So I meant to upload last Thursday... but obviously I didn't. Anyway I'm uploading a large chunk today!

So disclaimer time! I do not own Naruto or the characters.

"Zabuza is Alive"

In any normal circumstance their mouths would have dropped and the shock would of hit them hard but even for Tazuna it was hard to pull a reaction in face of the scene in front of him.

Kakashi sitting up with Naruto sitting in his lap wrapped tightly in his arms. He even had the nerve to nuzzle the boy while making such a statement. And at first Tazuna had visibly paled but like with most of the people they knew the scene kind of grew on you and you got used to it.

"So what now?"

Sasuke said official awake after Sakura had revived him from his 'nap'

"Training"

Kakashi said calmly as he nuzzled into Naruto always finding it remarkable that it was always so soft.

"TRAINING!? HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY HAVE TIME FOR TRAINING!?"

Kakashi let his fingers dance over Naruto's hands gently.

Gentle...

Gentle…..

At least in front of the kids…

"We have time, Zabuza will need time to recover so that gives us just enough time."

"BUT STILL! WHAT DO YOU THINK WE CAN DO AGAINST EVEN A MAN YOU STRUGGLED WITH!?"

Kakashi almost didn't hear the girl because Naruto shifted in his lap to make himself more comfortable and the action made a weak Kakashi heady; but he shook it off,

"Sakura who helped me when i was struggling?"

The girl calmed down,

"You guys just keep getting better. Naruto's plan, Sasuke's skills and the trust in you to protect the client… you guys have become an amazing team."

Sasuke looked away in embarrassment. The man really never played favorites. Naruto smiled,

"Sounds like fun to me, i love training!"

"Sounds stupid"

All the occupants in the room turned to the young boy standing in the doorway,

"Inari!"

Tazuna yelled smiling, But Naruto pouted,

"What's with this brat? Doesn't he know someone who doesn't like training will grow up and be fat ya know"

Inari looked confused

"Wait.. didn't Sakura say she hated training the other day?"

Sasuke chimed remembering the whining when they had to run for stamina, Sakura twitched before she turned fiercely on the blonde who Kakashi had reluctantly released,

"YOU TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING?! HUH?!"

Tsunami who happened to be Tazuna's daughter walked in at that point ignoring the fact that Sakura was practically strangling Naruto,

"Inari welcome home"

The little boy with the hat turned to his mother and then looked at the weird people in the house,

"Mom those guys… they're all going to die huh?"

The room grew silent before Naruto burst out yelling,

"WHAT THE HELL?! I AIN'T PLANNIN' ON DYING YA KNOW!"

"NARUTO WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE YELLING AT A CHILD!?"

"You can't win against them… not Gato"

Inari muttered but they all heard.

"OI SHUT UP YOU PESSIMISTIC BRAT! I DON'T CARE ABOUT WINNING OR WHAT NOT BUT I SAID THAT I WOULD PROTECT EVERYONE SO DON'T LOOK DOWN ON THIS SUPER HERO! BELIEVE IT!"

Naruto smiled brightly but Inari just scoffed,

"What are you stupid? There are no such things as superheroes"

Inari didn't see it as he turned his head around. Even Tsunami and Tazuna didn't see it because they were watching the young child. But Team seven did; they saw the way blue eyes hardened into ice and Naruto took a dangerous step forward. And had Kakashi not put up a hand to stop him who knows what Naruto would have done.

But they didn't see it. Inari turned back only in time to see the ice melt and them watching him,

"If you don't want to die… you should leave."

Then he left the room closing the door behind him.

'Good riddance'

Sasuke thought.

"So what are we going to do?"

Sasuke said calmly but on the inside he was thrilled. This man was one who knew 1000 jutsu's! which ones would he teach them? How powerful would they be? He could barely contain himself.

"Well something i've begun to notice is all of you lack chakra control."

Sakura perked, Lady Rin in many of her lectures went over the fundamental reason why it was so important but theory and actually applying it were two different things the latter was something she had not mastered.

"Chakra...control? The hell?"

Sakura snapped,

"NARUTO TELL ME YOU'RE NOT THAT STUPID THAT YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS!"

Naruto looked away rubbing his neck as usual,

"I just don't know the words ya know…"

"WE LEARNED THIS IN THE ACADEMY!"

"I…. slept through it… i guess"

Even Sasuke groaned,

"Maa Maa, he may just not know the technical term but perhaps he's done the exercises. Sakura how much training have you done in that area?"

Now Sakura looked sheepish,

"Well Lady Rin did cover it…. But she said we should learn from our teachers, I've meditated but that's all…"

Kakashi nodded,

"What about you Sasuke?"

Sasuke looked away,

"Big brother said i wasn't ready yet…"

Kakashi nodded,

"Well there are two basic exercises in order to gain better chakra control"

Kakashi put up one finger,

"Tree climbing,"

Then another finger,

"And water walking"

Both sounded stupid to Sasuke

Then he turned to Naruto,

"I'm sure THAT man has at least gone over one of them with you right?"

Naruto smiled,

"Yea!"

Tch so the dobe did know..

"As i thought, which one did he cover?"

"Both!"

That made Sasuke and Sakura's head spin,

"Both!?"

"Yeah, my chakra was dog poop so pervy sage worked me like a horse."

Pervy sage…. Sasuke tucked the information away.

Kakashi nodded,

"As i thought, he just didn't tell you what it was for. In any case we will start with tree climbing and despite Naruto already knowing it, i expect you to continue training along with the team."

Kakashi moved limping to a tree.

"Controlling chakra is not the only thing this exercise teaches."

They watched the older man place one foot on the tree,

"Balancing and weighing with the proper control also teaches self regulation."

Sakura and Sasuke's mouth dropped as they watched their crippled teacher walk casually up the tree.

"In other words controlling your emotions."

Sasuke scoffed,

"Guess you didn't master it"

Looking pointedly at Naruto who fumed,

"WHAT WAS THAT YOU STUPID DU-"

This time Sakura didn't even wait before he finished his sentence before she conked him roughly on the head and sending him back a few steps.

"What was that?..."

Naruto shivered looking at the menacing girl.

"In any case practice makes perfect"

Kakashi remarked as he reached the ground again,

"And how about this, the one who shows the best improvement will receive a special reward from me; that i'm sure you'll enjoy"

He said with an eye smile. Sasuke's eyes widened in anticipation,

Learning a cool new jutsu!

Sakura blushed,

Having alone time with Sasuke!

And Naruto simply looked away not at all as happy as the others,

A gift from Kakashi?...I can't see that ending well…..