Chapter Fourteen

Ninja Training

"Today is not like any other day, today you will truly commence your ninja training, all that we have learned through the courses of the years will be put to the test- you will apply that to the techniques you'll be learning today." Iruka had his hands behind his back his posture facing the students and his eyes roaming each and every to be Ninja, observing their every move. Most of them were nervous while others could not wait to get started, Iruka smiled internally awaiting to see what they would become. "Starting today you will begin wielding weapons; The shuriken and the kunai." Taking the two weapons of out of his weapons pouch he showed them to the children, they 'oohed' and 'awed.' As Iruka explained what they would be doing Naruto on the other hand could not contain his excitement, he really, really wanted to start training- to be someone, to be recognized by everyone. To be great. He looked over at his friends and noticed how they all seemed calm on the outside but their eyes told a different story. Naruto jerked away from his friends when he heard a whooshing sound coming towards him. "What the heck!" He screaming while looking down at the kunai that was embedded in the ground not so far away from him. "As shown by Naruto, he listened to his instincts and moved out the way but, you will have to react faster." Iruka Sensei moved and picked the kunai up and looked at Naruto." For now you will learn how to handle them in different ways, after that we will have target practice with both weapons." Every child watched as their sensei walked up to a table full the weapons, turned to them and pointed to the table. "Each of you will take the kunai , you will follow my every instruction. Now take one." The Ninja to be ran up to the table and took a kunai. For the past hour they learned how to grip them , how to handle them in any type of situation, after that they moved to the larger training grounds and thus began their target practice. Close to Naruto stood Hinata with her partner holding a large bag containing kunai, her partner ended up being Ino and she was the first to start while Hinata had to wait for her turn. The sounds of metal hitting wood was in the air and the occasional grump coming from her classmates. The hyuga paid no mind to Ino, she was too occupied watching how her friends were doing. Sasuke being Sasuke managed to at least put three into the target, Naruto barely one and the rest of her friends except Lee weren't farring but that didn't stop them from quitting. On a very sudden moment Hinata memories took her back to war, the screams and shouts coming from her friends haunted her, flashes of images shook her body, acutely she could feel herself there all over again. Not paying attention Hinata jerked when she felt a hand on her shoulder, instinctively she quickly took out a kunai and aimed it at the stranger, pale blue eyes stared at her with horror, Ino slowly backed away with her hands in the air. The Hyuga dropped the kunai, her hands were shaking and she stared out at Ino with concern, the images and the sounds of screaming faded into the background, her white eyes scanned the area and her classmates seemed to not have noticed anything. "I-Im sorry, just got n-nervous." With her head down she picked up the kunai, Ino stood a good few feet away from her but still in range. Being on autopilot was something Hinata really detested, she felt like she wasn't in control, had no feelings...just the overwhelming sense of wanting something to be over with. Finally after a few minutes she finally came back to the real world, feel herself have feelings and control and sense eyes on her. Hinata looked around and saw her classmates stare at her with awe, confused the Hyuga looked at her target board and saw that most of her kuani were impaled in it. No wonder. "How did you do that?!" Naruto said.

Hinata lamely replied. "Uhm...Practice."

"Alright everyone, go back to practice, in five minutes switch over to the shurikens and practice."

With renewed vigour everyone turned back and began practicing, but the expression on Sasuke's face was the same he once sent to Naruto when they were growing up. She had no idea what to make of it. Iruka sensei directed the children to take a short break to rest and regroup later. The group of friends gathered around each other and sat down under a tree each with their own food in hand. "That was amazing!" Naruto declared with a mouthful of ramen. Sasuke made a disgusted face but nodded in agreement, "Man, I wonder what Iruka will have us do next."

Choji piped up "Fight?"

"Ugh, it's too early to do that. We still have to know each weapon we handle."

"Thanks for ruining the fun shikamaru." Kiba said and Akamaru barked in agreement.

"Whatever."

"Excuse me, can I join you?" A soft voice called out, everyone quieted down and looked behind Hinata, turning around Hinata came face to face with a girl with emerald green eyes and pink hair with a red ribbon around her head. Sakura Haruno, her eyes were directed to Sasuke and a blush covered her cheeks. "Hi Sasuke." The Uchiha only gave her one glance before going back to his food. "Where's Ino?" choji asked, his mouth munching on a bag of chips, "Oh she's not far behind." The pink haired girl only stared at the last Uchiha paying no mind to the others. Naruto went up to Hinata and whispered in her ear," You should let her join, she's very pretty." Oh no, its starting. shikamaru noticed Hinata's expression and found it very comical, that was and expression he's never seen on her. "hey! I told you to wait for me!" Ino ran up to the group and introduced herself and as always focused on Sasuke. What do they see in him? Hinata wondered. Akamaru made his way to the two girls and sniffed them, Kiba laughed when he noticed the two girls jump at Akamaru's bark. Without waiting for permission Ino and Sakura sat beside Sasuke and ate their food, Sasuke looked at his friends for help but they only hid their laughs with their hands. That only made Sasuke glare even harder at them, Hinata was the only one throwing him a sympathetic look and Naruto had a frown on his face. "Everyone, gather around me." Putting their food away, the friends made their way to their Sensei and waited for his instructions, "The boys and girls will be separated, each will learn vital information."

"why?"

"Kunoichi training, you will learn to use these skills to infiltrate and to blend in."

"what about the guys?" Another child said.

"Similar but different. Girls you will be taught by a good friend of mine, Kurenai and boys you will be trained by Asuma. Go on, go to your teachers." Everyone scattered and meet their Sensei's.

" Hello young ladies I am Kurenai and I will be teaching you what kunoichi training is all about. I will teach you about every land that surrounds the village, you will learn their customs and the culture- so whenever you have a mission on either territory you will be able to blend in easier."

"Hyuga, your father has taught you things already, am I correct?"

"Yes."

"Good good you won't have any problems learning things here." It was just as Hinata remembered, her Sensei was the same as she remembered her, she spoke to them in an authoritative way but at the same time it was motherly. it was what she loved about kurenai, it was like having a motherly figure again. She had missed her so much if she ever needed help she would definitely go to her. The days dragged on and on, the training sessions with all types of teachers was great, the ninja to be soaked in all they could, from weapons to tactics and strategizing, Shikamaru seemed to enjoy that part of training. What was most noticeable was that the lot of friends always stayed close together, they trained and sparred and even went camping into the woods, leaning to hide and use their senses. The friendships grew and the rivalries began, Sasuke and Naruto seemed to always be on each others throats but they were inseparable. with all the ninja training, Hinata still managed to take time off her schedule and visit her sister, although she was tired she did vow to be more present in Hanabi's life. One thing she made sure to do was train her little sister, after losing her she wanted her sister to be as prepared as she was. And it seemed like her family was taking interest in her sister.

Two years later,

The leaves rustled in the wind, the sky was clouded by the storm that would hit the village in a matter of minutes. It was quiet, too quiet, no noise coming from the birds or even the laughter of children. A boy was crouched and hidden behind a shrub, obscuring his figure and breathing as slow as possible, he sniffed the air and the aroma of lavender filled his nostrils, she was near. With a howl he alerted the rest of his teammates, in an instant two figures were beside him , Shino to his right and Choji to his left and Akamaru was not with them. " Five feet that way is Hinata, to her seven o'clock I picked up on Shikamaru -but that was a while ago. The rest I don't know."

"My bugs were able to attach to Naruto, he's not far from us."

" Sasuke hide very well, I think I might have seen him by the river near the big tree."

" As long as we spotted them is-"

"Gotcha!" A boy with blond hair and blue eyes exclaimed. Naruto had a huge smile on his face, that soon faded as the trio poofed away and in their place were tree barks. "Ehh?!"

"Give it up Naruto, we saw you coming!" Kiba announced. On the other hand Naruto was angry, he marched to their direction but stopped as he felt rope around his ankle, Naruto was no hanging upside down,his blood rushing quickly to his head. "What in th- hey! NOW!" Naruto screamed, the trio turned around in alert but it was too late to do anything.

" I have to say, using Naruto as a decoy was a great plan. Good job. You all passed."

Choji with a mouth full of chips asked "But we lost?"

" Yes, but you used all the training you learned on this simulation." Iruka wrote down a few notes on his clipboard, stared at the group gathered around Kiba, Choji, Shino and Naruto. Hinata took her time and helped mend the small cuts on each boy. Something inside him stirred, it could have been the feeling of seeing his students all together not like friends but like family. They were doing great but he knew that when they first set foot to their life as a ninja they would be different. He wished them luck. At the Hyuuga compound, Hinata invited over her friends, there they meet Hanabi and they also met her father. Hiashi was very impressed by the way his daughter's friends treated her especially the Uzumaki kid, and the Uchiha. Hiashi soon retired to his bedroom after having enough of Lee's voice.

Author's note; I apologize for updating it super late. I had so many things to take care of. Anyways, hoped you enjoyed it, it will be getting to the point where the exams will be coming up!basically where The first Naruto episode/chapter came along. Soon! Till next update. Adios.