Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, I used to but Kishimoto cheated- I mean, won him from me in a poker game.
Naruto is a bit unhappy in this chapter, and you'll notice it changes his persona when talking to his friends, he's not angry like in chapter 6, but he's kind of depressed and frustrated with his team and it shows.
101010
You're a gamble,
And I've got nothing left to lose.
You think you got me in the back of you pocket and you do.
So take a breath and try to keep it down,
Cuz I love these girls but I hate this town.
But I'm positive that there's nothing about you to get to know.
Beatdown in the Key of Happy – Four Year Strong (Amazing group, check out their song Catastrophe... I listened to it for weeks along with a lot of their other stuff.)
101010
"You want to what?"
"We want to train with you, Naruto." Sakura replied patiently, Aiko nodded. Naruto pouted, "I don't have time for extra team workouts, do extra stuff with Sasuke!"
"Naruto we used to train together and it was fine before…"
"I can't slow down for you guys anymore!" Naruto replied, frustrated. "You don't need me, Sakura-chan, Aiko-chan. If I train with you, my own training will slow down!"
"We'll do what you do!"
"You can cut a rock cleanly into eight pieces?"
Sakura's eyebrow twitched, "Don't get sarcastic you jerk! We're your team and we want to spend time with you. If all you're gonna do is train, then we will too!"
"Where's Sasuke?"
"At home." Aiko replied, "Resting, like you should. How is it that you can exhaust your chakra reserves and recover in one day, Naruto? It's insane what you do, yet you keep going."
"You're going to kill yourself." Sakura added.
"No I won't!" Naruto insisted without explanation, "Now come on, we can hang out later when I finish training!"
"I'll teach you the fire jutsu Kakashi-sensei taught me." Aiko suggested.
"I can't do stupid fire jutsu! Or water, or lightning!" Naruto scowled, "When you go through the same training as me for wind chakra then you can train with me!"
"Naruto…" Sakura sighed.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Suddenly one Naruto burst into twenty five and they all scattered, Aiko and Sakura frantically tried to find the real one, before Naruto went wherever his secret training area was. It had been nearly two weeks since Wave, and Naruto always insisted that he had to train after missions, and usually alone.
Kakashi had admitted that it could be dangerous for others to be around while Naruto tried to control his wind chakra. Naruto had seen the results of his training, pushing the limits of how easily he could control himself… often it got out of hand, he didn't want anyone to get in the way.
Atop of mastering wind chakra, Naruto also finished water rolling, which was basically rolling atop the water, getting used to letting out chakra at multiple points from his body. It came easily, although it took awhile to learn how to completely stay afloat on the water and not let any part of his body dip under the water.
Really it was only slightly harder than water walking had been, the reason it had taken so long was because Naruto kept his training focused on other things. First he had to get stronger, Sasuke had been able to dodge and block senbon easily because of his Sharingan activating. It also meant the Uchiha was again leaps and bounds ahead of him in taijutsu, and mopped the floor quite easily with him.
Sasuke had been awkward in his taijutsu before, now his movements were perfect with the Sharingan, automatically his hands blocked Naruto's attacks, and his legs seemed to move with their own volition, forcing the blond back and breaking his root, sending him stumbling.
In short, Naruto was outclassed. The only time he had beaten Sasuke was leading him into the woods and having his clones go crazy, setting traps, transforming into trees and bushes to attack the Uchiha in his blind spots. Unfortunately even then, Sasuke could see through the Henge unless it was being blocked by another object such as a rock or another tree.
It left Naruto frustrated; luckily he wasn't the only one. Only Kakashi was ahead of Sasuke now, even though he had taken to pulling out his own Sharingan to fight the boy, although it was more for tutoring in Sharingan use than anything else.
Sasuke became his arrogant self again, and his 'I'm better than you,' moments began to happen frequently. It was as if Wave never happened, as if Naruto hadn't cried over the boy, almost killing Haku in his rage. What was worse was the rest of the team forgave him for it; the girls were on eggshells around him, and Kakashi just seemed happy he didn't die. He assured Naruto that Sasuke would calm down eventually, after the high from his bloodline emerging died down.
Didn't they realize the only way Sasuke ever learned anything was having it beaten into him? Kakashi smacked him around until Sasuke realized that he needed his team. Naruto beat him and the Sasuke realized that he needed to train harder than he had been, to truly push himself to the limit.
Sasuke only trained with his chakra and Sharingan. He increased his reserves by using it for every fight, serious or otherwise. The Uchiha ignored speed, he could foresee Naruto's moves and could block accordingly. Clearly Sasuke thought the key to truly improving now was developing his bloodline.
Naruto had no bloodline; all he could do was train as hard as possible. So he did just that, pushing his body to the extremes, avoiding chakra completely in his workouts. That was what his control exercises were for; if he couldn't do something with his body without chakra then he shouldn't do it at all.
The blond tripled his workout regimen, atop of that he was fighting hundreds of bunshin a day, and he fought them atop water, in the treetops, open pasture and in the forest. He went to bed dead tired every night and woke up to do it all over again.
Team training was minimal now, Kakashi spent much his time helping Sasuke perfect his bloodline, but Naruto didn't mind. He knew how powerful his attacks could become if he learned how to control his wind chakra, and there was nothing else Kakashi could do to help him there.
Naruto was annoyed that Sakura and Aiko seemed to wander around lost. They kept up with their training, but they didn't really improve. Naruto had assumed that after Wave they would get more serious, instead they spent much of the time staring at Sasuke, as if they couldn't believe he was there.
True they been bugging him to spend time with them, finally trying to train with him, but Naruto didn't want that. He wanted his old team back, the one that pushed themselves as far as they could possibly go. Now the girls walked around like zombies, while Sasuke walked like he was on air. Kakashi seemed ignorant of it all.
Instead of bringing them closer together, the Wave mission seemed to have torn them apart.
In his private training area, Naruto sighed in frustration. With a frustrated yell he called upon a lazy breeze to become a raging whirlwind around him. His control wasn't perfect, and nicks and cuts appeared in his already ragged clothes and body, but it was okay, he healed fast.
This was a power he couldn't use against Sasuke, because it would kill him if it ever struck. All this power, and he couldn't use it. For enemies only, Kakashi said. Naruto took that to heart, he had no intention of ever hurting one of his allies.
That's why he was so angry, Sasuke may not have died on the bridge, but the person Naruto had come to call friend was gone. This divine Sasuke who could see into the future had replaced him, and Naruto could do nothing to knock him off that pedestal.
Kakashi's announcement almost felt like a godsend.
101010
"I've decided to enter you into the Chuunin Exam."
"Do you really think we're ready?" Aiko was shocked that Kakashi was doing this so soon after the Wave mission, "Shouldn't we be more trained?"
"Well you don't seem to train much anymore, Aiko." Kakashi responded cheerfully, "I believe you'll do fine though."
"What makes you think that?" Naruto asked warily.
Kakashi smiled, "Because I trained you, of course."
"We are ready." Sasuke declared with a smirk, "We'll destroy anyone in our way."
Naruto rolled his eyes, replace 'we' with 'I' and he could believe that Sasuke would have said it.
Kakashi sobered a bit, "Unfortunately the Chuunin exam can only be taken by three genin at a time. This means one of you will have to sit out…"
The genin glanced at each other.
"…or one will have to join another team." Kakashi finished, "Actually, I have one lined up. Chouji broke his leg recently-"
"Is he okay?" Naruto asked worriedly, he hadn't heard anything about this. Then again, he didn't talk with Team 10 as much as he used to.
"Fine," Kakashi assured, "But he'll be off his feet throughout the exam, it happened while using a family technique and the bone fragments spread throughout his body through his enlarged chakra pathways, some getting close to his spine… they had to operate."
Kakashi clapped his hands, "Anyways he's going to be fine, and after careful consideration and arguing with Asuma, we decided that Naruto should be the one to switch teams." Kakashi raised his hands here, "And before you think I'm picking on you Naruto, I didn't make the decision easily. Asuma is a wind user, and in the next week he'll be helping you refine your technique in ways that I can't."
"I didn't think that," Naruto responded honestly, "I'm fine with it, really."
"Well, that's good!" Kakashi smiled, "I thought I was going to be yelled at today. Asuma and the team are waiting for you-"
"Wait!" Sakura said quickly, "I'll sit out. Then Naruto can participate."
Aiko jumped in immediately, "No Sakura, I will, it's not fair for you to sit out. You've been training really hard."
"Neither of you will sit out." Kakashi replied firmly, "Attendance isn't mandatory, but the transfer to Asuma's team for the exam is final, we submitted names an hour ago. Naruto can only compete with Asuma now, or not at all."
"Glad you checked with me first." Naruto chuckled.
Kakashi nodded seriously, "Of course. Now as I said, Asuma and his team are waiting for you at their training area."
Naruto gave his stunned female teammates a single wave, Sasuke smirked, and Naruto left them behind.
101010
"Hey Naruto." Shikamaru greeted, "Looks like we have to take this stupid exam after all… what a drag."
"Shut up Shikamaru." Ino growled, "Glad you joined a winning team, Naruto. Although it must suck to leave Sasuke-kun, he is the best after all."
"His ego needs more inflating." Naruto rolled his eyes, "Why don't you tell him that?"
"Aww," Ino patted his back sympathetically, "Sakura told me he beat you in a fight. Are you feeling a bit like a sore loser?"
Naruto glared. A bit put off by this response, Ino pouted, "Don't get angry Naruto-kun. You know I love you."
His only blond friend pulled him into a hug, feeling this was a little inappropriate, Naruto shifted awkwardly. Ino's head was buried into his shoulder to his discomfort. The girl pulled away and smiled, "Feel better?"
"…Yes?"
Asuma suddenly appeared in a swirl of leaves, "Good, you're all here. Nice to meet you, Naruto. We haven't been formally introduced, I'm Sarutobi Asuma."
"Any relation to old man Hokage?"
"He's my old man." Asuma joked, "Kakashi tells me you're pretty tough. He also said you've made some good progress on controlling your wind chakra… not an easy feat, I know."
The Jounin took a drag of his cigarette, "I know you know each other, but I figure all three of you have to understand each other's strengths and weaknesses for the exam… so how about each of you introduce yourself and give us an overview of your skills?"
Ino volunteered, "I'll go first, sensei." The Jounin nodded to her and she began with a smile.
"As you know, I'm the beautiful and amazing Yamanaka Ino. I can do all three academy jutsu, and I also know Shintenshin no Jutsu, which allows me to occupy an opponent's mind. The downside is I can only stay in their mind as long as my chakra lasts, and any damage they suffer is transferred to my real body."
"How are you progressing on tree climbing, Ino?" Asuma asked.
"I'm still having some trouble on the way back down." Ino admitted, and Asuma sighed, "It's been a week, Ino, you should be finished."
"Sorry, sensei."
"Its fine Ino, just get it done. Shikamaru you go next."
"Troublesome… my name is Nara Shikamaru, I know all three academy techniques and Kagemane no Jutsu, a basic technique of my clan that allows me to extend my shadow and capture my opponent's own shadow. While they're caught, they mirror my movements exactly, which can have its advantages and disadvantages that are too numerous to list. If I run out of chakra, the jutsu breaks. My taijutsu is average for a genin, as is my control. I can run up and down trees until my chakra reserves run out… is that good enough?"
"Yes," Asuma rolled his eyes, "Thank you for your time, Shika. Now Naruto, how about you go."
"Alright, I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I can do Henge and Kawarimi from the academy but not Bunshin; instead I can use Kage Bunshin which also makes clones but solid ones… uhm that's basically it."
"I would count your wind chakra manipulation as a skill," Asuma pointed out, "Kakashi said you were pretty far along… but not how far. Are you still on rocks? You can do some pretty good stuff while still on rocks."
"I finished cutting rocks weeks ago." Naruto bragged, "I'm trying to master controlling my attacks, to do so…" Naruto's grin faded, "I have to be alone, because I push myself to the edge of my control, and a lot of times I lose the control I have. But I'm getting better all the time."
"Hmm," Asuma grimaced, "Yes, that can happen. Wind natured chakra is a bit of a double edged sword, literally. It can hurt you and your comrades just as much as your opponent… how is your chakra control? I know you have some pretty amazing reserves, and Kakashi mentioned you've been working hard to control them."
"Well… I don't know what to label my control, but I've completed all the leaf exercises, tree climbing, water walking, and basically I've finished water rolling."
"Impressive list." Asuma raised a brow, "If you can do all that, I could easily class you as at least high genin in control, if not low Chuunin. It's hard to really tell these things."
"How come Naruto knows more chakra control exercises than us?" Ino complained.
"Maybe it's because he doesn't take forever to finish one." Asuma suggested, "I doubt he was still on tree climbing after a week."
Ino blushed, and was silent again.
"Naruto, just out of curiosity…" Asuma started, "Kakashi said you keep a pretty hectic training schedule. How many hours a day do you train?"
"On average…?" Naruto thought about it, "Including team training, it's about seven to eight hours… but considering I use my bunshin to help, it's really a lot more."
"Seven hours?" Shikamaru groaned, "I'm tired just thinking about it. What do you mean you useyour bunshin?"
"They learn knowledge faster than me, and can separately learn how to use my chakra." Naruto explained, "It helps me get knowledge learned fast, and it helps with learning chakra control exercises and techniques."
"It obviously doesn't help your grammar." Asuma observed.
"What's that mean?"
"Er… never mind Naruto. I know Kakashi put you through team training exercises; we'll be doing that as well. Chouji is an important part of this team; especially in the execution of team skills… we're going to have to rework everything to fit you in. Luckily I've been thinking on ways to use you and your skills."
Asuma began to run them through similar drills as Kakashi. Most ended when the group of genin captured Asuma, which was hard but not as difficult as fighting against Kakashi. Possibly it was because their plans were better thought out in between Naruto and Shikamaru, both who could get pretty dastardly. It helped that this team's skills were made to capture opponents.
In the absence of Chouji, Naruto was the 'muscle,' even though it was in a completely different way than the Akimichi. Naruto used his bunshin to overwhelm and trap Asuma so either Shikamaru or Ino could capture him in their family techniques. It became really confusing for the Jounin when the group started using Henge to mask who was who.
All in all it didn't take a long time for the team to mesh and start working together, it wasn't seamless and there were kinks, but the three had been friends before the new temporary team was formed. It was helped by the fact that both of his new teammates liked Naruto, and were impressed with his skills, which were much improved since their time in the academy.
After three straight ours, everyone including Asuma was out of breath… except Naruto, who looked like he could continue for the rest of the day and night.
"I thought Kage Bunshin was supposed to be a severe chakra draining technique," Shikamaru grumbled, "Naruto doesn't even look winded."
Naruto grinned, "I have awesome chakra reserves, Shika! Plus whenever a bunshin disappears whatever chakra they have left over returns to me. It only really starts to affect me when they keep pulling on my reserves to use for themselves."
"Is everyone on your team as strong as you?" Ino feared if Naruto had come this far under Kakashi, the others must have learned a lot as well. After all, Sasuke had beaten Naruto in a fight recently, so at least Sasuke was as strong, if not stronger.
"Sasuke's stronger." Naruto confirmed with a grimace, "But only because he activated his stupid Sharingan. Now he can basically see whatever moves I make before I make them."
"So he's activated it?" Asuma mused, "The Sharingan isn't unbeatable, Naruto. It has flaws just like anything else."
"Like what?"
"Well," Asuma tried to recall Kakashi's little contests with Maito Gai, "For one, even if a Sharingan user can see your next move they can't block it if you're moving too fast."
"I've been trying to get faster, but it's tough to do when I have other things I need to concentrate on at the same time." Naruto was frustrated with his lack of progress, but Asuma knew the boy couldn't progress any faster than he was now.
"I wouldn't worry about it, Naruto. The Sharingan allows its user to improve in leaps and bounds, but it can make its users lazy. Why practice taijutsu forms when you can just copy someone? Nin and genjutsu as well. Your sensei is a perfect example, they call him Sharingan Kakashi. He's copied over 1000 techniques… but ever since he got that eye, he hasn't improved at the same rate. Did you know he was four when he became a genin?"
"No." Naruto was shocked; he didn't even know that was possible.
Asuma nodded, "He was six when became a Chuunin, and by thirteen he had become a Jounin, a gap sure but I think he was ready at eleven. Soon after he got that eye, and his skills didn't really decline, but they didn't improve by much either. Kakashi became lazy, every tough fight I've seen him in, he relies on that Sharingan when things get dangerous. It drives him into severe chakra depletion every time.
"Sasuke only trains with his Sharingan now," Naruto admitted, "But he hasn't really gotten lazy…"
"Trust me Naruto, the Sharingan only has so many levels that it can improve. After that it's up to the user to improve himself. A majority of the Uchiha clan with the ability never bothered, instead policing this city instead of going on real missions where they might be killed, or eyes stolen."
"So… Sharingan makes their user lazy?" Shikamaru snorted, "Doesn't sound so bad."
"It doesn't make them lazy, but it allows them to be so while still being good ninja." Asuma grimaced; he didn't want to turn this into a debate about the Uchiha clan. "Let's drop this. Naruto I want to see how much you can do with your wind chakra."
Naruto warned them to move back, and they did so. Asuma was impressed with the blond. The boy quickly pushed out a good deal of wind natured chakra and used it to create several small whirlwinds, focused the air into blades that gouged scars in nearby trees.
However he quickly saw what Naruto said about losing control… the blond pushed his chakra out farther and tried to control even more at once, gale force winds raged around him and Asuma watched as small cuts appeared in Naruto's clothes, and his face received a few nicks. Naruto recognized he had reached his limit, and released his power slowly until the winds died down completely.
"Whoa!" Ino spoke first, "Can you do that, Asuma-sensei?"
Asuma nodded, but it wasn't something he tried much, it was difficult to control wind natured chakra without using jutsu and hand seals, or using weapons like his knives to channel the chakra through.
"I have to say, I'm impressed Naruto. Kakashi told me you've only started this a few months ago?"
Naruto nodded and gave him a grin, "Yeah, it's a lot easier cuz my bunshin help me train! It's hard to get them to do this part though, because it takes so much chakra."
"Well continue working on it, we have a week until the exam. I want you to start working on channeling your wind chakra around a kunai."
"I've never heard of that before." Naruto was confused, was it even possible? Asuma showed him one of his own knives, extending the blades out with his wind natured chakra.
"It's easier for the chakra to hold shape when your mind has a solid object to base it around." Asuma explained, "It doesn't take a lot of chakra to maintain either once you get a hang of it."
"Cool!" Naruto said excitedly, he could already see all the different ways he could use this type of technique in a fight.
Asuma put the knife away, "Now, we have training every day starting at twelve. Naruto your team isn't going on missions this week to prepare, neither will our team. I expect you to be on time, I know Kakashi has some bad habits… I hope they haven't passed on to you."
"They haven't." Naruto assured, he was also annoyed with Kakashi's lateness.
Asuma nodded, "Alright, and I expect you to keep up your personal training."
"You got it, Asuma-sensei!"
101010
Naruto wasn't sure he liked his new team. Sure, he liked them as friends but they weren't really a better team than Team 7.
Shikamaru was lazy; he never wanted to train even though it was obvious even to Naruto that he had the potential to be an amazing ninja. Instead of persuading him to train, Asuma perpetuated his lazy habits. They spent all their time after team training visiting Chouji or playing shougi.
Ino was better in some ways, but worse in others. Unlike Shikamaru, she wasn't a genius, and she didn't have his chakra control or natural strength that came from being a boy. She lacked stamina and tired easily, and Naruto was sure that her reserves were smaller than Sakura's currently were, which was strange because Sakura had great chakra control. Naruto encouraged her to take up a reduced workout similar to his own while still climbing trees to increase control and reserves.
The girl worked hard, Naruto would admit that… but it was a bit too late, they had a week until the exam, and Ino needed to take the last few days easy or she would be too tired to compete. If they had a year, then Naruto was sure Ino could become a great ninja, definitely ready to become a Chuunin. Shikamaru too, for that matter. The Nara boy got along now on brains alone.
Asuma had put them in a mock fight, and in a twist Shikamaru trapped Naruto with his shadow by using a tree's shadow to extend out and catch him. Unfortunately for the Nara, Naruto had made it a habit to keep a few Kage Bunshin in reserve since Zabuza. Before Shikamaru could defeat him fully, a clone had a kunai to his neck.
Although his temporary team seemed hopeless at times, his own training was going well. Naruto had a group of bunshin working on extending wind chakra into kunai while he continued his own mastery in general control of the air in the environment. It always seemed he could get better at it; there was always something new for Naruto to do. It was slow progress doing it without his bunshin but he was progressing nicely.
Naruto decided that attempting waterfall climbing (and finding a waterfall) with everything he had on his plate already would be too much, instead he had a couple bunshin practice water walking with leaves on their foreheads. The maneuver wasn't difficult after all his training, and the strain on his reserves wasn't extreme. It kept his control sharp and focused.
The blond had noticed that his chakra reserves had increased a good amount after the fight with Haku in Wave, much of which was still foggy. He remembered feeling really angry that Sasuke had been killed… then it was a bit hazy, although he had flashes of fighting Haku. The next thing he clearly remembered was Haku's face as the mask fell away. The haze seemed to vanish as he found to his horror that the boy he was trying to kill was the same who helped him find a reason to be a ninja.
Naruto shivered, remembering the burial of Haku and Zabuza. He tried to shake the feelings stirred away, the former Mist-nin were gone.
His reserves had been noticeably larger after the fight, and Naruto had no idea why. He hadn't even exhausted his reserves against Haku, at the end he had felt pretty damn fresh considering everything that had happened. Naruto knew that he had pretty large reserves, and for them to increase for no reason that he could remember… it made him think about Kyuubi.
Was it possible that the fox had something to do with his reserves increasing? After all, Kyuubi was the reason that his reserves were so large in the first place.
Did he let Kyuubi out accidentally during the fight with Haku?
The thought pierced him, and a stab of fear went through his heart. Was it possible? His memories of then were hazy… but yes, he remembered the feeling unimaginable power. It had been an unnatural power…
Where is it? Where is that power…?
Naruto had been distressed, but Haku had asked that immediately after he had regained control of himself. That must have been what happened, Kyuubi had gotten control of him, flooded him with its chakra… and he nearly killed Haku, and through the haze he remembered liking it.
It horrified him; if Kyuubi could control him like that… he didn't want it! Naruto didn't want to have Kyuubi in the first place, but Iruka and the Hokage, they had assured him that he wasn't Kyuubi… but he could be.
'I can't let him out ever again.' Naruto realized, 'If he gains control over me, he could kill anyone and everyone I've ever cared about! I won't let him!'
Naruto had been able to stop himself from killing Haku, which meant he could gain control over his body again. When he saw Haku's face, all he remembered was realization, Haku wasn't an enemy, and he remembered that. Haku had been a friend. Suddenly Naruto realized what had brought him back; he remembered what was precious to him.
To defeat Kyuubi, to ensure the fox never took control again… Naruto had to remember what he was fighting for.
Naruto just hoped that he never forgot.
101010
I'm sure people will be annoyed that Naruto is so averse to using Kyuubi's chakra, but I think it's a perfectly natural reaction when it turns you into an animalistic killer that's so full of bloodlust and killer intent that you can't see straight… Naruto will do his best to avoid using Kyuubi's chakra in this story, but sometimes he's not going to have a choice.
The reason Naruto was so averse to training with Sakura and Aiko is because they want to spend time with him while he's training his wind attacks, not a good idea. They still do team training and stuff like that, but Naruto would continue to train while they bothered Sasuke or hung out with the girls… now they've realized they've been neglecting Naruto, but he's not going to stop his training to hang out with them, and he can't train with them there, lest he hurts them. The problem with hanging out after training, Naruto is dead tired most of the time, because he pushes himself to the absolute limit.
So next is the first exam with Naruto on Team 10… why did I remove Chouji? Well when I thought about it, he did the least out of the Rookie 9 in the first Chuunin exams… so I removed him. Sorry if that annoys you, but they can't take the exam with four people. This made the most sense to me; it's what I was planning ever since I decided Team 7 would be a four man team. Chouji will come back, I do like him as a character, but all of Team 7 competing was more important right now.
And yes, Sasuke is basically stronger than Naruto right now because of the Sharingan. He'd been getting stronger to try and keep up with Naruto, and the Sharingan awakening just put him over that edge. He's not as strong or fast as Naruto, but he can see his movements and just simply defeat him on reflex, because Naruto isn't insanely faster. Not to mention Sasuke's jutsu repertoire is a lot larger than Naruto's right now. In a fight to the death right now, Naruto would win hands down. But in a spar, Sasuke wins.
