Naruto: Blades, Bows and Souls
REVIEW RESPONSE:
To everyone else who read and reviewed thanks for your time and support.
knightblazer85: Some, but I'm always open to new ideas and suggestions, as long as they're original.
Kyukon: Thanks for all the praise; I also believe that new teams are better, especially when Naruto gets a power-up before graduating. They not only allow for a much more unique storyline, but make a lot more sense. The current harem is: Hinata, Haku, Tenten, Temari, Anko, Yoruichi, Hana, Konan, Yugito, and Sui-Fēng with the final two girls undecided.
KitsuneNoYomeiri: Indeed, the iron frying pan is truly the female genders most insidious weapon…well besides using our own hormones against us.
VFSNAKE: I was thinking more along the lines of 'chop them into tiny pieces.'
Mujun: Thank you very much, as for the growth of Naruto's chakra control, while it is true Naruto's training with chakra control is impressive, you're forgetting just how massive his reserves are, especially with the Kurosaki bloodline tripling them. With such vast reserves it takes an equally vast amount of work and exercises in order to obtain proper chakra control. So while it's safe to say Naruto won't ever reach medic-level control, his control can and will improve greatly over time.
adngo714: I guess it kind does resemble Ryūjin Jakka, but it's a lot less powerful. The idea was originally just a flaming sword, considering the Uchiha's association with Fire ninjutsu.
Dragon Man 180: Now those are some interesting ideas, but you'll have to wait and see for the answers. Kiba will get his in time. Hayate will appear in time, I've got his debut all lined up, and I like but I've got other ideas for the one-eye one.
king of the shadows: I don't think my Naruto's too OOC, a little brighter, and a little more stubborn maybe, but I can't see too bid of a difference.
GracefulDoom: Interesting idea, see the author's note at the end of the story.
"Normal Speech"
'Normal Thought'
"Zanpakutō Speech"
"Demon/Large Summon Speech"
'Demon/Large Summon Thought'
Jutsu, Kidō/Gintō Incantation, Kidō /Gintō Spell Name, Skill Name, Zanpakutō Ability
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Bleach, or anything else for that matter except for any original ideas.
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Chapter 10: Training Days and Date Nights
(Friday Evening, Inuzuka Compound)
Naruto was really, really starting to get nervous. He'd been getting ready for this date for the past few days, and he believed that he had everything ready, but that still didn't kill the anxiety now building in his stomach as he approached his destination. He had tried to memorize everything Iruka-sensei, Yūgao-sensei, and Ayame-nēchan had told him, planned on what he'd hoped to happen and had even gotten out some of his better, more formal, new clothes for the occasion: a light blue shitagi (undershirt), a black kosode (robe) with dark blue trims on the sleeves as well as a dark blue cross on the back, a black hakama also with dark blue trims, a dark blue hakama-himo (obi or sash/belt) with his Zanpakutō sheathed on his side, white tabi (socks), and waraji (sandals). (AN: Think the standard Shinigami uniform only replacing most of the white parts with varying shades of blue and a Quincy cross on the back.). They were very well made and looked quite nice without being stiff and unpractical; Naruto thought that Kisuke had called them his 'semi-formal' attire. Naruto was just glad they had a nice, loose fit; if there was one thing he hated it was tight fitting clothes.
The young blonde let out a large sigh, attempting to dispel his nerves, as he approached his destination.
The Inuzuka Compound was located near the northeastern edge of the village in a heavily wooded area. In Naruto's honest opinion, it looked more like a miniature village than a clan compound. It was made up of over a dozen smaller buildings, most likely family residences for each member of the clan, spaced out a good distance away from each other surrounding a large central building. The central building was highly open, at least half of it was an open field with only a mesh fence connecting it to the main building. It was also the only building in the Compound made of stone, the rest being mostly wooden cottages and houses. Naruto guessed it was the Inuzuka's main kennel, where they bred, raised, treated, and cared for their clan's prized ninken and other canines. The Compound's surroundings only added to its appearance of a miniature village. It was surrounded on all sides by the thick woods, with no real boundaries other than the edges of the tree-line, and the only real connection to the rest of the village was a simple dirt path leading into the clearing.
Naruto soon found himself at, what he believed to be the Inuzuka Head's home. It was a large two-story wooden home, making it the largest building in the Compound aside from the kennel, and had the Inuzuka Clan symbol, a pair of red fangs similar to their facial tattoos, engraved over the door. Mustering his courage and repressing his doubts, Naruto lifted his hand and slowly knocked on the door.
A few minutes later the door the swung open revealing Tsume Inuzuka, now dressed in her civilian attire, a loose set of brown leather pants with a matching vest and a dark-green, short-sleeved top. The elder Inuzuka quickly gave the blonde a once over before smiling and giving a nod of approval. "Not bad pup, you actually clean up pretty good." she stated with a smirk, getting a blush from the young blonde, before leading him inside.
The inner décor of the Inuzuka household could best be described in a single word: rustic. Like the outside, the inside was mostly wood but a large portion of the furniture also contained what Naruto assumed was animal bones in their construction. The sitting room he was now waiting in was filled with different forms of trophies, everything from stuffed animal heads and mounts, probably acquired through hunting, to pieces of armor, weapons, banners, and similar items, more than likely trophies from the last war and various missions. Naruto also couldn't help but notice the extensive use of furs. Instead of regular padding the chairs and other seats had fur pillows, along with a fur blanket or two, and the hardwood floors were also covered in fur rugs. Just from this one room the blonde spotted tiger, bear, deer, boar, and a host of other animals the blonde couldn't easily identify. Though one thing stood out, or rather the lack of something stood out.
"No wolf or fox." muttered the blonde under his breath.
Tsume must have heard him and she turned to face him with a small grin on her face. "Wolf and fox are too close to kin and clan to eat, and Inuzuka never hunt for mere sport." she stated solemnly.
Naruto nodded his head in understanding; that made sense at least. The Inuzuka were extremely close to their canine companions, seeing them as partners or even members of the family rather than pets. It only made sense that they would extend some of that respect to their ninken's canine cousins. Hell, there was a reason animal abuse, particularly abuse that focused on dogs, was such a rare crime in Konoha. If an Inuzuka found out about it…well the results wouldn't be pretty. Added to that was the fact that the Inuzuka were well known for their respect for nature; being one of the two major clans, alongside the Aburame, that constantly protected and cared for the forests that surrounded Konoha.
Tsume went off to fetch her daughter while Naruto continued to study the room. He noticed a few framed pictures mixed in with the assortment of trophies hanging from the walls, including a copy of his mom's genin team picture. Naruto was studying a more recent picture featuring adult-versions of his mother, Hiashi, and Tsume when he heard the sound of people entering the room. Turning around, Naruto caught his first real look at Hana Inuzuka.
Naruto first reaction was a slight blush as he took in the sight of the older girl. She was a bit taller than him, no more than an inch or so, with brown hair tied back in a low ponytail. She had large dark brown eyes, which Naruto noticed lacked the slitted pupils of her mother but matched the shade, a red Inuzuka fang tattoo on each cheek, and a pretty, if stern, face. She was dressed in a light grey, sleeveless blouse with a low-cut neck that showed off her chest, a dark gray set of pants that stopped just above her ankles, and a pair of black shoes. Standing around her were three large, grey-furred ninken.
Naruto's first thought was, 'She sure seems to like grey.' His second was, 'She's really pretty.'
While Naruto was studying Hana, the young Inuzuka heiress was doing the same to her date. 'Not bad.' was her final decision. 'A little on the short side, but he's still young enough to grow a bit more. He's got a cute face at least, though it's a bit on the feral side. Not that that's a bad thing. And at least he's got half-way decent taste in clothes.' mentally appraised the young Inuzuka heiress. Deciding to get things started Hana spoke up. "Hello, I'm Hana Inuzuka and these are my partners, the Three Haimaru Brothers: Sumimaru, Nezumaru, and Harimaru." introduced the young woman with a short bow. Each of the three ninken gave a short bark of greeting as they were introduced.
(AN: The 'Hai' in Haimaru means grey while 'maru' is a common suffix for boy's names. Sumi means charcoal, Nezu means slate, and Hari means quartz; which are three shades of grey.)
Naruto quickly snapped out of his stupor and returned the bow. "Hello, my name is Naruto Uzumaki and it's nice to meet you as well Hana-san." he said with a slight blush.
Hana noticed the blush and grinned. 'Definitely cute.' affirmed the Inuzuka heiress.
Tsume returned shortly after and escorted the two out the door. She gave the two a broad grin as they departed. "Try not to bring her home too late pup, but if you do at least leave me a note on whether I should expect a fourth for breakfast." teased the older Inuzuka as the two retreated.
Naruto sprouted an atomic blush while Hana's cheeks reddened to match her fang tattoos. "Mother!" called out the younger Inuzuka in embarrassment.
After walking for several minutes in embarrassed silence, Hana decided to try and get things rolling again. "So do you have any plans for what we're going to do tonight?" she was half-sure the younger boy was either clueless or taking her to some low-class restaurant.
"Well I was hoping we could go for a walk and try to get to know each other for a while first." supplied the blonde as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "You know since neither of us actually knows each other very well. After that I was actually thinking of a picnic dinner. I have it all prepped and even know of a great spot for it." he finished, patting a small scroll on his hip.
Hana raised an eyebrow at that. "How did you know I enjoy picnics?" she asked curiously. It wasn't exactly a deep, dark secret, but neither was it common knowledge.
"My Jounin sensei, Yūgao Uzuki, said she was a friend of yours and gave me some advice." answered the blonde as he continued to rub the back of his head; Hana guessed it was a nervous habit.
"Ah." replied Hana. That certainly made sense. Yūgao had definitely known her long enough to know that little fact, and she had even told her that she was his sensei. It was still a pretty sweet gesture on the blonde's part to actually ask about her likes and plan accordingly. "And you decided to take me out on one just because she said it was one of my favorite things to do?"
"Well my Onēsan told me that I should always make the first date about the girl's wants. That way even if it doesn't work out, she'll still have a good time." responded the blonde with a slight shrug.
"This sister of yours sounds like a smart girl, you should definitely listen to her more often." stated Hana with a smirk before she raised a questioning eyebrow, "But I thought you were an only child?"
"I am, but Ayame-nēchan has always been there for me ever since I was really small, so I just got into the habit of calling her that." answered the blonde with a shy grin.
The two continued to walk and talk for a couple of hours, mostly trying to get to know each other better. Hana revealed that she was primarily a medic-nin specialized in veterinary medicine and mostly worked in the Inuzuka Kennels, but she was also a trained and skilled fighter, particularly when combined with her ninken partners, and one of the best trackers in her clan. She was actually planning on trying out for the Jounin Exams in the near future. While more even-tempered than most of her more…hot-blooded family, Hana still possessed an Inuzuka temper and was not one to take insult or mistreatment, a fact that several idiots had learned while thinking her less feral appearance made her easier pickings. Hana had even mentioned how she took more after her father, formerly a civilian-born medic-nin, in her appearance and demeanor than her mother. When Naruto asked what had happened to him, Hana had merely mentioned that he and her mother had had a 'falling out' while Tsume was pregnant with Kiba and they'd separated soon afterwards.
Naruto himself wasn't idle in their conversation. He was admittedly a bit shy and reluctant at first, but soon fell into his usual enthusiasm. He spoke a lot about his recent training with Yūgao-sensei, mostly teamwork exercises, but Yūgao had promised to start some more intense training next week after giving the trio the weekend off for rest and recovery. He'd also told her about of about a few of his personal favorite pranks during the Academy, getting a few laughs from the Inuzuka.
Eventually the sun began to set and Naruto started ushering Hana up the hills in the northern wooded area, just outside of the village proper, leading her to his 'secret spot.'
"I still don't see what the big rush is?" stated a slightly annoyed Hana, not too pleased at being rushed up a hill to who-knows-where.
"Trust me, Hana-san. You're going to love the view, and it's at its best at sunset." encouraged the blonde as he broke through the last bits of underbrush.
"Okay, but it better…be…worth…" Hana's voice trailed off as she stared out at the sight.
And what a sight it was. They were standing at the edge of a narrow, rocky cliffside, a small extension of the rocky protrusion that supported the Hokage Monument and acted as the village's northern border. The cliff was smaller than the monument, probably not even reaching half as high, but still managed to give a spectacular view of the entire village to the left and front, with the monument's seemingly starting down at them from the right. The setting sun only added to the dramatic image, adding a brilliant sea of yellows and reds to the already vibrant greens and browns of Konoha's buildings and forests.
"Whoa." breathed out Hana, her attention momentarily caught by the spectacular view.
"Impressive isn't it?" chirped out Naruto, forcing Hana's attention back to the blonde. The young blonde had already set out a large blanket for the two to sit on and was unrolling and unsealing several scrolls that contained an assortment of picnic items, including a variety of onigiri (rice balls with assorted stuffing), omelets, sandwiches, and, to her surprise, meatballs, her favorite food, that were still steaming hot, probably sealed right after cooking. Hana made a mental note to ask Yūgao exactly what she'd told her student about her the next time they saw each other.
As she settled herself onto the blanket, Hana commented. "It really is a spectacular view, I'm actually surprised that no one else knows about this place. How'd you find it anyway?" she questioned as she speared one of the meatballs with a chopstick.
Naruto chuckled as he sat down opposite of her and grabbed a rice ball. "I actually found this place by accident when I was still a little kid, no more than eight I think. I'd just started at the Academy and my teacher was a total ass, whether it was because of the fox or the guy was just a jerk I don't know, and some of the other kids were picking on me. I got so upset and frustrated that I cut class and just ran out into the woods, looking for a place to be alone." he then snickered a little before continuing, "I ended up getting lost in the woods for hours, just wandering around. I didn't mind much, I actually preferred it to being stuck in class, and it gave me time to just vent. Somehow, my wandering led me to this spot just as the sun was setting. I ended up just sitting here and taking in the view for hours, until some of the Old Man's Anbu found me and took me to him. Ojiji was worried sick, he thought I'd gotten lost or something. After I told him about how the teacher treated me, he ended up sacking the guy and putting Iruka-sensei and Mizuki-teme in his place."
Naruto smiled wistfully as he turned his attention away from her and back to the sunset. "Ever since then, I'd always come here whenever something was bothering me or I just wanted to think. This place always seems to be able calm me down."
"I can see what you mean." agreed Hana softly. "Looking out over the whole village like this would make your own problems seem so much smaller."
"I guess that's part of it," agreed the blonde with a slight nod, "but the main part for me was that it made me feel like they were watching over me."
"They?" questioned Hana.
"The Hokages." stated the blonde waving toward the monument.
Hana took a moment to study the giant monument. Given the light, it really did look like the four giant heads were staring down protectively over them and the rest of the village.
"Looking at them from here, it always made me feel like I wasn't alone; like they were always watching over me and keeping me safe. I think that's part of why I've always wanted to be Hokage so much, because I want to feel the same; watching over everyone in the village, ensuring that they are never truly alone. That's part of what being Hokage means, well that's what it means to me I guess." stated the blonde introspectively as he scratched his cheek.
Hana smiled a little at that. To Hana being a good leader wasn't just about power and strength, but being able to care for and willing to protect everyone who followed you. A good heart was just as important as any amount of power or skill when it came to being a good leader. An alpha who didn't care for their pack would find themselves alone sooner or later, and tyrants usually met sticky ends. "That was quite poetic Naruto, you might just have a bit of a romantic in you." she teased.
Naruto blushed at that. "I don't know about that Hana-san, I was just saying what I felt, that's all." he mumbled absently.
Hana giggled a little. 'He's definitely cute, and can actually be a little charming, in a simple way, when he wants to be.' She thought absently.
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(Inuzuka Compound, Later that Evening)
It was a couple of hours later that the two found themselves returning to the Inuzuka Compound. Naruto and Hana had enjoyed their meal and spent another few hours talking and enjoying the view, before Naruto had escorted her home. Now they were standing in front of the main house's doorway, bidding each other a good night.
"I had a wonderful time tonight Naruto-san." stated Hana with a soft grin.
"Me too Hana-san." stated a grinning blonde, before he blushed, "You wouldn't want to do something again, would you?" To be honest he liked the older Inuzuka girl. She was very kind and pretty, and he actually enjoyed spending time with her. Naruto, having no experience with relationships, didn't know if this was a good start to a romantic relationship or not, but he thought it was well worth the try.
Hana was a little surprised before she did a quick mental evaluation. 'Okay, he's cute, sweet, pretty funny, and seems to be an alright guy. I'd say that he warrants at least a second date, not to mention a little reward.' Coming to quick decision Hana gave the blonde a smirk. "Are you trying to ask me out on a second date Naruto-kun." she asked teasingly.
The blonde blushed heavily at that before stuttering, "Uh…yeah."
As soon as he finished Hana leaned in and gave the blonde a quick peck on the lips, before pulling back. "That was a reward for showing me such a good time tonight." she said huskily before turning and walking toward the door with an extra roll and sway in her hips. Right before she opened the door she turned her head and said, "And in case I wasn't clear, that's a yes to the second date. I'm usually either here or in the kennel when I'm not on a mission. Stop by sometime and we'll set it up. If it's as good as this one I might throw in an even better reward." she finished before tossing him a wink as she walked inside.
Naruto just stared after her for a few minutes, absently rubbing his lips. He'd just had his first kiss, and the girl who gave had given it to him was promising him something better if he did good on their next date. Absently the blonde turned and started walking home, his mind a hundred miles away.
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Inside the Inuzuka household Hana was walking with a victorious smirk. Teasing guys was always so much fun, and she personally thought that Naruto-kun was at his cutest when he blushed. As she walked into the kitchen she noticed her mother sitting at the table, drinking a beer. Grabbing one of her own, Hana sat down across from her mother.
"So how'd it go?" questioned the Inuzuka matriarch curiously, sipping at her own beer.
Hana half wanted to tell her mother it was none of her business or lie saying it was a disaster, but decided to just be honest. "It actually went pretty well. We went for a walk before he took me to a favorite spot of his in the woods for a picnic. The view was really something, and he even made me my favorite food. It seems Yūgao's been pretty open regarding giving her student dating advice." she stopped to take a drink from her own beer
Tsume made a mental note to thank the ex-Anbu. "And?"
Hana shrugged "He walked me home before asking me if I wanted to go on a second date," she left that hanging for a minute just to tease her mother before finishing, "and I said yes. I told him he could either find me here or in the kennels when he wanted to set it up." stated the younger Inuzuka, sipping at her beer again.
Tsume gave her daughter a large grin at that. "Glad to hear it." she stated warmly, which she was. Tsume loved her family, she would gladly die protecting any member of her clan but her own pups carried a special place in her heart, and she had a special place for her daughter. She reminded her so much of her husband who, despite their falling out, she still missed at times. Sure she wanted the clan alliance between the Inuzuka, Uzumaki, and Hyūga to go through; not only would such an alliance strengthen both her clan and the Hyūga while providing the Uzumaki with a solid foothold in the village politics, a win-win on all three parts, but Kushina had also been one of her closest and dearest friends, more like a sister than anything else, and seeing their kids marry would bring that connection to her lost friend that much closer. But Tsume's first concern was always and would always be her daughter's happiness.
"Hey sis." came a loud call, as the third member of the Inuzuka family entered the kitchen. "When'd you get back in, and where'd you go?" he asked as he reached the fridge and grabbed a soda.
Tsume got a glint in her eye. "Your sister just got back in from a rather hot date with your classmate." teased the eldest Inuzuka.
Hana recognized the 'tease Kiba' vibe her mom was setting and quickly followed. "He's such a romantic guy, not to mention a total cutie. I think I'm in L-U-V." she added in a girlish giggle.
The soda in Kiba's hand was soon crushed along the center, spraying and leaking its contents across the kitchen floor and Kiba's clothes. Kiba barely noticed. His entire being was consumed with a single thought. 'When I get my hands on that dobe I'm going to rip his fucking knads out through his throat!'
"Kiba, clean up the mess you're making." barked out Tsume, the snickering in her voice, and Hana's echoing in the background, not even penetrating her son's rage-blocked mind.
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(Monday 6:00 a.m., Training Field 19)
Yūgao had arrived a bit before her students this morning. Today would be their first day of intensive training. She'd spent most of her weekend developing and planning the schedules for each of her student's training, as well as making the needed preparations.
The teamwork exercises she'd been drilling into her students for the majority of the past week had two key purposes. The first was to get her three students familiar enough with each other and their respective fighting styles so they could work well together in the field. They'd continue with those drills throughout their training, continuously improving their ability to fight and work together as well as adapting to fit new techniques and abilities as they gained them. Those type of training sessions were the reason that many Genin teams continued to work together even after they reach Chūnin or Jounin rank, they knew how each other fought and worked well enough that it created a synergy between them.
The second reason was so that she, as their sensei, could observe their group dynamic and how they fought together, and Yūgao had been quite pleased with her findings.
Shikamaru had easily fallen into the role of team strategist. The young Nara was quickly proving his intellect and ability to his teammates, and both had already come to trust his planning abilities and foresight. He was already a brilliant tactician, a match for most Chūnin and some Jounin in that field alone; the only thing he seemed to lack was actual experience, something that she'd need to make sure he gained in the future. In combat the boy tended to stay back, acting as ranged support for his teammates, either using thrown shuriken or kunai or his clan's jutsu. His main weakness now was a lack of versatility in his jutsu, only knowing a single clan technique along with the academy basics. With a little work she knew he could grow into an excellent mid- to long-range combatant, though she'd be sure to at least teach him some close-combat skills, some enemies were impossible to fight from a distance after all.
Hinata was, quite literally, the team's eyes, acting as their main sensor and recon expert. Her Byakugan gave her an incredibly wide field of vision, allowing her to monitor and keep track of both her teammates and their target's movements. She was also showing a lot of promise in becoming the team's medic, having already showed an immense knowledge of herbal medicine and excellent chakra control. The girl always seemed to carry around several small jars of an extremely potent herbal healing ointment. Hinata had told her that her mother had originally developed it and she'd left the recipe to her after she passed away. She'd already used it several times during their training when one of her teammates had earned a minor injury or two and its effectiveness spoke for itself. In combat the girl acted mostly in a support position, either backing up or defending her teammates. She was pretty skilled with her Jūken, and Yūgao knew that with a little training she'd become a dangerous close-range combatant. She'd also need to teach her a few jutsu so she could attack from a distance, Hyūga traditions be damned, but that would come later.
Naruto was by far showing the most progress in the group. He was quickly growing into the team's leader. Shikamaru lacked the energy for the role and Hinata lacked the confidence, so that had left Naruto to fill the leadership gap, and truthfully the boy seemed to fill it quite well. The blonde was smart enough to trust in Shikamaru for the team's planning, but when they were actually in the field and something didn't go according to plan the blonde usually ended up taking command. While he lacked Shikamaru's tactical genius, the blonde seemed to be a natural at improvisation, coming up with ideas on the fly that, while less tactically 'clean' than Shikamaru's plans and strategies, always seemed to accomplish the job. Naruto was also the team's top combatant, capable of fighting at all ranges, using his Zanpakutō in close range, Kidō and other jutsu at mid-range, and bow at long-range. The blonde already had a wide variety of skills, but he lacked experience and proper training in how to use them effectively. He was…unpolished, rough. That was the best way to describe it. Her main job would be helping him develop and perfect those skills while adding to them.
Yes, Yūgao was quite pleased with her findings. All three had a great deal of potential as individuals, but as a team they could become something far greater. Shikamaru was the brains, Hinata was the precision, and Naruto was the muscle. With the proper training the three would be able to rival the original Ino-Shika-Cho, maybe even the Sannin.
Yūgao quickly broke out of her dreams for the future to focus on the present when she saw the last of her students arrive. With a quick Shunshin she left the tree she'd been waiting in and appeared in front of her team.
"Good morning everyone, I hope you don't mind the earlier wake-up call since it'll be our new meeting time." greeted Yūgao, getting a groaned 'troublesome' in response from her team's laziest member. Smiling and ignoring the lazy Nara's dissatisfaction Yūgao continued, "Glad to hear it, now we've got a busy schedule today. Let's start with a brief workout to get the kinks out. First 20 laps around the training grounds."
Two hours later, the trio of now slightly sweaty genin finished their workout regimen, which had included laps, push-ups, sit-ups, stretches, and a host of other exercises. Each of the three was in a unique state. Naruto only appeared to be slightly winded. Hinata was also fairly well-off, only appearing a little more winded than Naruto and was sweating slightly. Shikamaru was the worst of the lot, but he only seemed to be out of breath and rather sweaty.
"Good work everyone." stated Yūgao smugly. "From now on we'll be starting each morning's training with a workout regimen just like that, and as your conditions improve I'll be adding onto and individualizing each of your regiments. While training for techniques and styles is important, one should never forget the importance of good, old-fashioned physical exercise to help improve and maintain a ninja's core strengths and health. Now next we're going to be working on improving chakra control.
"Chakra control is one of the most basic ninja training principles, but also one of the most important. Without proper control a ninja cannot perform jutsu of any shape or form. Increased control not only allows the practitioner to wield more advanced jutsu, but wield the jutsu they already know much more effectively. As an added bonus most chakra control exercises also help build up a person's chakra reserves as well. Since all three of you rely heavily on chakra use, improving your respective chakra control and reserves will be a main priority." explained the purple-haired Anbu as she started leading her students toward the treeline.
"So what kind of exercises are we going to do now sensei?" asked Naruto curiously.
"Climbing trees." announced Yūgao.
Naruto sweat-dropped, "How does climbing trees improve our chakra control?"
Yūgao chuckled a little at that. 'Ah, to be young and naïve again.' she thought wistfully. "I believe a demonstration would be better than a simple explanation." she stated before walking toward a single tree near the edge of their clearing. She calming approached the trunk before simply raising her foot to it and began to calmly walk up it as if it was just another stretch of the road.
As she walked she began to explain the exercise to her three students, who were starting at her intently from the ground. "This is the Ki Nobori no Shugyō (Tree Walking Exercise), a basic chakra control exercise known and practiced in most shinobi villages in some shape or another. While basic, it is an extremely useful technique for both practice and practical use. Using it a ninja can scale nearly any solid surface while leaving their hands free to perform other tasks." stated Yūgao as she finally came to a stop, standing upside down on one of the thicker branches near the tree's canopy.
"The key point of the exercise is precise control of the amount of chakra used in order to create an effect, in this case focusing a specific amount of chakra into the soles of your feet in order to have them adhere to the surface of the tree. Too little chakra and you won't stick. Too much and you'll be repelled away from the trunk, damaging the bark in the progress." Yūgao then threw a kunai at each of her student's feet, "Use those kunai to mark your progress. It's best to start out slowly so you can concentrate on the chakra flow." she instructed as she dropped from her perch, landing in a crouch in front of her students.
Each of the genin picked up their respective kunai, and approached one of the nearby trees. Each slowly formed the ram seal before channeling chakra to their feet and beginning their climbs.
Naruto barely managed to get a quarter of the way up before the wood seemed to explode beneath his feet, launching him backwards off the tree. The young blonde barely managed to avoid crash landing on his head, instead managing to throw himself into a tumbling roll ending in a low crouch. "Damn, this is tougher than it looks. I used way too much chakra on that one."
Shikamaru seemed to slip off a bit beneath the half-way mark. Falling backwards the young Nara managed to land in a crouch. "Man this is more troublesome than I thought. You have to mix and apply your chakra perfectly in order to maintain a decent hold." grumbled the Nara.
Hinata actually made it to the top on her first try, stopping on a branch near the top of the tree-line.
'Well that went about as well as I expected.' thought Yūgao contemplatively. "Excellent work Hinata. Even for a Hyūga performing the tree climbing exercise perfectly on your first try is an exceptional display." praised Yūgao.
"Way to go Hinata, you rock." cheered Naruto, causing the bluenette to nearly swoon and fall off her branch. Shikamaru merely grunted in acknowledgement.
"W-what should I-I do now s-sensei?" called out the meek Hyūga.
"Take a few minutes to catch your breath before beginning again. While your control is excellent your reserves could do with some increasing. In the meantime, watch and help your teammates." urged Yūgao.
Hinata nodded and activated her Byakugan to help monitor her teammates' chakra. Both barely managed to make any more progress than their previous tries before repeating their earlier falls.
"S-Shikamaru-san, you're not m-maintaining enough chakra in your f-flow after you reach the midway point. Y-you need to increase your amount and maintain it m-more thoroughly. N-Naruto-kun, you're putting way t-too much chakra i-in at the b-beginning and pushing even m-more in as you get higher. Try c-cutting it d-down to less than a q-quarter of what you're already u-using and m-maintain that amount." called out Hinata meekly, hoping she didn't anger her crush and friend with her criticism.
Both boys nodded and concentrated for a moment before beginning again. Both actually made a great deal more progress, Shikamaru reaching the two-third point and Naruto a bit over the halfway mark.
When Naruto landed a large grin broke out across his face. "Wow. That was a lot better than before. Thanks Hinata-chan, you seriously rule."
Hinata actually swooned this time, but was able to catch herself before she hit the ground.
Yūgao chuckled.
By ten o'clock, each member of Team 8 could now reach the top of their respective tree at least half the time. As Yūgao called a halt to their efforts she proclaimed. "Good work you three. We'll keep working on tree walking for two hours each morning until you've mastered it and then we'll move on to a more advanced exercise."
"What do you mean sensei?" asked Naruto. "All three of us can now make it to the top on our own; doesn't that mean we've mastered it already?"
Yūgao chuckled at that. "No Naruto, you haven't. While all three of you have made excellent progress on the first stage of the exercise you haven't mastered it until you can move on a vertical or even upside-down surface as easily as you walk on the ground. In order for that to happen, regulating and sustaining the chakra flow has to become second nature. That will take a lot of time and practice." answered the former Anbu. "Now moving on, we're heading to the Hokage's office to pick up a mission. We'll be working on missions until two, with a break for lunch interposed somewhere in the middle, before we head back here for more training."
"Sweet missions!" cheered the blonde. "I wonder what we're going to do? Save a princess, or maybe find a lost treasure or maybe…" the blonde trailed off as they headed for the Hokage's office.
Yūgao didn't know whether to chuckle or sigh. Naruto's reaction to D-rank missions was not going to be a quiet one that was certain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Konoha Market District, An hour later)
"These are not missions! These…Are…CHORES!" howled a clearly agitated blonde as he lifted another sack from the back of a wagon and began moving it into the shop.
Yūgao was correct; Naruto's reaction to D-ranks was anything if not quiet. Sure once he'd received word of their first official D-rank, helping unload a large shipment of supplies that had just arrived for the Yamanaka Flower Shop, there had been a minute or two of stunned silence…before the blonde began throwing more profanities than a drunken sailor.
"We know that already Naruto. You've only repeated it a hundred times or so in the last hour. Troublesome blonde." grunted Shikamaru who was carrying in a rack full of fresh seedlings.
"C-Calm down, N-Naruto-kun." supplied Hinata, who was using her Byakugan to help count everything to ensure that nothing was missing from the manifest, as well as making sure both Naruto and Shikamaru put everything away where it needed to go. "I-I'm sure there's a-a very g-good reason why we're d-doing m-missions like these."
"Don't call these things missions Hinata-chan, they don't deserve that title. And what possible reason could there be for having trained shinobi do these chores." replied the blonde.
"So glad you asked." chirped Yūgao, appearing behind the three, alongside their client Inoichi Yamanaka.
Inoichi looked at the three young shinobi, particularly the clearly irritated blonde before chuckling. "First D-rank huh?" he asked looking at their sensei. Getting a nod he continued to chuckle. "I remember my first one as well. One of the most annoying and frustrating things I've ever had to deal with, but trust me on this kid. After you've been on some higher-up missions, innocent D-ranks are going to seem like a vacation, so enjoy the peace while you can." he offered before heading into the store.
Yūgao smiled a little as the elder shinobi left, before she returned her focus to her students. Going into full lecture mode she began explaining. "D-ranks actually serve a variety of uses. The first is that they provide useful and necessary short-term services to Konoha using ninja labor that is, comparatively, cheap and effective. Services that otherwise would require brining in temporary, nonnative population forces that could serve as a breeding ground for spies or other enemy agents.
"Second, they provide shinobi a source of monetary revenue without being forced to leave the village for extended periods of time. While most D-ranks pay less than a tenth of the lowest C-rank mission, D-ranks are much easier to accomplish, less time consuming, and are hardly ever in short supply. While even the shortest C-rank will take a shinobi out of the village for at least a day or two, most D-ranks only take a few hours to complete. This allows shinobi who cannot leave the village or can't take more strenuous missions to at least be able to maintain a moderate income. This is mostly used by shinobi with small children or those recovering from more serious injuries.
"Finally, they also provide a valuable training exercise for young and inexperienced shinobi without any serious risks. This mission, for example, is providing you two," indicating Naruto and Shikamaru, "with excellent physical exercise which, as I stated earlier, is just as important for your progression as shinobi as skill training. Hinata is getting valuable practice using her Byakugan in a practical environment, using it to both check the inventory to ensure everything arrived in one piece while still keeping an eye on both of you. Other missions will provide other benefits. Some will provide low-risked versions of higher-ranked missions. Retrieving lost pets, for example, is quite similar to a search and rescue mission or a targeted abduction mission. Message delivery is excellent practice for advanced courier work that even the highest ranked shinobi are needed for. Other missions teach valuable skills that can be useful for both survival and undercover work. Gardening teaches foraging and plant recognition, repair work teaches engineering, and various jobs assisting at several other businesses provide basic instructions for several useful covers. To a ninja any and every skill can prove useful in the future, so these types of missions help give new genin a variety of experiences and skills to draw from. Granted most of this training and experience is extremely basic, but it does provide a solid groundwork for future, more advanced lessons."
Yūgao took a slow breath as she finished her explanation and gave her genin a grin before asking, "So any questions?"
Not surprisingly, none of her genin responded, though she did hear Naruto mumble, "They're still annoying." under his breath as the returned to work, causing the former Anbu to smirk.
~~~~~~~~~~~ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ~~~~~~~~~
It took a bit more than another hour for the trio to finish their first mission, though Naruto still refused to call them that. After handing the signed mission scroll over to the Hokage and receiving their payment slips, Yūgao had led the three out of the tower saying they were stopping for lunch before acquiring another mission. As they approached her restaurant of choice, a cozy little restaurant with a sign that named the place Unagiya; she noticed Naruto's worried expression. Slowing down as they neared the door she looked to her other two students. "Shikamaru, Hinata could you two go in and get us a table near the bar. A friend of mine is usually working there. I need to talk to Naruto for a minute."
Both teens gave her a short look before Shikamaru shrugged and headed toward the restaurant's doors with Hinata following shortly afterward. Turning her attention to her blonde student Yūgao asked, "Is there something wrong Naruto?"
"Uh…no…nothing really." mumbled out the blonde. When Yūgao continued to stare at him he finally relented. "It's just that I've had some bad experiences with restaurants other than Ichiraku's and…" the blonde's voice trailed off.
"Ah." stated Yūgao in understanding. She should have expected this. She knew that a number of shops vastly overcharged the blonde while others simply refused him service outright. It was understandable that the blonde would be reluctant to enter a new location and risk it happening all over again, and now in front of his friends and teammates. "Tell me Naruto, how many shops and restaurants have treated you poorly?" she questioned.
"A couple dozen I guess, mostly places near where my apartment was." answered the blonde absently with a slight shrug. "After a while I found a few places that treated me at least halfway decently so I just started going to those places." In truth only Ichiraku's had really treated him nicely, the other shops just treated less horribly than most of the others. His old grocer at least let him buy fresh food, even if it did cost a bit more for him, and his old supply shop had even given him a half-way decent deal on used equipment, even if the quality was bad. Neither were friendly nor treated him like a customer, they were mostly professionally indifferent, looking through him when he paid and not even registering his appearance. It was one of the reasons he'd switched to Urahara's and the Ten Point shop so quickly, a little bit of extra walking was worth not being treated like a leper.
Yūgao nodded her head in thought; Naruto's old apartment complex was located in a relatively old area of Konoha, one that was also damaged badly in the Kyūbi attack. Most of the stores and residences there were owned and operated by old Konoha residents, people's whose families had lived in the Leaf for generations, and people who'd lost a great deal during the Kyūbi attack, meaning the negative attitude toward the boy would have been stronger there than in other areas. The Hokage probably hadn't realized this, setting Naruto up there since it was the closest residential area to the Hokage's Tower and Mansion and one of the best protected.
Deciding to help nip this problem for her sensei's son she spoke calmly and softly, "Naruto I know you've had a number of bad experiences with other places, but not all the merchants in Konoha are like that. I personally know the owner of this restaurant and she'd never treat you wrongly just because of the fox."
"Really?" questioned the blonde softly.
"You have my word." assured Yūgao. "After today it's going to be a special project of mine to show you to some of the better places in Konoha, places that will treat you with the respect you deserve. Since our team will be eating out nearly every day for a few months that shouldn't be a problem. If you'd like, some day after training I'd be glad to show some of the shops as well." she offered.
Naruto smiled a little at that. "I'd like that sensei."
"Good." stated the purple-haired kunoichi, returning the smile, "Now let's not keep your teammates waiting."
Inside, the restaurant itself was fairly small, with only about a dozen tables and a small bar/counter separating the dining area from the kitchen. Naruto and Yūgao quickly found the remaining two members of their team sitting at a small table near the counter. Joining them they were soon greeted by a call of "Yūgao!"
Turning to the caller the three genin found a woman who looked to be slightly older than their sensei. She stood about the same size as Yūgao at about 5'6" or maybe 5'7" with dark black hair worn in a low ponytail held by a white scrunchy. She was dressed in a long-sleeved shirt with red sleeves and shoulder and the rest in white, black pants, and an apron.
Yūgao rose and greeted the woman with a warm smile. "It's good to see you again Ikumi." Turning her attention to her students Yūgao introduced her. "Everyone this is Ikumi Unagiya, the owner and head chef of this restaurant and an old friend of mine." turning to Ikumi she introduced her students. "Ikumi these are my students; Shikamaru Nara, Hinata Hyūga, and Naruto Uzumaki."
"Uzumaki?" muttered Ikumi as she studied Naruto for an instant, making the blonde slightly uncomfortable, before a grin crossed her face. "So you're Kushina's kid, well it's nice to finally meet you Naruto-kun, and the rest of you as well."
Noting Naruto's confused expression, Yūgao decided to explain. "Ikumi's family were some of the refugees from the fall of Uzushio, and your mother and her family did a lot of work helping the refugees that arrived here. Offering aid and helping fund those who needed help getting on their feet again. The name Uzumaki, as well as Kurosake and Ishida, are still very respected by many of those families."
Ikumi nodded her head. "Yeah, though I was way too young to remember anything about Uzushio, my folks told me a lot about it. Before the civil war my family was just a small ninja family without any major ties to any of the three clans, so we had no real stake in the civil war, so after it started getting really bad my family decided to leave."
"T-Three clans, what are those?" questioned Hinata curiously.
"Back in Uzushio there were three major clans that ran the village through a triumvirate council. These three clans, the Kurosaki, the Ishida, and the Kariya, were all direct descendants of the village's founder, a man once called the Shinigami no Gongen (Avatar of the Death God) who was believed to have rivaled even the legendary Rikudō Sennin (Sage of Six Paths) in power. Most of the other shinobi clans were related to them in some way or shape, some of them even held altered or mutated versions of their kekkai genkai." explained Ikumi as Yūgao returned to her seat.
"Mutations?" questioned Shikamaru. He'd never heard of a kekkai genkai mutating.
"Hai, the bloodlines of all three clans, the Kurosaki's Zanpakutō (Soul Cutting Sword), the Ishida's Kuinshī (Monk of Destruction), and the Kariya's Dōru (Doll), were quite unique. I guess the best way to describe them would be…genetically unstable I guess. Every once in a while someone in one of the clans would be born with a unique bloodline, something that was different in some major way than the original bloodline. Usually these unique bloodlines would disappear after a generation or two, either reverting back to the original bloodline or disappearing entirely, but occasionally they'd start to breed true. All three clans allowed the holders of these unique bloodlines to form their own clans that were still related and protected to their ancestor's clan. These clans, called Child Clans, were basically branches of the main clans, giving them full rights but still under the authority of the main clan." explained Ikumi. "When the civil war between the Ishida and Kurosaki started, with the Kariya soon joining in, most of the Child Clans sided with their parents. Those of us without any ties to any of the major clans were soon caught in the middle, either forced to take a side or maintain a careful neutrality. Many of them, including my family, fled during the height of the civil war and the majority of us ended up here in Konoha. Others started to flow in a few at a time as the civil war ended and Uzushio was invaded."
"S-So are there a l-lot of former Uzushio s-shinobi now living i-in Konoha?" asked Hinata
"Not really. Uzushio was a small village and, unlike here in Konoha, civilians weren't encouraged to enter the shinoibi ranks, so most of the shinobi in Uzushio were related to one of the three clans or their branch families and child clans. Even with a few of the main clan members joining us, there were less than fifty of us living here when Uzushio was destroyed. Now I only think there are only two or three dozen families here with any blood ties to Uzushio." answered Ikumi with a slight shrug. "But enough history, what'll you four have today?"
"I'd recommend the Donburi (AN: A traditional Japanese dish consisting of an oversize bowl of rice covered in a savory stew made from a variety of ingredients). It's Ikumi's specialty and the best thing on the menu here." suggested Yūgao. "I'll personally have a Gyūdon (beef and onion on rice) with miso soup."
"I-I'll have Oyakodon (simmered chicken, egg and onion on rice) and some red bean soup p-please." asked Hinata.
"Tekkadon (thin-sliced raw tuna over rice) and miso." muttered Shikamaru
"I guess I'll try the Katsudon (breaded deep-fried pork cutlets, onion, and egg on rice) with red bean soup as well." ordered Naruto.
"Coming right up."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Training Ground 19, Two hours later)
After finishing lunch and completing another D-rank mission, this one with far less complaining for Naruto, Team 8 returned to their training ground. As the three Genin gathered in the center their sensei decided to pop a question. "Alright, now can you three tell me what the three most basic shinobi disciplines are?" asked Yūgao as she turned to regard her students.
All three students were a little surprised by the sudden question. Shikamaru was the first to recover and answered, "Taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu."
Yūgao nodded her head. "Correct, those three disciplines are the bare essentials for the shinobi. Taijutsu allows any shinobi to fight opponents who gets to close without the need for chakra or other outside implements. Ninjutsu allow shinobi to wield there chakra as a tool or a weapon. And Genjutsu allows a shinobi to deceive and manipulate an opponent using their chakra. There are dozens of other fields ranging from weapons training, to fūinjutsu (sealing techniques), to iryōjutsu (medical techniques); but those three are viewed as the core disciplines. Do any of you know why?"
When her three students shook their heads Yūgao continued. "It is because of their versatility. There are hundreds if not thousands of styles of taijutsu, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Taijutsu also allow shinobi to fight without their chakra or any other tools other than their own bodies. Ninjutsu is even broader than taijutsu, with millions of different jutsu existing in this world. They can be used to attack, defend, or perform hundreds of auxiliary tasks ranging from spying and reconnaissance, to capturing and containing, to building or defending fortifications. Finally, genjutsu is a tool of deception and manipulation. While not as broad a subject as taijutsu or ninjutsu, genjutsu allows a shinobi a large array of abilities and capitalizes on the ninja's greatest weapon: deception."
Yūgao smiled at her students. "For the next three hours we'll be focusing on improving these three principles, one hour working on each, starting with genjutsu. Genjutsu is created when a ninja extends their chakra flow through the cerebral nervous system of their opponent to control their mind's chakra, thereby affecting their five senses. Now even the most basic genjutsu requires excellent chakra control, and since some of our team lacks that degree of control," Naruto blushed a bit at that while his teammates chuckled and giggled good-naturedly, "we'll instead start by learning how to cancel or counter them. Now there are several options available to combat genjutsu.
"The first option is for a ninja to stop the flow of chakra in their body, and then apply an even stronger power to disrupt the flow of the caster's chakra; this is called Kai (Release). This can also be done by an unaffected ninja by applying a sudden surge of chakra into the affected person. However Kai can be difficult to apply directly and quickly unless a ninja has good chakra control.
"The second option is through intense pain not caused by the genjutsu and utilizing the resulting pain to bring their senses back in order. While more effective and quicker than using Kai, this method runs the risk of further weakening or injuring a shinobi in a combat situation.
"A third option is to expel a large amount of chakra throughout the body in a single moment, dispersing the foreign chakra with it; this is called Hahen (Shatter). While highly effective against most genjutsu types and easier to use, Hahen is extremely draining on the chakra supply compared to Kai. It is specifically designed for those with large chakra reserves and was actually first designed and used by the Kurosaki clan." that caught Naruto's interest.
"Now first I want all three of you to start practicing it before we start officially training. Shikamaru and Hinata, I want you two to practice Kai, Naruto you practice Hahen." instructed Yūgao
For the next hour the students practiced their respective techniques, with Yūgao testing them near the end by applying a weak genjutsu on each in order to test if they could break it yet using their respective techniques. Hinata and Shikamaru both managed to break theirs using Kai, and Naruto was able to break his using Hahen.
"All right, that's enough genjutsu practice for one day. Now to give your chakra reserves a little time to replenish we'll be working on taijutsu. To start off I'd like to watch the three of you spar. First Naruto and Hinata get into the center of the field and be ready to start on my mark." instructed Yūgao.
Both teens nodded and headed to the center of the training field. As both settled into starting positions Naruto gave Hinata a grin and said, "Good luck Hinata-chan, let's give this our best."
Hinata blushed but nodded her head, "Y-You too, N-Naruto-kun."
"Hajime!" shouted Yūgao as the match officially began.
Naruto decided to start the fight, rushing forward and aiming a powerful jab at Hinata's chest. Hinata quickly ducked and spun around avoiding the strike, before jumping back as Naruto continued the assault with a sweeping kick. Naruto quickly launched after her, firing a barrage of punches, which Hinata always seemed to dodge or sidestep, though the girl seemed reluctant to strike back. After side-stepping a punch to the stomach Hinata finally began her counterattack, grabbing the extended arm with one hand while launching a spear-hand at Naruto's exposed shoulder with the other.
Naruto hissed in pain as the strike landed on his shoulder before he felt his entire arm begin to go numb. However, Hinata's attack had left her slightly off-balance, which he used to his advantage as he launched a low kick at the girls left leg, striking it just above her ankle and knocking the girl completely off balance. Taking full advantage of his opponent's momentary imbalance, Naruto reversed her grip on his wrist and executed a judo throw, sending the girl flying onto her back in front of him. Naruto quickly bent down raising his good limb in preparation for a finishing blow, stopping just above the girl's head.
"Enough." called Yūgao. "Winner: Naruto. Good fight the both of you."
Naruto quickly regained his feet while offering his good arm to Hinata to help the fallen girl up, which Hinata blushingly accepted. As the two headed back to their sensei, Naruto attempted to flex his injured arm, causing him to hiss as white-hot pain surged through it.
Hearing her crush hiss in pain, Hinata was instantly mortified. "I-I'm s-s-so s-sorry N-Naruto-kun. I-I didn't m-mean to h-hurt you." she apologized frantically, as she reached into her pocket and removed a container of her healing cream, before she began to apply it to Naruto's shoulder where she'd scored her hit.
Naruto sighed in relief as the cool feeling of the cream took effect. "Don't worry about it Hinata-chan. It wouldn't be real practice if there wasn't some risk of either of us getting hurt. You were great out there by the way. The way you dodged nearly everything I threw at you was something else." praised the blonde.
Hinata blushed scarlet at her crush's praise. "T-Thank you, N-Naruto-kun, but I-I s-still lost." she stated slightly sadly. While losing to her crush was less damaging to her already low self-esteem, she'd still lost.
Naruto wrapped his recovering arm around her shoulder and gave it a friendly squeeze. "Don't worry about that. In case you've forgotten I used to lose in the sparing matches at the Academy all the time. When it comes to sparring, winning isn't everything; getting back up and figuring up why you lost is just as important. I'm sure you'll be even better next time."
Hinata's blush seemed to deepen, both at her crush's encouragement and his close, physical contact. She smiled warmly at him. "T-Thank y-you Naruto-kun."
As the two reached Yūgao she gave them both a nod, "Fairly impressive, the both of you. You both seem to have a good grasp of your respective styles and can use them fairly effectively, though you both have your faults." appraised the former Anbu as she turned her attention to Hinata. "Hinata your defense is very impressive, as is your agility, but you seem to hesitate before and after attacking leaving you open for counters like the one Naruto performed." Hinata nodded her head in understanding as Yūgao turned her attention to Naruto. "Naruto your problem is just the opposite. You focus too heavily on your offense, lowering your guard when you attack to ensure more power in each move." Naruto nodded. "Now Hinata since you were the less injured in the fight you'll face Shikamaru in a spar, alright."
Both teens nodded and headed to the center of the field. Hinata once again fell into her Jūken stance while Shikamaru fell into a lazy Academy stance.
"Hajime." shouted Yūgao.
The two stood in position for several moments before Hinata actually decided to start their match. Moving forward quickly Hinata aimed a palm strike at her opponents stomach. Shikamaru barely managed to leap out of the way of the sudden strike. He then attempted to counter with a hook, only for Hinata to bob out of the way before launching a strike of her own into the boy's stomach, causing him to stumble back. Shikamaru barely had enough time to recover his guard before Hinata was back in front of him and launched a roundhouse kick at the boy's head. Shika barely managed to raise his forearm to block the blow, forcing Hinata back. The young Nara rushed forward, aiming a jab at the girl's face, but Hinata easily ducked under it and launched a sweep kick that knocked him off his feet. An instant later Hinata was on top of him, hand raised to strike.
"Enough." called Yūgao. "Winner: Hinata, good match." When the two returned Yūgao first focused on Hinata. "Good work Hinata. That was a bit better than last time. Keep it up." she praised, getting a light blush and a smile from her female student. Turning her attention to Shikamaru she stated bluntly. "While your overall skills aren't bad Shikamaru you lack an effective style. That's not surprising consider your family tends to focus more on ninjutsu and strategy than taijutsu, but we're going to need to correct that. No matter how good your techniques or strategies there's always a chance an opponent can break through." she instructed, getting a slow nod accompanied by a sigh and a muttered 'troublesome.'
The rest of the hour was spent going through different practice routines and training exercises for taijutsu, from punching logs to dodge and blocking training.
"For ninjutsu practice we're going to work on improving your elemental affinities. To do this I'll be teaching you each a form of elemental training exercise." explained Yūgao as her students once more gathered around her.
"What do they do sensei?" asked Naruto.
"Elemental training exercises help improve your ability to mold chakra into your natural elements, thus improving the effectiveness of any elemental ninjutsu you know or learn. I'm not teaching you any of those until you've showed at least a basic proficiency with your own elemental exercises. Also the exercises are helpful for later in your career since they're a part of the first step in training for gaining a secondary elemental affinity." answered Yūgao, before she continued. "Now how about I show you one just for a demonstration?" she asked, getting nods from all three of her students.
"Alright, since I'm the only Fire affinity on our team I guess I'll show you the most basic exercise for that." she stated before she picked up a leaf from a nearby bush and held it between her index and ring fingers. "This is the most basic of Fire exercises: Leaf Burning." she stated, and in an instant the entire leaf was engulfed in flames, turning to ashes in an instant. "It works by channeling your chakra into the leaf before forcing it to raise its temperature causing it to ignite." she explained before picking up another leaf
"Now, the next exercise I'll show you is yours Shikamaru. Even though I'm not an Earth element myself, as a former member of Anbu I've been trained to at least know the basics for wielding all five elements in order to understand how they work and how to counter them. For Earth the most basic exercise is called Leaf Crumbling." Yūgao placed the leaf in the palm of one hand before overlaying it with her other. "In order for this exercise to work you focus your chakra into the leaf before condensing it slowly inward. This will cause the leaf to dry and crumble into dust." she finished as she removed her hand, showing only a damaged leaf with several holes and a small amount of dust. "Since Earth isn't my element I wasn't able to accomplish it completely, but you should be able to fully destroy the leaf with enough practice."
Picking up another leaf she continued. "The next one applies to both of you; Naruto, Hinata. This is the most basic exercise for Water elements: Water Gathering." she stated placing the leaf in the palm of one hand while holding the other slightly above it. "For this exercise you once again focus chakra into the leaf, but instead of compressing it, you spread it, using it to connect one palm to the other and draw out the water in the leaf." she explained as several large droplets of water seemed to leave the leaf and flow above it, leaving only a dried husk. Picking up another leaf Yūgao started on the next element.
"Like Earth, I'm not a Wind element, but I know more than a little bit about it considering my fiancé is one. For Wind the most basic exercise is called Leaf Cutting." she stated once more placing the leaf in her palm and covering it with the other. "For this exercise you once again send your chakra into the leaf and then begin to force the chakra to grind against itself, cutting through the leaf." she explained as she revealed her hands again, showing a small tear that had formed near the northern edge of the leaf.
"Now, Lightning is an element that you don't need a leaf or anything else for the first exercise. Instead it requires only two fingers." explained Yūgao as she held up her two index fingers and held them slightly apart. "By gathering chakra into the tip of each finger and then vibrating it to produce an electric charge, you can create a current between the two." Instantly a pair of thick beams electricity began to spark to life between Yūgao's exposed index fingers. "This is the most basic Lightning exercise: Current Generation."
"Now each of you get started. Oh and Naruto, I'd advise you to pick an element and focus on it for today, before switching to another one during our next training periods." instructed Yūgao.
The next hour passed and all four students managed to make some progress on their elements. Shikamaru had managed to dry out the tip of his leaf, Hinata had managed to pull out the tiniest drop of water from hers, and Naruto, who'd decided to start with Wind, had managed to make a small incision on the edge of his.
"Alright you three that's enough." stated Yūgao after an hour passed. "You've all made good progress for your first day. Remember even the most basic of these exercises are incredibly advanced and will take a great deal of time and effort to master. Now for the next three hours I'm going to be separating you into two groups. One of you will work with me, while the other two perform an exercise I've assigned to you."
"First Hinata you're with me. Shikamaru your job is to teach Naruto how to play shogi. After he's got the basics you two are to play for the remainder of the hour until I come to get you for the next part of training." she said indicating a nearby board. Shikamaru's face actually formed a small grin as he led a groaning blonde to the nearby game board.
As the two boys left, Yūgao turned her attention to her female student. "Now Hinata, for our training I'm going to help you improve and customize the Jūken to better fit your own style, as well as help you prepare some more advanced techniques."
"U-Um Y-Yūgao-s-sensei." muttered Hinata quietly, her face downcast and worried.
"Yes Hinata." inquired Yūgao.
"H-Hyūga tradition f-frowns on altering the J-Jūken or on l-learning any other t-techniques outside of it." whispered the girl softly.
Yūgao smiled at her young student and decided now was a time to take action. "Hinata you said that it was your dream to reunite the two branches of the Hyūga clan, correct?"
"H-Hai." muttered the girl softly.
"In order to do that you're going to have to destroy a number of the old traditions of the Hyūga clan, and we both know a number of members will be against it. In order to accomplish your dream you must become stronger, and what better way than by defying another of the old traditions that have held your family back?"
"E-Excuse me?" asked a clearly shocked Hinata.
"The Jūken is an excellent style, but it is not perfect. It lacks a great deal of ranged attack power and is not suited for every fighter. By breaking this tradition you can show that the old traditions are holding the Hyūga back instead of helping them. If you become strong enough to prove that point it will certainly help you accomplish your dream." explained Yūgao.
Hinata looked down in thought for a few minutes, before she looked back up at Yūgao, determination clear in her eyes. "T-Then let us begin, s-sensei." she stated
"Good girl." stated Yūgao proudly, a small smile forming on her face.
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(1 hour later)
"Man this is so boring." muttered Naruto as he moved a piece on the shogi board.
"Quit your complaining you troublesome blonde." muttered Shikamaru as he move a piece of his own, capturing the blonde's silver general with his gold one. "Shogi is a good game and it's even useful for training purposes."
"Really? For what?" questioned the blonde as he used his lance to capture Shikamaru's gold general.
"Strategy training." grunted Shikamaru as he studied the pieces. "Shogi is an old strategy game; generals have used it for centuries to hone their tactical expertise without risking troops or wasting resources in war games. You're actually surprisingly good at it, by the way." he finished offhandedly as he moved another piece.
"Thanks, I guess." responded the blonde as he moved a piece of his own.
"Tsumi (Checkmate)." stated Shikamaru as he moved his rook, completely boxing in the blonde's king.
"Crap, that's like what? Three, maybe four, losses in less than an hour, I thought you said I was good." muttered the blonde.
"Considering you lost in less than five minutes in our first game but managed to last nearly twenty in this one with less than an hour's experience. I'd call that impressive you troublesome blonde." muttered Shikamaru in response as he moved to reset the board.
"That's enough you two. It's time to switch. I'll stay here with Shikamaru. Naruto you and Hinata go back to the main clearing and start sparring again. Take a brief break between each set to help analyze and improve each other's technique."
"Gotcha." agreed the blonde as he rose up and stretched before walking with Hinata toward the designated area.
"Now Shikamaru." stated Yūgao "You and I are going to work on your tactics. You've got a lot of natural talent as a strategist, but you lack the experience to put it to good work. I'm going to help you with that. We'll be going over old battles and analyzing their strategies, as well as playing a few strategy games."
Shikamaru simply nodded.
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(1 hour later)
Naruto dodged to the side, barely avoiding a falling heel kick from Hinata. Spinning the blond launched a reverse roundhouse kick of his own at the girl's side, only for her to catch and block it with a forearm and launch her own strike at his chest. Naruto shifted his weight backward, performing a quick backflip in order to avoid the blow. Landing in a crouch he launched a low kick to offset the girl's balance. Unfortunately, Hinata had been moving forward at the time, causing her forward momentum to pitch her forward into the blonde and knock them both over.
The end result found the two in a very…compromising position. Hinata was lying on top of Naruto, her hands framing his head as she tried to catch herself, his hands resting on her hips, the result of a futile attempt to catch her, and both their faces barely an inch apart. The two stayed like that for several seconds, both embarrassed beyond belief.
Naruto was blushing deep red as a stray thought entered his mind. 'Wow, Hinata-chan's really soft and she smells…nice.'
Meanwhile, in the back of Hinata's mind a tiny voice was yelling at her. 'KISS HIM! Kiss him now you fool! It's the perfect chance. Come on! Just do it.' the voice urged.
Before Hinata could decide whether to give in to the voice in her mind a new one cut in, this one decidingly real.
"I hope we're not interrupting anything you two." stated Yūgao, her amusement easily discernible. It didn't help that Shikamaru was behind her chuckling.
The two were instantly separated, both radiating blushes that could make a tomato jealous.
"Nothing happened." stated the blonde, his blush nearly matching Hinata's for once
"I'm sure." stated Yūgao drolly. "Now if you two are done, it's time to move on. Hinata you and Shikamaru head up to the northern area of the training ground. There's a few target practice dummies there. I want the two of you to work on your accuracy and throwing power, while Naruto and I stay her." she instructed. Both teens nodded and left. Turning her attention to her blonde student Yūgao stated. "Okay Naruto, we're going to work on improving your kenjutsu abilities today." she stated with a grin as she drew her katana off her back.
"Great." grinned the blonde as he drew his own sword off his waist.
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(1 hour later)
Naruto and Yūgao rejoined Hinata and Shikamaru after an hour and shortly after the four were once again gathered at the center of their training ground. It seemed that Yūgao-sensei had one final announcement before ending their training for the day.
"Alright everyone, all three of you did great today. Now this is going to become our regular training schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I've got something different planned. On each of those days after missions you'll each head off to individual training programs for the rest of the day."
Starting with Hinata she started. "Hinata, on Tuesday you'll be working at the hospital as part of the medic-nin training program. Just go to the front desk and show your ninja registration and they'll assign you a trained medic-nin who'll you'll work with that day or who'll teach you. On Thursday you'll be training with your father. I've already set it up so he'll be waiting for you at the clan compound."
Hinata nodded her head in understanding.
Turning to Shikamaru, "Shikamaru, you'll be working with me on Tuesdays to help develop your taijutsu abilities. It's pretty clear they're your biggest weak point right now, and I already have a style decided to teach you. On Thursdays you'll be training with your clan in their specialty ninjutsu. And before you get any smart, lazy-ass ideas, I've already spoken with your mother and she promised to personally ensure that you actually train."
Shikamaru groaned and let loose another. "Troublesome."
Finally focusing on Naruto, "Naruto, I've arranged for you to train with a couple of people who've gone through Ishida and Kurosaki combat training. On Tuesdays and Thursdays you're to head to the Urahara Shop. Kisuke Urahara, who I understand you've already met, along with Yoruichi and Tessai have agreed to help you train in the Kurosaki clan's fighting techniques. Back in Uzushio, Kisuke was considered a master of Zanjutsu, while Tessai is a Kidō master and Yoruichi is a specialist in Hohō and Hakuda. I also believe Ryūken has agreed to stop by on occasion to offer some training in the more advanced Ishida clan techniques and tools."
Naruto gave her a broad excited grin.
"Now on Saturdays we'll be having a half-day. Show up same time as usual, but instead of missions we'll be doing some teamwork exercises like we did before, before ending early. Sunday's your day off. Take the time to rest and recuperate." finished Yūgao calmly. "Now that's it for today. Go home, get some rest, and I'll see you all tomorrow.
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END CHAPTER 10
ANNOUNCEMENT / ANNOUNCEMENT / ANNOUNCEMENT
I'm starting a new poll on my profile soon. Its purpose will be to decide on the ninth of my original Zanpakutō.
I am now taking submissions from other authors who wish to submit their own ideas. I've already acquired two and have a couple ideas of my own. There are a few rules listed below:
No Elemental Zanpakutō focusing on the elements of: Fire, Water, Wind, Ice, or Lightning. Any other element is acceptable but I've already created Zanpakutō for those five.
2) All ideas must be original, No requesting Zanpakutō from the canon story. Zanpakutō used in other fanfics are acceptable as long as the author is the one submitting.
To submit your idea include it in either a Review or a PM to me. All submissions should include:
1) Basic Shikai and/or Bankai Appearance.
2) Basic idea of abilities in either or both forms.
Doesn't require but can include an idea for the sword spirit.
HOPE TO HEAR SOME INTERESTING SUGGESTIONS
UNTIL THEN
READ AND REVIEW