before Yogore could react Isamu bit one of his thumbs and spread the blood on his face, tracing the red lines. He then rapidly performed a series of hand seals and then slammed both palms on the ground.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Adamantoise." He said his voice cold as steel.

There was a puff of smoke and then the sun was blocked out. Yogore barely had time to look up before the foot of a massive armored turtle squashed him into the desert and unconsciousness. Isamu grinned darkly.

"Checkmate." He said quietly. He stood and then walked over to wear the bundled kunoichi had been dropped, picking her up and Shunshining onto the summoned turtle's head, setting her down carefully.

Meanwhile Yogore's three underlings were still occupied with their fights. Ishi was still unscathed, using his heavy armor to deflect all of his opponent's incoming weapons and using Doton: Doroku Gaeshi to defend against the numerous Katon techniques that he had used against him. Finally his opponent pulled back, seemingly breathing heavily as he analyzed his opponent. Ishi stared back, finally getting a good look at him.

Ishi's opponent looked to be in his late teens or early twenties, and wore light black armor over a fiery red and black jacket and black pants. He had a large sword like his sensei strapped to his back, wrapped in black cloth, and his armor bore a sigil of a dragon and a phoenix locked in eternal combat. His fiery spiky red hair waved in the wind and his eyes glimmered with dark humor from a face covered with gold and silver markings. Ishi noticed with a little surprise that the brat's eyes were heterochromatic. His right eye was a crimson red, but his left was a pure glacial blue.

Ishi grinned before speaking. "Give it up you little punk. You can't touch me, so why don't you just surrender. If you do, I promise not to hurt you…much." Ishi began laughing hysterically, blocking a trio of kunai thrown at him with his right arm. He was too busy laughing to notice that only two of the kunai had deflected away. The third had seemingly melted and flattened against his arm guard.

"I don't think so teme. In fact, you are so weak that I'm not even going to bother using that against you." The Katon user said, smirking and closing his eyes, bringing his hands together and rapidly forming a complex set of seals as a black chakra began to manifest around him.

"Instead, I will defeat you with one blow." The Katon user said matter of factly

A vein threatened to explode from Ishi's forehead.

"Why you little punk-" He yelled as he rushed forward, "I'm going to KILL YOU!!"

The Katon user smirked and waited until the last second. Just as Ishi was about to bring his right fist down on him, glowing with chakra, the young man opened his eyes as he finished on the Ryuu seal and then spread his hands apart.

"Boom." He said as Ishi's right arm literally exploded in a spray of blood, spinning away from him. Ishi's sudden unbalanced state caused him to crash past the Katon user and leave a trench in the desert sand. Slowly he struggled to get back up as he bled out from his right shoulder.

As Ishi stood and turned he was suddenly struck by the Katon users killing intent and stuck in place, staring in fear at his eyes. The whites of the Katon users eyes had turned pitch black, his iris black and surrounded by a crimson ring. His pupil had turned a dark blue, and circling it were three blue triangles, the tips pointed inwards. As the Katon user approached Ishi finally broke free from the effect of the killing intent, raising his remaining arm and charging, prepared to crush the young man.

"I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS YOU LITTLE SHIT!!" He screamed, his eyes wild from rage.

The Katon user watched Ishi's approach coldly, the triangles in his eyes spinning. He slipped under Ishi's blow and slammed his palms into Ishi's torso, right over his heart. Ishi only had enough time to notice the change in the young man's eyes before the young man spoke, his voice suddenly deeper and striking fear into Ishi's heart.

"Kage: Kuukan Uzumaki."

Daiyama Ishi spat up blood as a whole was literally ripped in his back by a spinning storm of chakra, a mixture of blue and black. As Ishi's bleeding corpse collapsed on top of the Katon user he dismissingly tossed him aside, his expression dark and cold, his mysterious eyes overlaid by a crimson and blue glow..

"Checkmate." He said.

Itsuwari Shin was really becoming bored with his opponent. The Suiton user had seemed like an interesting opponent at first, but all she did was to dodge around and toss kunai at him. They were far too easy to dodge, so he merely deflected them and let the poor kunoichi think she was actually giving him a fight.

The short kunoichi wore light armor, black like her sensei's, a black face mask that left only her eyes and part of her face visible, and had a positively enormous sword strapped to her back, wrapped in blue cloth. Her green hair flew in the winds that now covered the battlefield and her dark purple eyes glared as the agile Iwa-nin managed to deflect her latest set of kunai.

Damn, I guess I'm going to have to actually use that in order to defeat this bastard. She thought, her hand inching towards the hilt of her sword.

Before the young shinobi was able to draw her ridiculously oversized blade though her opponent was knocked flying as Daiyama Ken was slammed into him by a visible wave of air. The kunoichi turned her head to see one of her teammates come flying towards the downed ninja on a spinning ball of air, his hands already performing the seals for one of his favorite jutsus. She shook her head as her teammate called out in a surprisingly cheery voice.

"Raiton: Mukankaku Ashi!"

A blue lightning bolt leapt from the blond ninja's hands and struck the two downed shinobi as they tried to stand. Their legs instantly gave way, and when they realized they couldn't feel or move them they began haranguing the two genin like school yard bullies caught in their own trap.

The kunoichi grinned as her teammate settled down beside her.

"Good work Arashi-kun. I'm impressed. You were able to completely disable their legs this time without affecting any other part of their bodies."

The kunoichi and Arashi both casually side stepped a pair of kunai thrown by the down and angry Iwa-nin, who were currently trying to crawl towards them.

"Well, I have been practicing Ren-chan. Hey, hey, will you go on a date with me as a reward?" Arashi asked, leaning in towards her with an idiotic grin on his face.

Arashi was promptly introduced to Mother Earth by Ren's first.

"Baka." She muttered, stepping forward towards the two downed ninja.

When she got close enough she performed a few rapid hand seals, retracted her arms, and then thrust them out straight at her opponents. A pair of small bones shot out from both palms and struck both down shinobi in the center of the foreheads. The electric discharge knocked both unconscious.

"Checkmate." Ren said smirking, a habit she had picked up from her sensei.

Both genin turned, intending to assist their teammates if need be. They were just in time to witness Daiyama Ishi's bloody demise at the hands of their third teammate.

"Meh." Ren spat. "Why does Sora always have to make such a mess when he plays with his prey?" She asked of no one in particular.

Because he and Fukushu are alike in many respects; they are hunters of the first degree, and sometimes they just need to have fun when the prey gives them no real challenge.

Ren sighed.

Yeah, I guess you are right about that Fenrir. She thought back. The demon's only reply was to send her the impression of a grinning opaque blue wolf grinning and laughing uproariously.

"Sora, Ren, Arashi, report." Kakkojimen Isamu's voice came over their radios. Reaching up and pressing a button on their headsets Arashi and Ren responded. "Ryoukai."

Ren watched as Sora took a deep breath and brought his hands together in a Ryuu seal. Recognizing the signs of him calming down after using that technique she sighed and triggered her head set again.

"Isamu, Sora is in 'cool down.' We'll collect him and return to you. Ren out."

Ren turned to see Adamantoise towering over the desert, Isamu sitting on the giant turtle's head grinning and waving at them, and grinned. Team Turtle's first mission after getting out of the hospital had been a success.


AN: "Finally, after a long fight Its finished. The first part actually kept giving me trouble writing for several days. But when i started the last section it just sort of wrote itself. Thus I present to you the double stuffed Chapter 9 of "Rising Phoenix." I hope you all enjoy it and please remember to R&R.

Also, as you can see I figured out how to make the lines across the page, so I no longer have to write the AN in bold. Below I've listed both translations, as well as explanations of some of the new techniques demonstrated in the chapter. These descriptions will give spoilers and more in depth information about some characters, so you are warned. However, a few techniques I am leaving some information out about because I don't want to spoil one thing. I'd like to know whether people prefer this, or whether they would prefer truncated explanations of techniques when the full explanation would contain spoilers. Also, I'd like to know whether people would like me to simply apply all translations and techniques for a chapter at the end on a regular basis, rather than just the first time they are used. Feedback is always useful."

Sora, Ren, and Arashi all nod their heads with their arms crossed

Translations

Ben – Shit (n.)

Daiyama Ishi – Big Mountain Little Stone

Yogore Shiseiji – Dirt Bastard

Kiiroi Senkō – Yellow Flash

teki-nin – Enemy ninja

Iwagakure no Sato- Village Hidden in Stone

Sunagakure no Sato - Village Hidden in Sand

Hoshi no Kuni - Star Country

Techniques - This is a partial list both of new techniques and techniques I feel needed to have explanations enclosed.

Doton: Doroku Gaeshi--Earth Release:Earth Shore Return/ After striking the ground with his hands, a ninja creates a large wall of earth that rises into place as defense. The defense is not perfect though, since a hard or drilling impact can puncture the wall. Also since this technique only guards frontal attacks, the enemy can easily attack from the side or even from above. (C-Class Ninjutsu)

Kage: Kuukan Uzumaki--Shadow: Void Vortex/ This special technique is currently usable only by Kabatsu Sora, and is believed to be tied to his Uzugan. Channeling the chakra of the demon Fukushu, Sora forces his chakra and the demon's chakra to enter the opponents body through two tenketsu in their chest, and causes it to spiral in a rapid acceleration. This draws the opponents chakra to spiral as well and the spiral causes the chakra to blast outward in a spinning vortex, shredding the opponet from the inside out and causing a large spiraling vortex of black and blue chakra to appear before dissipating. This technique drains a lot of chakra, requires a large number of hand seals (53), and requires Sora to hit two specific tenketsu on his opponent. As such, it is not the most practical technique, better suited for use against slower over-confident opponents. (S-Class Ninjutsu) (Kabatsu Sora)

Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Adamantoise–-Summoning Technique: Adamantoise/ Kakkojimen Isamu's special summoning contract to summon Adamantoise, the Indestructible. (C-class.) (Kakkojimen Isamu)

Kussetsuhi: Nami--Bending Fire: Wave/ This is one of the four Kussetsu: Nami techniques. It causes a contained wave of fire to flow over the ground towards a target. The wave is about three meters across and as many high. The fire is so intense that the ground below is often turned to glass, and even a near miss can cause burns. (B-Class Ninjutsu) (Kabatsu Clan)

Kussetsujimen: Soodai Fuusa--Bending Earth: Grand Blockade/ This Earth Element technique draws on the earth to rise up, forming a massive wall that extends for a long distance in both directions. It requires to user to have an extremely high chakra capacity and level of skill. (A-Class Ninjutsu) (Kakkojimen Clan)

Kussetsujimen: Kussetsukinzoku--Bending Earth: Bending Metal/ This specialized technique is the basis for a subset of Kussetsujimen that involve manipulating metal. While such techniques are referred to as Kussetsukinzoku, they are technichally Kussetsujimen techniques. This technique infuses the users chakra in metal, allowing it to be manipulated for a time from a limited distance. All Kussetsukinzoku techniques are A or S-Class due to diffculty of use and chakra requirement. (A-Class Ninjutsu)

Kussetsujimen: Nami--Bending Earth: Wave/ This is one of the four Kussetsu: Nami techniques. It causes a contained wave of rock to flow over the ground towards a target. The wave is about three meters across and as many high. This technique also reaches into the ground, digging a trench and causing debris to scatter to either side. (B-Class Ninjutsu) (Kakkojimen Clan)

Kussetsukaze: Kuuki Sukuutaa--Bending Wind: Air Scooter/ Forms a ball of swirling air beneath the user that hovers above the ground and allows them to move at swift speeds. (C-Class) (Gouzenkaze Clan)

Kussetsukaze: Nami--Bending Wind: Wave/ This is one of the four Kussetsu: Nami techniques. It causes a contained wave of wind to flow over the ground towards a target. The wave is about three meters across and as many high. The intense winds of this technique cause loose matter to fly up, causing the technique to look bigger than it really is, particularly in dusty or sandy environments, and a near miss can still blow the target away. (B-Class Ninjutsu) (Gouzenkaze Clan)

Kussetsukinzoku: Oshitsubu Wa--Bending Metal: Crushing Ring/This technique manipulates a piece of metal previously infused using Kussetsujimen: Kussetsukinzoku, causing it to stick to a target and spread quickly to form a set of bands around their arm or leg. When the command is given, the bands contract, crushing their way through flesh and bone until the limb is destroyed and severed from the target. If the target notices they can remove the metal before it finishes forming the bands, but once its in place it is hard to remove unless the controller removes it, is knocked unconscious, or moves too far away. The distance it can be triggered at is much shorter than the distance that the bands remain charged with the users chakra, meaning a target can escape the technique by getting far enough away from the user. (A-Class Ninjutsu)

Kussetsumizu: Nami--Bending Water: Wave/ This is one of the four Kussetsu: Nami techniques. It causes a contained wave of water to flow over the ground towards a target. The wave is about three meters across and as many high. The water is under such high pressure that it digs a trench as it goes, and when the technique is released it explodes in all directions. If a miss is near enough(B-Class Ninjutsu) (Domonami Clan)

Raikotsumyaku--Lightning Bone Pulse/ Domonami Ren's unique Kekkei Genkai, seemingly similar to the Kekkei Genkai of Kaguya Kimimaro. Ren's bones have an extremely high metal content, and can convert chakra into a powerful bioelectric charge. She can project these bones from her body, regrowing them rapidly, able to replace broken and lost bones rapidly. (Kekkei Genkai) (Domonami Ren)

Raiton: Mukankaku Ashi--Lightning Release: Dead Leg/ This technique causes a targeted lightning strike that disables the nerves running to the targets legs, causing them to lose the use of their legs for an extended period. The technique causes merely a slight tingling at the point of contact. The strength and efficacy of this technique is tied both into the skill of the user to control the attack and the amount of chakra they can place in it. To little chakra and it won't do more than cause the target to feel tingly. Too much chakra or too little control will result either in the strike missing completely or it damaging the target. Raiton: Mukankaku Ashi was refined from another Raiton technique by the prankster Arashi Gouzenkaze for use in his pranking. (B-class Ninjutsu due to the control required to perform correctly.) (Gouzenkaze Arashi)

Uzugan--Vortex Eye/ The Uzugan is a Kekkei Genkai unique to Kabatsu Sora. It grantshim several abilities. The first is the ability to seemingly slow time down slightly, allowing him to minutely analyze an opponents movements. This combines with his photographic memory to allow him to learn or imitate techniques fairly quickly. The second ability grants him mastery over all elements, enhancing his skills with Elemental Release jutsu. The third ability allows him to focus on a target and see their chakra coils and tenketsu. It is this aspect that is one of the two limiters on the Kage: Kuukan Uzumaki that makes it a technique unique to Sora. It is very clear when Sora is using this, as his eyes transform. The whites of his eyes had turn pitch black, his iris turns black and it is surrounded by a crimson ring. His pupil turns a dark blue and is circled by three blue triangles, the tips pointed inwards. (Kekkei Genkai) (Kabatsu Sora)