Chapter Eleven: Learning in the Land of Waves.
The two guardsmen yawned as the looked up at the sunset, "Man, how much longer till we can swap shifts?" the one on the Left asked as he looked to the east.
The one on the Right reached into his pocket and pulled out a watch, "Only one more hour. The others should be swapping out with the scouts up top about now." he replied as he put his watch away.
Left nodded and stretched before freezing still, "Wait, did you hear that?" he asked suddenly.
Right raised a brow, "Hear what?" he asked as he stood defensively.
The two Thugs stayed quiet as they stepped forward and looked around carefully, both of them jolting to the west as they squinted to see through the glare of the setting sun.
A tiny puppy yelped as it chased a small butterfly through the field joyfully, making Left laugh for a moment as Right sighed and relaxed as he turned to look away from his partner, "This is stupid, ever since that attack last night we've had to stay on alert, but I really doubt with Choseki here that we'll be attacked." Right said.
Left shrugged, not noticing as a figure suddenly blurred into existence between the two of them from a perfected shunshin, "Yeah, but since Gantetsu left Choseki seems less... I dunno... threatening." he said with another yawn.
Right nodded as he continued watching the puppy disappear in the distance before it suddenly turned to them and looked right behind them.
Right and Left turned to look between them as the silhouetted figure flipped into the air, it's leg snapping out to kick Left straight up into the air while it's fist punched Right out of the clearing and into the forests surrounding them.
Naruto landed and cracked his knuckles while staring up, 'Okay, so according to Hinata there's a trap for this fake door before I can get to the entryway. Then the real door should be blocked off by a completely stocked liquor cabinet behind the bar.' he thought as he took a few steps back and began to form hand seals.
Left fell down from the sky with a loud scream, alerting everyone in the tower to the presence of someone before Naruto kicked his descending ass, smashing through the fake door and letting Left take the deadly trap for him while clearing the way.
Naruto brought his hands together in his last seal before his cheeks bulged, "FIRE STYLE: HALO FLAME!" he shouted as he spat out a halo of red fire.
The thugs inside scrambled as Naruto's jutsu hit the highly flammable cabinet, exploding outwards and covering the entire half of the room in fire along with most of the people inside.
Naruto leapt in through the gap and his Uzugan span as he ducked and weaved through the attacks of three men with long-swords. He stepped forward suddenly, blocking one sword with his Chakra Scalpel and parrying it in a way to block the other two blades, letting him step to the trio's side so that from his perspective they were lined up, "SOLID GOLD FIST!" Naruto shouted as he slammed a punch into the man closest to him.
All three went flying away to slam into the railing at the bottom of the stairwell. Smashing wood in front of the next five men that ran down fully armed, 'All swords, no chakra, looks like this Choseki guy is getting rid of his lackeys first.' Naruto thought as he stepped back and crunched his knuckled, "Come on then!" he exclaimed with a grin.
The five men shouted as they began to charge forward.
"Hey brat! How's it goin?"
Naruto faltered as Anko's voice distracted him, making him hesitate and nearly get slashed before he quickly regained control of the situation and threw one man into the open fires and entered a stand off with the last four.
He raised an arm to the button on his earpiece, "A little busy Anko-sensei, so far so good, how are the others?" he asked.
"They're going with the stealthy approach, remember that this ninja might run so don't let him get away."
Naruto nodded, "Hai Sensei, over and out." he said just before getting stabbed.
POOF
The man gasped as he managed to only pierce a log, letting Naruto leap out from behind the group while forming hand seals with a kunai in hand, "FIRE STYLE: HALO DANCE!" he shouted as his kunai combusted with fire.
The four men turned to him as he began to slash his flaming blade through the air, launching three blades of fire that managed to kill two of the men and set one of the final two on fire. Naruto leapt forward at the last thug as he threw his still flaming kunai at the burning man.
Naruto and the last thug locked in a strength struggle, Naruto's Chakra Scalpel holding off the longsword quite easily as Naruto watched his thrown kunai hit home, planting itself up to the handle into the other thug's sternum before Naruto locked eyes with his one enemy.
The last thug gasped as Naruto suddenly appeared behind him in a burst of motion, shaking the blood from his hand as the man's side opened in a bloody gash thanks to Naruto's chakra scalpel.
Naruto looked up with his Uzugan, seeing a chakra signature two floor above him, 'There should be another twelve or so thugs left along with the ninja,' he thought as he lowered his stance and gathered his chakra and strength, 'Let's see if I can lower those numbers.' he thought as he turned to the supporting wall across the centre of the room.
Naruto leapt forward as he reared back his fist, "SOLID GOLD FIST!" Naruto shouted as he punched the wall.
Naruto looked up as the wall crumble and the whole construct began to shake. He clapped his hands together in a Ram Seal before disappearing in a blur.
##########
Cerberus looked up as Naruto appeared in front of him in a crouch, "Arf!"
Naruto smirked at the puppy before looking up as he watched the building from the side of the clearing. It collapsed loudly, resulting in a large pile of rubble and screams.
Naruto's eyes quickly analysed the pile, noticing that not a single one of the thugs had made it out safely, the four that were alive screaming over having crushed limbs and body parts. But standing at the back of formation, having leapt from the window as the building collapsed.
Naruto and Choseki stood in a silent stare off before the missing ninja from Iwagakure began to form hand seals. Naruto clapped his hands together as his enemy shouted out, "EARTH STYLE: ROCK PELLETS!"
Naruto's Uzugan let him copy the jutsu and read the trajectory as he raced between the pellets in the Jutsu with his high speed shunshin, dodging every single one before he used his strength to catch one out of the air a second before he came to a stop in front of his enemy, slamming the rock into his shoulder and collarbone, shattering it painfully before he stepped away from his enemy and reactivated his Chakra Scalpels.
Choseki shouted in pain and fell back, pulling out a kunai with his working arm as he stood defensively as he began to edge away, "S-stay back!" the man ordered.
Naruto smirked, "Tell me everything you know about Gato's plans." Naruto demanded.
Choseki shouted angrily and slashed at Naruto, the blonde raising his arm in time to cut the man's hand off at the wrist and stop the threat completely. Choseki screamed in pain and shock as he fell back, his arms useless in a fight and leaving him open for Naruto's final attack.
Choseki gasped, pausing his scream as Naruto gripped his forehead so that his fingers were digging into the sides of his forehead, "MEDIC STYLE: NEURO-SURGE!" Naruto shouted as some of the bio-electricity from Naruto's nervous system was supercharged and channelled into Choseki's body, causing the ex-Iwa nin to convulse for a few moments before he was forcefully pushed into a temporary coma.
Naruto panted for a moment before steadily his breath and kneeling next to his captive, healing his stump and the wounds on his body before severing his spinal cord just above the tail bone, rendering his legs useless before Naruto formed hand seals, "SUMMONING JUTSU!"
POOF
Kaze arrived majestically, fluttering her wings out to dispel the cloud of smoke in a single soft breeze before looking down at Naruto, "Hey Kaze," he said as he tossed his prisoner onto Kaze's back and hopped on backwards as he grabbed some rope, only pausing when Kaze neighed at him, "Just a sec, I have to tie him up just in case." Naruto said as he did so.
Kaze began to trot off as Naruto finished and got comfortable in his saddle.
"Arf! Arf!" Cerberus barked up at Naruto and the pegasus.
Kaze raised a brow at the puppy before she lowered her head and picked up the puppy by the collar and placed it on her outstretched wing, Cerberus was suddenly quiet as it focussed intently on walking to Naruto.
Naruto chuckled as he sat Cerberus between his legs, letting one hand hold him as his other hand entwined in Kaze's mane, "Thanks Kaze, how's it going?" Naruto asked.
Kaze chirped, 'Alright I guess, though I was actually heading out to get some food when you summoned me.'
Naruto chuckled, "Sorry about that, what is it that you eat anyway?" Naruto asked.
The Pegasus stood tall, 'Well, you know how there are predatorial birds that eat other birds and eggs?' she asked.
"Yeah." Naruto said with a frown, not sure he was liking where this was going.
Kaze trotted as if proud, 'We hunt the hunters. After all, what other animals could get to them up in the sky?' she asked rhetorically before stopping in a clear area at the edge of the clearing, 'Now, where are we going?' she asked.
Naruto took his hand from Cerberus as he pressed the button on his earpiece, "Target confirmed and captured, pick you up at the rendezvous point?" Naruto asked.
"Pick me up?" Anko's voice rang into his ear.
Naruto blinked before leaning forward, "Hey Kaze, can you carry a third person?" he asked.
Kaze nearly squawked as if offended, 'Easily! I could lift a house into the air with me if I wanted, we Pegasi have the strongest wings of all known creatures!' Kaze exclaimed as she widened her wings in pride.
Naruto smirked and clicked the button on his earpiece again, "Yep, just be ready to leap up into the air and make sure you're facing our second rendezvous point." Naruto said.
"Hahaha! Cool! But umm... we should swing by Sasuke and Hinata's tower on the way."
Naruto's eyes narrowed before he leaned forward, "Kaze, let's head west, I'll direct you once we're up." Naruto said as he took a grip of Cerberus and Kaze's mane.
Kaze neighed and in three wing beats they were in the air, flying over the trees back towards the Land of Waves.
After a minute, Naruto looked down to see a small humanoid figure standing atop a destroyed bridge, "There she is!" Naruto exclaimed.
Kaze let out a loud squawk before diving through the air at Anko, alerting the woman who leapt up into the air at the sound.
They swooped under her as Naruto used one hand to hold his puppy and the other to grab Anko's arm to stabilise her. Naruto used his link with Kaze to direct her towards Sasuke and Hinata as he shouted to Anko, "What's the problem?!" Naruto asked.
Anko grinned since she was having fun, "Just get me over the tower, I'll fix this, can you like, get more transport or something?" she asked as she pointed ahead.
Naruto smirked, "I know just the trick!" Naruto exclaimed as they flew through the air.
In only one minute, the tower came into view and they began circling it as Anko stood on Kaze's back, "Be ready for a bang, we have a blast radius to clear." Anko said.
Naruto looked over his shoulder at her, "Blast radius?" he asked.
Instead of answering, Anko swan dove through the air while forming hand seals as she came closer to the tower, "EARTH STYLE: BURROWING PYTHONS!" she shouted as she aimed her hands below her, letting out three pythons from each sleeve that were vibrating at high speed.
Naruto watched as Anko casually drilled through the ceiling, 'Who're you going to bring Naruto?' Kaze asked him mentally.
Naruto smirked as he crossed his fingers in a hand seal, "SUMMONING: SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!" Naruto exclaimed.
POOF
Kaze gasped as she suddenly was beside herself, literally, 'What the heck? I did a clone jutsu!' she exclaimed in thought.
Naruto chuckled as the Kaze clone flew away, bare-backed and ready, "Actually that's a Shadow Clone made of my chakra, but it used your form since it channelled through you," Naruto explained, "Kaa-san taught me this with her slugs ages ago, I just finally have my own partner to use it with. My brain and chakra, your body." Naruto said.
Kaze nodded and began to fly up into the air, "So... that means it can't do your jutsu since it can't make hand seals and it can't do mine because it doesn't know them," Kaze said, "They're just transport?"
Naruto nodded, "Basically..." he began, he was about to add more when the air around them went very still for just a second, "Let's go!" Naruto shouted.
Kaze and the Clone dove through the air as Anko, Sasuke and Hinata leapt out of one of the third storey windows. Clone got under Sasuke as Anko leapt up and managed to hitch a ride as well while Naruto and Kaze dove down behind Hinata, the girl leaping up and locking grips with Naruto as the two pegasi began to fly up into the air.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
Naruto had just pulled Hinata down behind him in time when the building below them exploded from underneath, surprisingly, it completely obliterated the tower and the clearing around it which caved in on itself.
They regrouped in the air, Clone and Kaze circling on opposite sides of each other as Naruto passed Cerberus to Hinata, gaining a confused but amused smile from her as she hugged him around the waist to keep hold.
Naruto raised a hand to his earpiece as he looked over at Sasuke and Anko, "Back to base?"
Anko was riding Clone like Naruto was while Sasuke was standing, using his chakra to hold on tightly as Anko raised her hand to her own earpiece, "Yep, back to Tazuna's for drop off and then we'll havetonight's meeting, lead the way!" Anko said to him.
Naruto nodded and leaned forward, "Let's get going Kaze!" Naruto exclaimed.
Hinata smiled at the puppy that licked her chin before blushing as she gripped Naruto so tightly she could feel his hard muscle, 'Wow...' she thought as she let her arm move up his body to feel his pecs.
Naruto raised a brow at the pressure before chuckling as he tried to focus on directing Kaze around the unfamiliar area, "Head in the game Hinata-chan!" Naruto exclaimed.
Hinata blushed even harder as she buried her face in his back, "Sh-shut up Nii-kun!" she pleaded much to his amusement.
##########
Sasuke covered his mouth as he yawned before looking over his shoulder as Naruto and Hinata came out of Tazuna's house, "All clear, no disturbances. You guys get everything?" Sasuke asked.
They came to his side as Naruto held up three scrolls, "Yep, summaries of each of our tower attacks, captive restrained and nullified, and Anko's message for Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said.
Sasuke nodded before looking to Hinata expecting her to take the lead as usual only to see her distracted by Naruto's new dog, "Are you actually going to keep that?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto nodded, "Of course I am! Cerberus is part of the family now." Naruto said as his dog looked up at hearing it's name be called.
"Arf!" Cerberus barked, making Sasuke sigh before he began to lead the way as Naruto and Hinata fell in line next to each other, "So, what was it that caused that massive explosion?" Naruto asked Hinata.
Hinata blushed again as Naruto addressed her, making his eyes narrow at the observation before she spoke, "Well, I couldn't see it until we had gotten closer, but the basement had an oil well in it that this group of people were beginning to rig up. Sasuke's fires eventually reached it but by then we had already taken most of the tower before we were cornered at the top. Anko-sensei managed to get us an opening that we could flee through and here we are." Hinata explained.
Naruto nodded, "Hmm, interesting." he mumbled.
"And how did your one go?" she asked.
Naruto grinned, "Almost exactly as planned. Even managed to catch the prisoner myself before Anko-sensei and I flew to you guys." Naruto said.
Hinata nodded, proud of her hot brother... she shook her head as she blushed again, looking down at the puppy in her arms even though her Byakugan showed her everything.
Naruto raised a brow at her behaviour before smirking and winking at her, knowing she was watching him since her blush increased even more, causing him to laugh.
"We're supposed to be moving quietly you two," Sasuke said over his shoulder as he paused in his march to wait for them to catch up, his gauntlets shining in the moonlight, "Come on, we're meant to be moving quickly back to Sensei." he said.
The two nodded and began to move alongside him, Naruto glanced down at Sasuke's gauntlets, "So Sasuke... what's the deal with those?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke smirked and raised his gauntlets, one black with gold stripes in colour and the other amber with black stripes, "These gauntlets reflect my tiger partners, one of speed and sound techniques, one of power and fire techniques. Together, they are supposed to resemble their connection to me, their summoning partner." Sasuke explained.
Naruto nodded in interest before glancing to Hinata, checking out her new coat and noticing once more as her blush increased, 'Does she think I'm checking her out?' he thought before glancing at the back of the proud Uchiha's head, 'I thought those two were starting something here...' he thought to himself before shrugging and deciding it doesn't matter, 'To think we've only been here two days and we've done so much, ha!' Naruto thought to himself with a successful grin.
Thirteen minutes later, the group stopped as Hinata gasped, "What is it?" Sasuke asked as he blinked on his Sharingan.
Hinata pointed at a wall, "A block that way there are some men with swords looking towards the town hall just down the road. I.. I think they're about to attack!" she exclaimed before putting Cerberus on the ground and running ahead.
Sasuke and Naruto immediately dashed after her, the blonde tossing his scrolls into the air for a Shadow Clone to catch before it picked up the puppy, "Let's let them handle it." Clone said as it leapt up onto a rooftop and towards the Town Hall.
Hinata stepped out onto the main road as nearly a block away the first of the six men appeared, charging towards the open and welcoming doors of the town hall and the leading two throw grenades ahead of them. She launched her senbon, stabbing the front two of them with a close cluster in their attacking arms.
The swordsmen paused, and Team 7 took action.
Kakashi appeared with his Sharingan glowing, taking absolutely perfect aim and leaping sideways in the air to kick one grenade back out the door and into the window of the abandoned building across the street as he caught the other one and casually using his fingers to pinch the lit fuse, suffocating the flame and putting it out.
BOOM
As the thugs looked at the collapsing building, Naruto appeared behind one of them, punching him into an unconscious state before leaping away as he was attacked by another.
Sasuke's black gauntlet sucked him forward at the speed of sound, "BULLET PUNCH!" Sasuke shouted as his attack instantly shattered the chest of one man before he used his amber gauntlet to enter a power struggle with another's sword.
Hinata ran in quickly at the two she had attacked, landing between them and the doorway as she took her Wing Chun stance, stepping in close and hitting their wrists to parry their sword strikes before she stepped inside on of their guards, putting her back to his chest before she grabbed his arm and knocked them wide, opening his torso up and keeping his back to the second man.
Naruto let his Uzugan swirl as he tested out his new jutsu, "EARTH STYLE: ROCK PELLETS!" Naruto shouted.
The man's sword strike was blocked by a rising stone before he noticed another nine in the air, they shot at him and pummelled his chest and arms as he tried and failed to guard against them, slamming him all the way back so that he'd trip over his unconscious friend and land heavily on his back defeated.
Sasuke used his Sharingan to time his parry perfectly, opening up his final enemy's chest as he sent chakra to the tiger on his amber gauntlet, it's mouth opening and unleashing a fire that wrapped around his fist harmlessly thanks to his control over fire chakra, "FIRE PUNCH!" Sasuke shouted as he punched they guy's chest.
He was thrown back from the explosive and fiery punch, setting him on fire as the impact point left a continuously burning fist into his flesh.
Hinata lined herself up and hit her closer enemy with a painful barrage, making him drop his sword which she grabbed out of the air as she spun and kicked at his knee, knocking him down and opening up her aim to throw the sword so that it stabbed through the second man's stomach all the way up to the hilt.
Hinata swung her guarding arm calmly, parrying the first man's hand as she saw the grenade he had in it, having already lit the fuse as some point before their fight. She flicked out a senbon into the man's forearm, making him drop the grenade as she took him out.
The grenade fell through the air as Hinata turned to it, though to her surprise, the man who she had stabbed with the sword had used the last of his energy to throw himself towards her, making her dodge and step away from the grenade as the fuse got close to the end, 'No!' she thought as her eyes widened.
Kakashi appeared out of nowhere, with little chakra and little time, he punted the grenade as hard as he could, throwing it up into the air and across the street before it exploded.
Naruto had already moved into the doorway to help Hinata when the explosion occurred, Naruto being the closest as he saw the large volume of shrapnel fly towards them all with him being first in line, his Uzugan morphed into the Mangekyou as his chakra flowed out green around him, "SUSANO'O!" Naruto shouted.
Everyone inside the hall and behind Naruto watched as he protected them all, stopping all of the shrapnel that was going to hit the majority of them...
At least, all of those inside.
After defeating his enemies, Sasuke had looked up in time to see the shrapnel grenade explode and Naruto and Hinata in danger, 'No!' Sasuke thought as his Curse Mark sparked to life and he dashed forward.
Sasuke appeared in front of his team, not seeing Naruto's Susano'o activate and cover everyone behind him as he thought only of saving the only precious people he had left.
BOOOM
"""Sasuke!""" Naruto, Hinata and Kakashi exclaimed as they ran forward, Hinata catching Sasuke as Naruto began to form hand seals while Kakashi lifted his headband to see how bad the damage was.
Naruto finished his hand seals as his hands glowed green, "ULTIMATE MYSTICAL PALM HEALING JUTSU!" Naruto exclaimed as he got to work removing the shrapnel from Sasuke.
Hinata took off her headband due to the tears messing with her vision, "Naruto? Will he be okay?" Hinata asked in fear.
Naruto swallowed as he kept working, "I think so... but it won't be without a mark," Naruto said before looking up at Kakashi, "Sensei, go clear the first operation spot, tell Tsunami to get my Medical gear from spot six." Naruto ordered before looking up at Hinata, "Get the carry board."
Kakashi and Hinata ran off and came back moments later with half of one of the old doors, laying it on the ground next to Sasuke as she formed a hand seal, "SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!" she exclaimed as she brought up another clone, the two of them moving around to take either end of the piece of wood.
Naruto paused and began forming another set of hand seals, "I've closed all the wounds around the shards, this'll buy us time to move him, then I'll do one wound at a time, each one should take about four minutes maximum." Naruto said as the Hinatas lifted Sasuke onto the wood and lifted it from either end.
Naruto began to work again as they moved, the majority of the civilians watching as Naruto opened a single wound with his pointer finger and in a single quick burst of blood, the first piece of shrapnel was removed. By the time Hinata had set Sasuke down in the designated spot, Naruto had healed the internal damage and had begun to stitch the wound closed with his chakra, "Tsunami, do you have my things?" he asked before he continued his work, receiving the tools necessary as he tried his best to save his friend.
##########
Five hours later
##########
Naruto sat down on the roof of the Town Hall and closed his eyes as his feet dangled over the edge of the building, 'He might not be the happiest guy in the world, but he's a true friend,' Naruto thought as he remembered Sasuke willing to sacrifice his life to save Naruto and Hinata's, even if it was just a spur of the moment instinct, 'I just hope I did everything right.' he thought as he yawned and leaned back.
Feeling his back thunk against something, Naruto looked over his shoulder to see Hinata sitting there, her headband around her neck as she rested her head against his shoulder, the two of them looking up at the night's sky, "Why are you up here Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked softly.
Hinata smiled softly, "If being with Sasuke helped him at all that's where I'd be, but as his wise doctor said, all he needs is rest," she said before glancing up at him, "And I think you do as well Nii-kun."
Naruto chuckled once at her logic, "Yeah, Sensei said he'll keep watch once we wake him up for the rest of the night..." he began before sighing and just flopping.
Hinata gasped as Naruto fell back on her, the two of them lying down under the moonlight and resting together, close enough that their shoulders were touching.
"...Nii-kun?"
Naruto turned his head to look at Hinata, "Yeah?" he asked.
Hinata rolled over to face him, not minding that she was close enough that he could feel her breath, "You're good at reading people and everything..." she began before sighing, "...What do you see when you look at Sasuke-kun and me?" she asked with a blush.
Naruto smiled, tired but amused, "When I look at you and Sasuke... I see the most inspirational people of our generation," Naruto began, earning a look of curious shock from Hinata, "You both have lost your clans in the worst ways, Sasuke, never able to see them again, and you, reminded that you're not welcome with them every time we see a Hyuuga," Naruto said with a shrug, "And together, I see a slightly unbalanced but happy relationship developing that may become something... I dunno, memorable." Naruto said with a smile.
Hinata smiled as she looked at Naruto, 'I know that I like Sasuke a little... and he does keep showing me his chivalrous side...' she thought before her eyes refocussed on the side of Naruto's face as he looked up at the sky, 'But Nii-kun... if I had started to look at him this way earlier, then I think I might've fallen for him, he is the nicest boy my age in the village.' she thought before sighing and looking up at the sky herself.
Naruto's brow furrowed as he began to think about Sasuke, 'He really needs someone to connect to, and Hinata needs a support in her life. Since that kiss those two accidentally had... well, Sasuke definitely has a thing for Hinata-chan, but... I'm still not sure if his feelings are one hundred percent returned.' Naruto thought before glancing to Hinata slightly, his eyes swirling as he memorised the pretty glow of the moonlight on her pale face. He smiled peacefully for a moment before his eyes slowly closed, his last sight being her turning to face him in the moonlight.
Hearing his breathing even out, Hinata turned her head to look at Naruto only to freeze as she faced him completely. She had turned her head on the right angle, but because of his unexpected proximity, she ended up pressing her lips to Naruto's.
Hinata froze, her lips still pressing against his in a gentle kiss for a moments before she pulled away, her wide eyes staring at his unconscious face as he smiled calmly in his sleep and for the first time she'd seen, he was sleeping without a furrow in his brow.
Hinata slowly moved herself away from Naruto and sat up, raising a hand to touch her lips before she looked at Naruto's.
"Ah here you are," Kakashi said as he walked out of the doorway to the stairwell, noticing the blushing but sitting Hinata looking after the sleeping Naruto, "...and it seems you've taken care of him for me." Kakashi said with an eye smile.
Hinata glanced down at Naruto before looking up at Kakashi, "Taken care of him?" she asked.
Kakashi nodded as he moved over to them, grabbing Naruto's sleeping bag along the way, "I'll keep watch, but I want you to go sleep next to Sasuke for the night, keep an eye on him just in case." Kakashi said.
Hinata nodded silently before she stood, moving over to her own sleeping bag and grabbing it before glancing over her shoulder at the sleeping Naruto as Kakashi covered him with his sleeping bag, '...what the hell am I doing?' she asked herself before going to watch over Sasuke.
##########
Naruto woke with a gasp from his nightmare, recoiling from Kakashi as the Jonin knelt by him, "Naruto, hey, calm down, it was just a dream." Kakashi said as he held his hands up defensively.
Naruto calmed his breathing and nodded, "Yeah, sorry Sensei." he thought before licking his dry lips.
Naruto paused for a moment, 'Why do my lips taste like pineapple?' he thought curiously before shaking his head and shrugging, "What's the plan for today Sensei?" he asked as he glanced over to the rising sun, meaning it had to be around six fifteen in the morning.
Kakashi eye smiled, "Since I spent yesterday training with Sasuke, today I'm going to spend it with you," he said before he stood, "And after I test out that Susano'o of yours, there's something else I plan to start you on." Kakashi said.
Naruto sighed as he stood, "What is it? And shouldn't you be resting Sensei?" he asked.
Kakashi shrugged, "Well, I guess I should, but with Zabuza's blade in our grasp, his own wounds heavy and his assistant's wounds just as bad, I think I can put in a little more effort for one more morning. Then after that, you'll be left to your own devices for the day."
Naruto raised a brow, "Cool, but... can I check on Sasuke first?" Naruto asked.
##########
Sasuke groaned as he woke about an hour after Naruto, he hissed as he felt sharp pangs of pain all over his body, but soon the pain faded and Sasuke opened his eyes to look up at the blurry shapes of Naruto, Hinata and Kakashi.
"Hey Sasuke," Kakashi said with an eye smile, "How ya doin?"
Sasuke scoffed weakly, "I just took a bunch of shrapnel to the entire right half of my body, how do you think I'm doing?" he asked as he rolled into a sitting position with another groan.
Naruto placed a green glowing hand on Sasuke's shoulder, "Well, ya gotta feel better then you look Sasuke." Naruto said with a chuckle.
Sasuke frowned up at Naruto, ready to yell at him before he got a glimpse of his own arm, his eyes widening as he looked down.
Sasuke's whole right side was covered in small scars, none larger then a fingernail and none darker then a freckle, but from the one scratch across his face down to the several on his right shin, he had a wide assortment of scars and marks down his right side and to his shock, three large ones over his lung and dangerously close to his heart, "How... just how close did I come to dying?" he asked softly.
Naruto's smile faltered slightly, "Technically, you did die for a few seconds. Your heart stopped being able to pump your blood but I made it so you could pull through before giving you a little kick-start." Naruto said with a smile.
Sasuke looked down at his hands, realisation moving through him as he realised he really would've died if not for Naruto, "...Naruto..." Sasuke mumbled before looking up at the gennin he thought of as his most respected friend, "I owe you my life, thank you." he said softly.
Naruto blinked before a serious smile came over his face, "You owe me nothing my friend, let's discuss this when we get back to the Leaf village, okay?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke nodded and stood on shaky legs, "Sounds good to me." he said with a smirk before s shirt was shoved in his face.
Sasuke glanced over at the blushing Hinata, the girl's eyes covered again even though her blush was visible due, "Here." she said.
Sasuke took his offered shirt and put it on, "Thanks Hinata-chan." Sasuke said gently.
The moment he finished pulling his shirt on, Hinata hugged him around the chest, "Glad you're okay," she said before letting go and leaving while talking over her shoulder, "I'm going to meet Anko-sensei at the bridge for today's training, by Sensei, Nii-kun." she said as she walked away.
Naruto chuckled as she retreated into the distance, "First things first," Naruto said as he looked up at Kakashi and winked since he already knew the answer, "What's our plans for the day Sensei?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke looked up to Kakashi as the Jonin began speaking, "Well, I think since yesterday I helped out Sasuke and given his injuries, I'm going to be trusting you to keep watch today alright?" Kakashi asked.
Sasuke frowned but nodded, "Do I have any form of back-up?" Sasuke asked.
Kakashi nodded, "Two of Naruto's clones that are working around as medics and Hinata's one clone sitting up top with her Byakugan scanning the immediate area," Kakashi explained, "You're the one in charge now Sasuke, they're under your orders."
Sasuke smirked and nodded as he sat on the edge of the stage, "Got it Sensei," he said before looking at Naruto, "Just because you healed me doesn't mean you're stronger. Try hard for today's training ya hear?" he basically ordered Naruto.
The blonde nodded and chuckled as he turned to walk away, "Alright already," Naruto said as he waved over his shoulder to Sasuke, "Later Uchiha." he said with a hidden smirk.
Sasuke chuckled, "Til next time Senju." he mumbled.
Kakashi chuckled as well as he looked between the two before following after Naruto, having already collected the things he needed for the new training.
##########
Naruto and Kakashi came to a stop behind Tazuna's house, ready to train until the two civilians left inside were ready to head into town. Since Tazuna had already left with Anko not much earlier, it was no surprise to see Tsunami wave to them from the lounge room and Inari not so stealthily watching them from upstairs.
"Naruto, put up your guard." Kakashi ordered as he pulled out two kunai.
Naruto smirked and nodded, concentrating for a moment before his Mangekyou appeared and his Susano'o ribcage solidified around him, "Ready Sensei!" Naruto exclaimed as he nearly pulsed with chakra.
Kakashi looked over the defence, seeing many openings between the ribs. He threw his kunai at full speed at the gap, though as if the ribs were blocking the area, the kunai bounced off harmlessly, "Very good," Kakashi said before lifting his second kunai, revealing the explosive tag wrapped around the handle, "Next test!" Kakashi exclaimed as he threw it.
Naruto smirked and crossed his arms calmly as the explosion didn't even ruffle his hair, the shockwave not getting anywhere near him through the ribcage, "Boring Sensei, either we wait until you can use your stronger techniques to test this out for real or I say we get started on the next challenge!" Naruto exclaimed.
Kakashi chuckled and watched as Naruto calmly let his chakra dissipate before he began panting, 'Amazing, since he's gifted with so much raw chakra he can activate it almost easily... well, I guess it's time to start him on what I had Sasuke start yesterday.' Kakashi thought as he sat down, "Alright Naruto," Kakashi began as he reached into his pouch and pulled out a small slither of paper, "Do you know what this is?" he asked.
Naruto nodded, "From the size and shine of it I'd deduce it's Chakra Paper?" Naruto asked as he sat in front of Kakashi.
The copy ninja nodded, "Yes..." he said softly before tilting his head in thought, "And you know what this is because you've used it before?" Kakashi theorised.
Naruto nodded as he took the offered piece of paper, "Yep, send in some chakra and my natural Wind Element..." Naruto said before the paper cut in half before the two halves exploded into fire, "...And fire apparently." Naruto said in shock.
Kakashi raised a brow, "You mean your Fire signature is new? But... that's obviously your main chakra element with Wind being your secondary..." Kakashi said.
Naruto blinked, "Umm, how can you tell that?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi sighed and gestured to the two small ash piles, "If Wind was your Primary Elemental type then one of the two halves would've been fine, but since both halves burned, that means the Fire Chakra made it through first, making it the Primary and the Wind your Secondary." Kakashi explained before looking at Naruto, "Which by the way is kind of amazing."
Naruto nodded before smirking, 'The Bloodline Inheritance... did that seal align more of me with the standard Uchiha then I thought?' Naruto pondered before fumbling to catch the scroll that Kakashi threw at his chest.
"That scroll," Kakashi began, "Contains one of my least used fire techniques, the Fire Style: Flame Sphere." Kakashi explained as Naruto unravelled the scroll, reading over the jutsu with a smile.
"This looks awesome Sensei!" Naruto exclaimed as he continued reading.
Kakashi eye smiled, "You can study this in your own time after you finish the first two steps. I was amazed by Sasuke, he managed to learn the first step in a single day with both his lightning AND fire chakra since they seemed equal for the most part." he explained.
Naruto frowned as he looked up at Kakashi, "The first step? The first step of what?" he asked.
Kakashi eye smiled as he picked up a leaf, "The first step in mastering control over your elemental chakra; burning this leaf."
##########
"Ready to give it a go Hinata?" Anko asked from her place sitting on top of a bin.
Hinata nodded as she flicked her wrists, taking six senbon into her grip, "Hai Sensei!" she shouted in determination as her chakra flared.
Anko nodded and whistled, suddenly having Mud Clones appearing from the long grass and running around the field as they threw shuriken at her.
Hinata leapt up into the air, dodging the shuriken as she threw her first two senbon, one of them hitting the clone's spine and making the clone jolt before the second senbon hit the base of it's neck, making it paralysed and rendered unconscious before it fell into mud once more.
Hinata landed and sidestepped another shuriken before ducking and throwing two more senbon, hitting the elbow of one and the neck of another, destroying the second but missing the incapacitating hit on the first clone.
Anko smirked as Hinata scowled, 'Since she's missed one now she has to try for up close.' Anko thought as her clones began to charge Hinata.
The ex-Hyuuga leapt forward while launching four senbon at the closer two clones, taking them out before she pulled out another senbon and clashed with the first clone that arrived at her position.
Hinata's eyes analysed the field, one enemy she was clashing with while the last one that she had injured earlier leapt up into the air while throwing shuriken down at Hinata.
Hinata used her height and got inside the closer clone's guard, pulling it so that the shuriken hit the clone before she kicked it's crumbling remains up into the air with a chakra enhanced kick.
The airborne and final Anko faltered as it was covered in mud from the clone, not seeing as Hinata leapt up into the air while launching her last senbon, hitting the clone in the chest, the tiny needle hitting the point where the clone's heart was pierced.
Hinata turned to Anko with a smile as the last clone lost form, "Very good kid, now, wanna get started on that new weapon of yours? Or work on Kakashi's super secret new idea?" Anko asked with a scheming smirk.
Hinata raised a brow, "What's Kakashi-sensei's Idea?" she asked curiously.
Anko grinned, "I was hoping you'd say that!" she exclaimed as she brought out a small piece of Chakra Paper, "Let's get started on your Chakra Element!"
##########
Naruto sat in a meditative state at the end on the bridge, Kakashi in the background watching over Tazuna as the man himself directed the workers and a Naruto clone that was being used instead of their crane.
Naruto breathed deeply, his fists pressed together as he held a leaf between his two thumbs, he looked at himself from his mind's eye, 'seeing' his chakra network in his subconscious and feeling his way through it.
It flowed around corners, between and through muscles, through his bones and pressing against his skin, 'There...' Naruto thought as he found a spark of heat and guided it through his system.
As it flowed, more sparks in his chakra became visible to him. Guiding down his arms, it ignited, fire chakra flowing down his fingers and into the leaf in his grip.
Naruto's eyes snapped open as the leaf combusted, making Naruto smirk as he analysed his chakra's movement, perfecting the skill in moments as Naruto sat forward and put his hands on the pile of leaves in front of him, burning through all of them in a few seconds.
Naruto's smirk grew as he clapped his hands together, making them feel extremely hot before he turned to the small pile of logs he had collected next to him before training. Naruto gripped the log with both hands and focussed as hard as he could, causing smoke to appear as the wood slowly charred between his fingers.
Kakashi watched with a hidden smirk, 'His control sure is incredible, when people say that he and Tsunade have truly perfect chakra control I think they underestimate just how amazing that is.' he thought as Naruto succeeded in mastering the second step on his first try.
Naruto smirked as the log caught fire around his hands – making him glad he had taken off his jacket so that the sleeves didn't catch on fire – meaning he had finished the second step successfully before he picked up the last two logs in one hand each, igniting them in barely twenty seconds before he set them all in a pile in front of him.
Naruto moved his hands through the fire calmly, smirking at the simple skill before looking to to tell Kakashi about his success.
"Very good Naruto," the Jonin said as he knelt next to Naruto, making the blonde grin, "Now I think it's time we try the fourth step of Fire Chakra control." Kakashi said.
Naruto raised a brow at that, "Fourth? I thought all elemental training only had three?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi shrugged, "All necessary elemental training yes, but if one wants to truly become synonymous with their chakra element. They have to get to the fifth stage at least." Kakashi explained.
Naruto's eyes widened, "That I really did not know," Naruto said as he got distracted by the new information, "Can you tell me more?" Naruto said, staring at Kakashi expectantly.
Kakashi sighed before glancing around the bridge, seeing he wasn't needed anywhere, he sat down next to Naruto, "Well, you know how the Tsuchikage's line all have that weight manipulation skill? What's another thing that they all have in common?" Kakashi asked.
Naruto thought hard for a moment, "They... were all master and student?" he asked.
Kakashi nodded, "Not only that, but they all had done the first five levels for Earth chakra." Kakashi explained wisely.
Naruto frowned in thought, noticing the hidden meaning in Kakashi's words, "Meaning that earth has more then five?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi shrugged, "It's assumed that there is, no one but two men in the past have attained that level of control and become Iron users." Kakashi said.
Naruto bit his lip in thought as he nodded, "So what's the end result of getting to the fifth stage in fire chakra?" Naruto asked as he looked at the little fire he had in front of him.
Kakashi eye smiled, "Pure Chakra Ignition; the ability to conjure flames just from your own chakra without jutsu or any extra form of manipulation." Kakashi explained.
Naruto grinned, "That's pretty awesome!" Naruto exclaimed as he got to work.
##########
The following days past quickly for Team 7.
One tower a night, then two a night, then three. The trio of gennin had grown quickly under the watchful gaze of Kakashi and Anko, mastering moves they hadn't even heard of the week before all while learning more about the local land and their enemy; Gato.
The interrogated ninja named Goseki gave away all the information he knew as a bargaining chip for his life. Giving Anko all that she needed to plan out the next few attacks.
For three days it was training and tower wrecking, clearing out the enemy threat and inspiring locals to take action in rebuilding parts of their town, starting with the town hall being turned into the first of three safe-buildings for the populace of the Land of Waves.
And Gato was not happy.
He had launched an attack on each one of the in-town locations; once at Tazuna's and once at each hall, and each time they were thwarted. Goseki had been one of Gato's last two ninja other then Zabuza and the one they now knew as Haku. Both of whom were injured in ways that made them inactive for at least four more days.
Meaning that this night, was the night they truly made an impact. The night that they took out Gato's largest and last in-town base.
The old mayor's mansion overlooking the shipping yards.
##########
Chapter End.