Chapter 10.
(Follows chapter 17, 18 & 19 of the manga)

The sun was still low in the sky when team seven stopped in the middle of the woods.
Kakashi was using crutches to walk around with, but wasn't slow, and his genin team all wondered what he had in mind to help them train, and get better, fast.
Naruko was hoping for some new, super jutsu, that could probably help her take down Zabuza, and was drooling at the prospect.
Sakura just shook her head, Naruko was just being a pain again. She looked over to Sasuke, and blushed, maybe this was her chance to impress Sasuke.
Sasuke didn't notice, he was too focused, and ready for anything.
"OK... today we begin our new training regime." Kakashi said, "But first... lets discuss chakra."
"We know about chakra." Naruko said. "It gives ninja the ability to use jutsu."
"But do you know how it's made?" Kakashi said.
"Of cour... err... wait... I... yes." she said, not sounding too convincing.
"Come on Naruko... were you sleeping through class or something?" Sakura frowned.
"Lets just call it quality nap time." Naruko grinned.

Everyone blinked.

"I'll explain so you can understand." Sakura said, maybe her knowledge would impress Sasuke. " chakras are the energy of the shinobi, as you know, but to create chakra you must draw out the energy of both the body and of the mental, and spiritual. Which are acquired over much training and exercise... and by manipulating these energies to create chakra, a ninja can mold it into jutsu."
"Very good Sakura." Kakashi said, sounding impressed with her knowledge.
"I don't like long explanations." Naruko pouted, "Just show me, and I'll learn it."
"Yeah. I agree with her, we already know how to manipulate chakra." Sasuke said, making Sakura frown that Naruko got some acknowledgement from Sasuke.
"True... but none of you have full mastery of your chakra." Kakashi pointed out.
Naruko was surprised. "Say WHAT?!"
"Right now, none of you are using your chakras effectively." Kakashi said, "When combining the two elements inside your own body, you have to exercise control, summoning the right amount of chakra as well as balancing it; if you can't effectively maintain the balance, no matter how much you summon, the effectiveness of the technique is cut in half, or if you blunder too much, then the technique could not be released at all... In the end you just end up squandering your energy."
"So... then what do we do?" Naruko asked.
"You learn through the harshest training." Kakashi said, scaring them a little.
What did he mean? All three thought torturous, that would break their bodies in no time. Sakura felt like fainting a little, but had to ask.
"H-how do we... do that?"

"We climb tree's." he smiled.

"C-climb tree's?!" all three genin said, surprised at his response.
"That's right."
"How would that qualify as training?" Sakura asked, as she stood beside an unimpressed looking Naruko, who thought that sounded like a waste of time, she's been climbing tree's since she was a child.
"Listen up you thee." Kakashi said, "This won't be any ordinary tree climbing, for a start, you won't be using your hands."
Everyone blinked, surprised, how would that be possible?
"Just watch and learn." Kakashi said as he charged his chakra.
He hobbled towards a tree as his team watched him, and continued to watch him as he continued UP the trunk.
"He's... climbing." Naruko grinned, excited.
"Amazing." Sakura said.
"..." Sasuke blinked.
Once Kakashi had finished walking, he was now stood upside down on a tree branch.
"That's it in a nutshell." he said. "By focusing all your chakra in to the soles of you feet, and use the power to cling to the tree. Once you have full mastery over your own chakras, this is the kind of thing you can accomplish."
"But Kakashi-sensei, how will learning this make us stronger?" Sakura called up to him.
"I'm just getting to that." Kakashi said. "The goal of this is greater mastery of your chakras. So that you don't waste it; to maximise it's effectiveness in where and how it's applied that subtle control is the most critical aspect of every jutsu you'll ever use."
The three genin looked at him, taking in all he says, with eagerness, especially Naruko.
"This is one of the most difficult skills to master, even for ninja masters, and if you ever did... theoretically... there will be no jutsu beyond you." Kakashi said, making Naruko look at him in awe, if she could master it... then it would be yet another step to becoming the best, even Sasuke had to agree at it's importance.
"The secondary objective is to build up enough stamina necessary to complete your task, once your chakra has been focused." Kakashi continued. "If you think this looks hard, it's even harder to maintain when using ninjutsu. A true shinobi must be able to effectively use his chakra on the fly, if he ever hopes to prevail."
Kakashi reached in to his holster and pulled out three kunai. "OK... enough talk for now, time for action." he said as he threw the kunai at their feet. "The best way to learn is by doing. So take the kunai, and score a mark in to the tree trunk at the highest point you can climb, and try to beat that mark the next time. I don't expect you to reach the top the first time, so a running start should be a good help."

They all picked up the kunai in front of them and got ready.
Naruko smirked and looked prepared. "I'll master this by breakfast." she said, confidently, after all, she was the fastest developing ninja on the team... Kakashi said so.
"Less talk, more action." Kakashi said.

All three began charging up their chakra at the souls of their feet, before they all picked a tree and ran at it.
Naruko got no more than two steps before she fell flat on her back.
Sasuke got up several feet before the bark crumbled under his foot, and he was forced to make his first mark and move away.
As he landed he realised just how hard it really was to maintain his chakra and keep it balanced. To much and it would propel you away, too little, and it wouldn't stick.
And just when Kakashi was resigned to knowing this would take some time a voice rang out.
"This is easier than I thought."

They all looked over to Sakura, who was sat high in her tree with a cute smile.
"SAKURA?!" Naruko yelled out.
"Well... at least it looks like we know who has the best chakra control." Kakashi said. "Well done Sakura."
"YEAH! Way to go Sakura, stroke one up for the girls!" Naruko said, happily, although she was a little annoyed that she herself could yet do it.
Sakura ignored her though and looked over to Sasuke, who just sighed.
Sakura looked down, she wanted so much to impress Sasuke, and he didn't look impressed with her at all.
"You know... with all of Naruko's boasts, it looks like Sakura is the closest one here to likely become the next, and first female, Hokage." Kakashi said, making the blonde blink, and think about that. "And she's even outdone the famed last of the Uchiha."
Sakura was happy for the compliment, but those words riled her up. "MASTER!!! HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT!!!" she said, although she was thinking more like 'Sasuke will hate me.'

But Sasuke and Naruko looked at each other, not hurt, but looking more determined.
This was the effect Kakashi hoped from them. He knew they had massive untapped potential and power, and hoped that by the time this lesson was over... they could tap in to it.

Naruko looked more determined than ever, even if she couldn't master it, the least she could do was out do Sasuke.

Nearby, a young boy was watching them. Inari.
He just frowned, as he turned and left them to what they were doing, he knew they were just wasting their time. But perhaps a small part of him hoped they would prove him wrong.

Hours passed and Naruko showed little signs of improving, her marks barely topped seven, maybe eight feet up the trunk.
Sasuke at least made it several feet up the tree, before his marks clumped together, steadily rising up the bark.

Sakura was exhausted, she was simply going up the tree, jumping down, and going up again, exercising and practising the new technique, to better improve her control.

She smiled at Sasuke, seeing how much stamina he had, as he continued on, but was a little surprised that Naruko was still going. Although she grinned, knowing that her lack of progress meant that she couldn't impress Sasuke with her skill.
Sakura knew though at any moment, Naruko would simply see her lack of progress and throw a tantrum, quitting.
Her theory seemed to be proven when Naruko cried out in frustration and walked away from the tree.
But Sakura was surprised when she was approached instead.
"Hey... Sakura... could you help me out? You know... girl to girl?" she asked, keeping quiet about it, a little embarrassed to be asking.
Sakura blinked... should she? If she did... Naruko could probably get better and impress Sasuke. But then again... this was important. If Naruko were to fail, it could effect the teams success.
"Well?" Naruko asked again. "Help me?"
"You know... if... if you don't keep trying, you'll not learn, even... even if I tell you." she said. Feeling a little guilty about not helping. She knew it was selfish of her, she just wanted Sasuke for herself, and just didn't want Naruko to.

Naruko sighed. "I... I guess so." she said sadly as she got up.
Seeing this sadness, struck at Sakura, "OK." she suddenly said, knowing she was going to regret this, but she couldn't be so selfish when a friend needed help.
Naruko smiled happily, and Sakura began to help her.

Kakashi smiled as he watched from a distance.
"Definitely all growing." he muttered to himself.

The next day soon came and Sakura was yawning as she sat on the bridge as people worked around her on it.
Hammering, tightening of bolts and the movement of cranes filled the air of the sunny day, and Sakura felt bored watching them.
"Where's the blonde and the pretty boy?" Tazuna asked as he passed her carrying some wood.
"Training." Sakura replied.
"And you're not with them?" he asked her.
"I surpassed them, so master Kakashi told me to stay here and protect you." she said, proudly.
"Really?" Tazuna said, not really impressed, which made Sakura sigh.

"Tazuna?" came a male voice. "Can I talk to you?"
"Huh?!" Tazuna said, "What's wrong Giichi?"
"I've been thinking it over and... I want off of this job." he replied.
"W-Why?!" Tazuna asked, genuinely shocked. "Of all the people here... why you?"
"I... I want to help you Tazuna... really I do." Giichi said, looking guilt, yet determined, "But... But Gato will take a contract out on us if we don't stop! And if you die, we won't just lose this one project, but we could lose everything. This bridge isn't worth it."

Tazuna looked down sorrowfully, and Sakura didn't know what to say, even if she thought she should.
"I can't do that." Tazuna said. "This bridge belongs to us all, it's everything we've been working towards for the survival of our city... of out nation. When it's finished, it will bring trade and commerce to us and return our poor land of waves back on the map."
"BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIVES... YOUR LIFE!" Giichi cried as Tazuna walked away, returning to work.
"Its the afternoon, so lets call it a day." Tazuna said, "Giichi... you don't have to come back."

And with that the days work was over.

Tazuna had to pick up a few things for Tsunami, so he and Sakura both headed in to town to shop.
Sakura was surprised, and downhearted to see the poor conditions of the place, filled with the jobless and poor, beggars and pickpockets. One of whom tried to pick pocket her, but when he brushed against her but, she instantly reacted with a kick, sending him flying. "PERVERT!!!!" she cried out.
A few minutes passed and soon she found a child begging her for food. But all Sakura was able to give was a handful of sweets, but that was more than enough to make the little girl happy and run off.

Tazuna sighed. "It's been like this since Gato moved in." he said, "We've become a city of slackers, cowards and fools. That's why the bridge is so essential, it will be a symbol, an emblem of courage. I truly believe that our people can be what they once were again."

Sakura looked sorry for them. He was talking about pride, the very thing that Sasuke and Naruko were driven on by, and it made her think to how they were doing.

They were still at it, running up the tree's higher and faster, determined to improve, determined to get stronger.
Naruko was determined to catch up, but was getting frustrated as she looked up, and saw that, even though she had reached a greater height, Sasuke was still higher.
Sasuke was at his highest point yet, and when he fell, but noticed that Naruko was steadily getting closer and closer, improving faster than he was.
He frowned, how was it that she could be such a failure that morning, and already catch him up.
If he didn't improve faster, Naruko would overtake him, and he could not be last.

Naruko looked at him, annoyed, but she shook her head, she had to catch him up, but she knew she had to concentrate.
She thought back to what Sakura had told her, 'It takes mental energy to generate chakra, and that stress and distraction can stop manipulation being successful.' she repeated in her mind, "So relax... focus..."
As Naruko calmed her mind, she began to focus the chakra in to her feet. Once she felt she had the right amount of chakra, she began to move, confident, that this time she could do it.

But before she got to steps closer to the tree...
"Naruko..." Sasuke called to her, making her trip.
"HEY!!!" she said, "I'm trying to concentrate." Sasuke moved closer. "Wh-what is it?" she then asked.
"What... What did Sakura tell you?" he asked, blushing a little in embarrassment.
Naruko blinked, was he really asking for help. This pleased her, she had knowledge that Sasuke wanted, and meant that she could easily surpass Sasuke if she didn't say. But she also knew that Sakura liked Sasuke, especially since Sakura kept accusing her of trying to steal him.
Naruko smiled. "Why don't you ask her? I'm sure she could explain it better than me anyway." she smiled.
Sasuke blinked, then smirked. "Yeah... what was I thinking, trying to get advice from a dobe like you."
"WHAT!?!?" Naruko screamed, now regretting anything nice she was trying to do for Sakura.
Sasuke just chuckled.
It was getting late anyway, and hunger was setting in, so they decided to call it, and head back for some food.

Sometime later, they were all around the table, Team seven and Tazuna's family, eating. Although Sasuke and Naruko were eating quite quickly, trying to get as much energy as they could.
Sasuke did glance to Sakura though a few times, he wanted to ask her about what she told Naruko, but not in front of other people, so he decided to wait until after dinner.
Sakura caught these glances and blushed, 'What is going on?' she thought to herself, 'Maybe I impressed him and he's finally noticed me!' While she looked cutely calm as she ate, her inner Sakura was crying out in victory, Sasuke was interested, she had beaten Naruko, she had beaten Ino... she had beaten every girl in their class.

After a while, Sakura had finished while Naruko and Sasuke continued to eat as much as they could, even throwing up on occasion because they ate so fast.
Sakura sighed, not seeing the point of eating so much if they were just going to throw up.
She decided to get up and look around as the others finished up.

It was then she noticed a picture, with one corner torn out.
"Why is this picture torn?!" she asked herself. Before turning to Tazuna and his family. "Excuse me, someone's face is completely gone... is that deliberate?" she asked, curiously.

Silence.

"It... was a picture of Inari's father." Tsunami said, as she began to clear the table.
"Our town... once called him a hero." Tazuna added.
Inari got up out of his seat, and hastily left the room, looking upset, and slamming the door behind him.
"INARI!!" Tsunami cried out, before turning to her father. "FATHER... I told you time and again not to talk about him in front of my son."
"So... his father is what makes Inari act like he does?" Sakura asked.
"There sounds like a story here." Kakashi asked.
"He... he wasn't Inari's birth father." Tazuna began, "But they were just as close... closer even. Inari was such a happy child back then." As the memories flooded to the old man, tears began to swell. "But... Inari changed... after what happened to his father."