Wolf: What's up everyone? Welcome to the 11 chapter of ShadowSnake.In this chapter, you finally get to meet Naja and the genin learn what Shadowsnake's real name is.

Now, before I say spoil anything else.

Onto the story!

Mandatory Disclaimer


Chapter 11

The sun creeps in through Riku's apartment and lands over his eyes. He stirs from his sleep and sits up in his bed. He stretches and relieves any tension on his back, chest, shoulders, and arms. He gets out of bed and goes to his bathroom and prepares for his shower. He strips off his pants and boxers and gets in the shower. After thoroughly washing his hair and body, he dries off and puts on his ANBU uniform, minus the sword and mask.

He goes towards his kitchen and sees Nami up and cooking some breakfast for him. Nami, hearing Riku turn around, looks at Riku and smiles.

"Good morning, Riku." Nami says while smiling. She then hands him a plate of eggs and rice for him to eat before he goes.

"Uh, good morning Nami. Thanks for the food." Riku responds hesitantly. "Hey Nami. If you were moving from place to place, how did you learn how to cook?" after taking a bite of his food.

"I wasn't always on the move. Up until, I was twelve I stayed at a hotel that let me pay off my rent by doing chores, usually cleaning. They taught me how to cook so that I when I would leave I would know how to make some decent meals."

"Ah, well they did a good job. It's actually pretty good." he says as he continues eating his food.

"Nami" she then turns to look at Riku, "can you come with me later today?"

"Why?"

"There's something I need to check out and I'm going to need you with me for this." he responds hoping it's enough to get her to come with to the T&I Department.

After some thinking, she responds, "OK, yeah. I'll come with you."

"Great, we'll leave in a couple of hours. Now, if you'll excuse me I got to go. Need to lead some training." he then goes back to his room and grabs his ANBU Snake mask, katana, and scrolls. As he leaves, his sister looks at him and asks what he got from his room.

"Can't tell you. Only select people get to know." he then leaves out the door and goes toward Training Ground 3. As he arrives he notices that the 8 he selected are waiting there.

'Their sensei must have sent them.' He then hides in the trees, masks his chakra, and puts his mask on and straps his sword to the back of his waist. He then grabs the scrolls and sticks them in his waist pouches. He then jumps down and melts into his shadow. He makes his way to his future team and he overhears them talking. As he rests in one of their shadows he listens in on the conversation.

"Hey, Shikamaru. Why do you think Shadowsnake chose the eight of us to train? asks Kiba.

"Don't know, it's troublesome really."

"Well he must have selected us for a reason. So, why us? And why not the other four?"

"All good questions Kiba. Why don't sit down and I'll explain." Snake said as he rises from Sasuke's shadow.

The 8 genin all turn around in surprise. "How long have you been standing there?" asks Neji.

"I wasn't. I was in his shadow." he said as he points to Sasuke.

"You can hide in other people's shadows?" asks Naruto.

"Yeah, it's quite simple really. All I do is melt into my shadow, find one of yours and join in. I have to let your movements dictate how I move otherwise I could possibly control your shadow. Anyways, you guys wanted to know why I selected the 8 of you for this ANBU training, right?"

"Yeah" they all respond at the same time.

"Well, sit down and I'll tell you." the 8 Genin then sit down and begin to listen to their sensei.

"Alright, so I chose the eight of you solely because I believe you eight can take the most out of my training. Also, I believe you guys have a good skillset, that when combined with what I'll be teaching you can help make you excellent shinobi.

Naruto, Sasuke, I chose you two because you have similar strengths and differences. You both are great in Taijutsu. Ninjutsu could use some work. And your Genjutsu, well…I'll be working on that. You two also have a drive that pushes you to be the best, and in the ANBU, that will help with your missions.

Tenten, I chose you because you have deadly pinpoint accuracy. If I can combine that with stealth required for ANBU, you can be a deadly ANBU soldier. I'll help you with Taijutsu, Ninjutsu and Genjutsu. And probably Kenjutsu. Trust me, when we're done you'll be a skilled kunoichi.

Neji, I chose because you happen to be one of the best Jūken users I have seen. You also have a ferocity when fighting that can translate well when fighting enemy or rogue shinobi. Since your clan tends to not use Ninjutsu, I'll help build your Genjutsu defense. Once we're done you'll be a top-notch shinobi.

Kiba, you've been selected due to your clan's strong Taijutsu and Ninjutsu and your ferocious nature. Once we refine your Taijutsu and add more Ninjutsu to your repertoire, you'll be a high-ranking shinobi.

Shino, due to your clan's signature Kikaichū I've selected you hoping to add stealth to your clan's techniques. Even though the Aburame prefer to use the Kikaichū, I plan to add some Ninjutsu to your repertoire. I'll even help you pick out a Taijutsu style that suits you.

Hinata, even though you're shy, I believe I can help you become a skilled kunoichi. Like I said with Neji, I'll help build your Genjutsu defense. I'll also help with your Jūken and talk to Hiashi about it. Anyways, once we're done you'll be a brilliant kunoichi.

Shikamaru, even though you're kind of lazy, I've seen that you happen to be one of the smartest shinobi I have met. You are proficient in your clan's Ninjutsu enough to be able to use the shadows of those around you to lengthen your shadow. Since my Bloodline is similar to your clan's Ninjutsu, I can help teach you ways to enhance your ability. Once done with this training, you will be a top-notch shinobi."

"So, how come you didn't chose the others?" asks Tenten

"Oh, that's simple. Lee is too loud, not good for ANBU stealth missions. Sakura and Ino, barely take their training seriously as it is, so what makes you think they can handle my training? I have nothing against Choji, it's just his Clan's Jutsu that won't work in the ANBU."

"Really, it was that simple?" asks Kiba.

After doing some thinking, Riku responds, "Yeah."

"Sensei, with Sakura and Ino you said that they barely take their training seriously. If you would, could you elaborate on that?" asks Shino.

"Yeah, sure. Remember when I fought you guys one-on-one? Well they day before, I had fought Team 7. When I told Sakura to enter her Taijutsu stance, she still was using a very poor version of the Academy stance. Shinobi typically go to the library and pick out and learn a new stance or they learn a new stance from their clan. Kind of like Ino, but her defense was still very poor. Anyways, Sakura had a very poor defense and no amount of time of me fixing that was ever going to work. She'll have to learn a new stance, but she happens to be more interested the Uchiha over there. Same goes for Ino. I know some kunoichi who might be able to knock some sense into them. Anko, Yugao, and a couple of others." responds Snake.

"Why would you want to help train them? No, amount of training will ever help them be successful."

The group of Genin and ANBU then turn and look at Sasuke. Snake weaves through some signs and has his shadow wrap around Sasuke and pins him to a tree near their location.

"Alright, so what was I saying?" Snake then thinks about what he was saying before. Meanwhile the Genin are looking a Snake with confusion etched on their face.

"A-ano, Snake-sensei. Why did you pin S-Sasuke to a tree?" Hinata timidly asks.

"Hmm, oh, right. I pined Sasuke because he didn't about his comrades. It sounds like he doesn't care what happens as long as he emerges unscathed. So, that's why he'd pined to a tree. Comrades and friends, then yourself."

The 7 genin still sitting think deeply about his words. They look back at Snake. As they are about to ask Snake one more question, they see him stand back up.

"Alright, enough talking. It's time to train. Today, we'll be doing some conditioning." he says as he hides and evil smirk under his mask. "I want you 8 to run around the border of this training 50 times. When you're done, come see me and I'll tell you what to do next." Snake says as he releases his Sasuke from his Jutsu.

"50 times? Don't you think that a little excessive sensei?" asks Tenten.

"Would you rather I make it 100 so you can be like your teammate, Lee?" Snake asks knowing what her reaction will be

At this she gains a look of fear. After some thoughts of acting like Lee, and even wearing a similar jump suit, she takes back her complaint.

"N-No, sensei."

"So, you guys going to run or not?" he asks the eight Genin still standing there. The eight look at him and groan.

"Look, either you run it. Or I'll use my Shadow Possession on you and make you run it, at my speed. And just so you know, I'm about as fast as Guy."

At that comment, the Genin gain a look of fear and begin to run around the training field. After about an hour, the genin stop in front of Snake, who's sitting down meditating.

"Sensei, what's next?" Naruto asks while out of breath.

Snake opens his eyes and sees them breathing kind of heavily. He inwardly sighs and realizes that he will have to condition longer than he thought he would.

"Alright. Take off anything obscuring your wrists." Snake said as he removed the scrolls from his pouches.

"Why?" asks Kiba.

"I need your wrists unblocked for this next part of your training. Sasuke, let's start with you."

Sasuke then steps up and removes his armguards. Meanwhile, Snake is unsealing the scrolls and out a container of ink and a brush. Snake then grabs Sasuke's forearm and faces it so that his palms are facing upward.

Snake then dips the brush into the ink and applies to Sasuke's left wrist. Once he finishes, he moves to his right wrist and applies the same seal. Snake weaves a hand seal and activates the seal on Sasuke.

Sasuke's arms then drop to his side. He attempts to lift them up but can't do anything other than move his fingers.

"What did you do to me?" Sasuke spits out.

"I applied a gravity seal to your wrists. The same seals I have applied on my body."

Snake then removes his wrist guards and gloves to reveal two seals on his wrists and a tattoo above each of the seals

"Shadowsnake, what are gravity seals for?" asks Kiba

"Gravity seals apply gravity to your body and push it to its limit. Once your body has adjusted to the seals, your body will move faster and your hits will be stronger. I'll also have to apply it to your ankles, so roll up so pants, will you?" the genin then roll up their pants and take off their shinobi sandals.

"Snake-sensei, what are the two tattoos for, above the gravity seals?" asks Neji

"Oh, those are for summoning Naja and any other snake I might need to use. If you want, I could show you guys what it looks like to be able to summon, after I apply the seals to your wrists and ankles." the genin then nod in reply.

Snake goes back to applying the seals to Sasuke and activates the seals restricting his movements.

"Alright, Sasuke step back. Naruto, your turn."

Naruto steps up and sticks his arms out and lets Shadowsnake apply the seals to wrists then to his ankles.

'This is going to take a while if I do it one by one.' Snake thinks to himself while applying the final gravity seal to Naruto's body.

"Alright. Naruto, step back." Snake then weaves cross hand seal and says, "Shadow Clone Jutsu"

Five clones appear. They reach into their respective pouches and pull out their own ink and brush.

"Alright, this will be faster. Each of you step up to a clone and will finish the application of the gravity seals." The genin walk in front of a Snake and his clone and allow him to apply the seal to their wrists and ankles.

After all the seals are applied, Snake dispels the clones and activates the seals on the eight genin.

"Alright, for now just try to get used to the feel of the seals. Walk around the training ground til you can at least move, alright?" the genin nod in reply and began to trudge around the training ground.


One hour later

The eight can now move and lift their arms up. "Alright, now that you can move and weave through some seals, every time you're training with me you'll be required to have those activated. Once you get used to the feeling and you can move normally, I'll pump more chakra and increase the weight on the seals." the nod in reply.

"Alright, I told you, I'll show what my summoning looks like, right?"

"Hai" they say in unison.

"Alright." Snake bites his right thumb and smears the blood across the tattoo on his left. He bites his left thumb and smears the blood across the tattoo his right arm. He then weaves through some hand seals, and slams his hands on the ground. A summoning array appears from his hands and he says, "Summoning Jutsu"

A giant cloud of smoke appears. Once the smoke dissipates the genin look up and see their sensei on top of a towering snake, about as tall as the Hokage Monument, with black scales and green slitted eyes.

"How may I serve you, Riku-sama?" asked Naja

"Naja, there's nothing for you to do. The 8 genin you see before you just wanted to see what a summoning looks like."

"Ah, fresh out of the Academy?"

"Yeah, they graduated earlier this week." Riku then jumps off Naja and lands on the ground.

"Alright, so this is Naja. As I told you before he is my personal summon." he says while pointing to Naja.

"A-ano, Snake-sensei. Why does he add sama to the end of your name?"

"It is used as a sign that I respect him more than my previous summoners."

"Yeah, so any other questions? If not Naja will go back." Snake look at the trainees and notice no more questions.

"Alright, you can go back now Naja. Next time, I'll have some food for you."

"Hai, Riku-sama." Naja then disappears in a puff of smoke and goes back to Ryuchi Cave.

"Snake-sensei, I noticed Naja had said Riku-sama, does this mean your name is Riku?" asks Neji

Snake then freezes and thinks, 'Naja, I hate you.'

"Hai, my name is Riku Ishikawa. And no, I'm not taking off my mask. Not yet anyways."

"Wait, Riku Ishikawa? I've heard that name before. Where have I heard that name before?" asks Kiba.

"Uh, maybe when talking learning about Iwagakure. The Ishikawa were one of the only clans with a bloodline in Iwa." Snake responds kind of nervously.

"No, I swear I've heard that name recently." Kiba then thinks to himself about where he might have heard the name before.

'Was it from sensei? No, maybe...no. I swear. I've heard this name before. But where?'

Snake then looks at Kiba and notices that he is in deep thought, 'Does he really not remember his sister's boyfriend's name?' he thinks to himself with a sweat drop. 'I don't know if I should be relieved or offended.'

"How long you guys been here since about seven right? Its been about four hours, take a break for lunch. Meet back here in an hour and a half." Snake says while bringing Kiba back to reality with the mention of food.

"I'll see you guys later" Snake states as he disappears in a shadow shunshin.

Wolf: Here's Chapter 11. You got to see Naja in all his reptilian glory. I have no clue what I just said there. Anyways, hope you enjoy. Don't forget to follow and favorite. Leave a review if you enjoyed it. Also, I've uploaded another story. If you're a fan of Fairy Tail, check it out.

And this is Wolf, signing off.