Time has gone on for many moons. And it is with the passing of a short time that another, very anticipated chapter of cutting strings is released. Yes, after this long deliberation (A word I picked up from a gum wrapper) I have, with this, finally freakin' updated.
Cue giant robot space battle.
Shippuden has its high points and low points, as I'm sure your aware (I don't know if you've noticed, but the show hasn't exactly been holding up to standards, last time I checked). Cutting strings will also have these, hopefully more high then low.
Whats the story so far? Who is what now? Why does it take me so long to update?
Well to answer your questions: Naruto's back from journey (Huge surprise), Everyones older by about two years give or take, and it takes me so long to update, because I'm lazy.
Its been so long...I can't quite...wait, its coming back...its almost th-
READ!
The gravely crunching under their feet was abruptly changed as both student and master stepped softly through the gates of Konoha, moving from the roads that lined the country to the pristine concrete associated with both there original home villages.
"So, you still remember everything?" The older of the two said chuckling. The man was garbed in his normal attire, not to say that it was normal in its slightest. Some would state that walking around in green and red kabuki clothing, sporting a haircut that gave a porcupine a run for its money was not what you could call fashionable. Some people are very observant. And very stupid.
"As if it were yesterday." The second voice, distorted with a metallic thrill spoke, eyes cast upwards at the sun and everything under it.
He was home.
A sudden scuffling under the knapsack on his back drew his attention. The thick cloth was churning violently as though something wanted out, and as the scuffling grew in apex, a head violently poked through a hole in the side of the roof flap. Soft orange fur lined the adorable muzzle of none other then a fox, by name of Aiko.
The fox hopped happily out of the bag, trotted in a circle and sat, looking up at the numerous and slightly shabby looking structures that made up Konoha's landscape. "It looks a lot different in my opinion." The animal spoke up, drawing the conversing pair's attention.
"Hm? Its not that different."
"You'll get lost anyways, Naruto-kun."
Naruto frowned. "I have a perfect sense of direction, Aiko-chan. We won't get lost. Look, me and her are going to go look around and get reacquainted, you try not to get too smash drunk. We have to get debriefed after this ero-sennin." The blonde boy started to walk away.
The older man just grumbled "Your not the boss of me." Under his breath, before promptly leaving in a different direction.
Naruto trotted beside his faithful pet/friend, at a slow trot to keep pace with the nostalgia that bubbled up inside him. Stands, walkways, neon signs, everything conjured memories. He ignored the bad ones, favoring what few good times he'd had.
"Nene-neechan?"
The soft voice of his foxy counterpart drew his attention. Looking down, along with several very surprised civilians, he raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
"Can we get something to eat?"
He smiled. "Yeah, I'm not particularly hungry but we can get you something. Anything in mind?"
"Weeeelll....now that you mention it..."
"Ichiraku's?" The fox nodded happily, and Naruto sighed. "Just don't go crazy alright?" If a fox could smile, she did. "Okay, if I remember my way around, then the stand should be just a few blocks from here."
Aiko however shook her head as she headed in the opposite direction. "I can smell the ramen from here Naruto-kun. I'm to hungry to get lost right now, so please just follow."
"My sense of direction isn't that bad, is it?"
Aiko didn't answer.
"Aiko, seriously, you don't seriously think my sense of direction is that bad do you? Its at least better then Kakashi's."
Again, no answer.
"Seriously? Worse then Kakashi's?"
Aiko was chuckling internally as she refused to answer him.
"Well whatever, that's your opinion.
"...worse then Kakashi's though? I can't be that bad."
Finally Aiko cracked and started to giggle, dawning on Naruto he'd been had. "Your too much Naruto-kun. Now please, we're here, so please get a bowl? I feel like beef." Naruto chuckled at her joke, parting the curtains that separated the ramen stand from the street.
"Ohyaho, welcome to Ichi-Holy crap its you!" The usual ramen maker spoke up happily, recognizing the boy despite the clear changes in appearance and height. "I haven't seen you in over two years Naruto! I don't suppose your here to eat huh? Just greet?" Naruto hung his head too the side, indicating too the fox that had hopped up onto a stool.
"She insisted on coming here immediately. I wouldn't mind catching up on the changes in the village, I'm having a little trouble getting around according to her." A sharp yipping noise followed this; Teuchi would have been thoroughly confused if he wasn't acquainted with the pair already. He was aware of their more then strange...dynamic.
"Well, not much has changed. A few statues were erected, the stadiums repairs finished about two months ago. The new chuunin exam will be starting if your interested."
Naruto cringed internally at the fact he was still technically a genin. "Y-yeah, that is good to know."
Teuchi smirked. "Ayame isn't here right now, she's in the land of water on business, so right now I have two idiots in the back doing the cooking."
Naruto's smile softened. "I'm sorry she isn't here, I would have been glad to talk to her."
Teuchi nodded, taking a swig of a beverage. "Same here, but business if business. And between you and me I think she might have met someone."
Naruto's eyes widened, but then he smiled, his eyes curving up being the only way to tell. "I'm glad to hear."
Teuchi didn't seem to agree however, "I wouldn't hold my breath, if that poor bastard thinks he's gonna get a free ride, he's got another thing coming."
The man was a protective father, something Naruto could respect. A sharp *burp* cut the air, turning he realized Aiko's bowl was empty and she was tapping it with her paw. Demanding seconds probably. "Look, look, you got your meal, and frankly eating ramen can't be good for your health. I'll take a bowl to go Teuchi-san. And don't give me that look." He indicated towards the fox, whose eyes were shut tight and tongue stuck out.
Teuchi just laughed as he put together a bowl with as fine a skill as he could muster, "A treat for her later I take it?"
Naruto didn't nod, instead putting it in his bag. "Something like that. Thank you for the information. I'll see you around." Teuchi nodded with a wave.
"Okay, so where now?" Aiko said, hopping up onto Naruto's shoulder.
"Well, I suppose we have some time to sightsee I guess. We need a high vantage point though, I hate to admit it but I've completely lost myself."
Aiko looked down at him and sighed. "You are truly helpless, aren't you Naruto-kun?"
He mocked a hurt look. "I'll have you know I'm a very skilled ninja."
She rolled her eyes.
"Ah, perfect. This will do." He indicated to a large telephone poll.
Aiko nodded, hopping off and circling it. "Looks good Naruto-kun."
He placed his foot against it, channeling the chakra needed with little a thought, and stepped onto it defying gravity itself. "That trick always surprises me. I really have to get around to learning it." Aiko said to herself as he made it too the top.
He stopped breathing for a moment as awe swept him away. The village was as amazing as he remembered. The vast metropolis was nestled under the monument, building after building stretching together in a maze of complex infrastructure. He loved his home. Despite all that had happened to him here, he'd missed this place.
"Oi! Do you see anything!" A cut voice snapped him out of his awe, and he looked down at the annoyed fox, who was again drawing looks from passing couples.
"R-right!" 'Yeesh, can't even enjoy a moment,' He admonished to himself, scanning the village's entirety for his home. Well there was the Hokage palace, so his home should be...there!
He was shocked to see that the remains of his home were practically gone; from this distance at least two floors were missing! Before Naruto could muster his feelings however a voice spoke up. "Oi!" Looking down at his counterpart, another shock rang his body.
Beside his pet kneeled a very familiar figure, who was currently petting the exuberant fox. "You come back to this village without so much as a hello, and you expect me to let you walk around without any trouble?" Said figure stood up, giving Naruto a good look at her now blossoming figure.
"Its good to see you Sakura." He spoke loudly towards her, making his way down. In the back of his mind he made a note to question her on why his home looked so charred from his vantage point.
"It's good to see you too." She said, wrapping her arms around his figure.
It's been too long was her first thought. But he was back, and she was happy, though a little annoyed at the no warning though. "You really need to start sending more letters Naruto."
He looked down, humphing at her words. "Yeah, just another habit of mine I guess. I'm glad to be back though." She nodded.
Taking a seat at a bench shadowed behind a shop selling figurines, the two were silent as they watched Aiko trot around, keeping herself busy with curiosity. "A lots happened while you were gone."
He nodded, "I noticed, Teuchi tells me I can take the chuunin exam in a little while."
Sakura smiled. "All of the rookie nine have made chuunin or higher."
Naruto's head snapped at her, something that made her giggle. "Geez, you leave for two years, your whole world is upside down," He said to himself, though Sakura smiled at this.
"Yeah, a lot has changed while you were gone."
Silence reigned, and Naruto took this small opportunity to look over at his teammate. She had grown; sporting a figure many people her age would have gladly sold precious commodities for. Rose red seemed to be her favorite color still.
Sporting a red top without sleeves, a pair of tight green shorts adjourned with a light pink protective flap at her hip and feet she wore the same highbrid heel-sandals many older kunoichi wore.
"I missed you." She finally spoke up.
"Yeah, I missed you and everyone too. I can't help noticing some remodeling has been done too my home however." Sakura's head shot up, before she looked down.
"...there was a fire about a year and a half ago...arson is expected, although no information was released..."
Naruto remained silent, before sighing. "Yeah...I figured as such. Well, most of the building is still intact, but I can't tell if from here my room is still there. Wanna walk and talk?" Sakura looked back up, surprised at his nonchalantness.
'He's...more mature...' She thought to herself when she stood up.
Stepping out from behind the more cramp section of the town, they came too the open waterways of the city. Pristine water flowed down the middle towards the gates, casting the light of the sun in a sparkling sheen over the water. Sakura had always liked it here. Unbeknownst to her this was the spot Gai and Kakashi had engaged Kisame and Itachi two years ago.
Aiko trotted along, hopping onto Naruto's back securely and watching the waters flow. "I've been wondering where everyone else is. Other then you, the only other person I've seen so far has been old man Teuchi."
Sakura nodded. "Yeah, life goes on I guess. They're all on missions and the like. Ne Naruto?"
He looked from the water towards her. "Yes?"
"I can't help noticing...you seem REALLY different. I don't mean just how you're dressed." She indicated towards the now white and no longer tattered poncho or the large ornate necklace he wore. "I mean how you're acting. Your just...you don't seem like the same person." Naruto looked back at the water, before a small chuckle rose from him.
Sakura couldn't remember a time he'd chuckled. "Yeah...I suppose its just the time I was away brought a whole other perspective on myself. I went through a lot before I left, and even now I don't quite have my head wrapped around everything. A few times I thought I might go crazy while I was away."
'You have no idea...' Sakura thought to herself.
"But...I overcame that. And I think for the first time in a long time I'm enjoying life. I had a long trip and I'm better for it, I suppose is what I'm getting at."
Sakura nodded. "I'm glad. You always seemed so down. Not that you didn't have a reason to be."
He looked down. "Yeah, no kidding...But that's then, and this is now. As in now I have to go see the Hokage, as the ANBU that's been waiting for an opportunity too inform me is getting impatient. Tsunade is waiting."
"You noticed that too?" He nodded. "Wow, you did improve. Although I can't say everything's improved. That necklace of yours makes you look a little goofy." She joked.
Naruto's eyes squinted in a smile a bit as she chuckled. "Well, lets just say it was a gift from someone special. Maybe I'll tell you about it later if you're lucky." He walked off with a wave, his fox mimicking his arm with her tail.
"H-he met someone?" Sakura asked herself disbelievingly. She would have to grill him later...
"Well, you really kept this lady waiting." Tsunade admonished, scribbling a date down while her guests stood across form her.
"...I told you not to get drunk ero-sennin." Naruto's sidelong look was met with a disgruntled frown from his teacher.
"Yeah yeah, your smarter than I am you little brat. And I'm a man, I dictate too myself whether I drink or not." He said, crossing his arm
"Your an alcoholic. Your say is invalid." Tsunade spoke up, although just gave her a look.
"Takes one to know one." He said under his breath.
This was rebottled by Tsunade's fist, which sent him through the wall.
"Now, him aside, I need to get a better look at you." She said, standing up and walking around her desk. "You were away a long time, and no calls or letters. I know for a fact that idiot had at least one opportunity to send safe messages; Akatsuki is not omnipotent after all. But nothing? I should send you through the wall just like he is." She said, circling round. Naruto didn't flinch, however, he did have the decency to look sheepish.
"My apologies. It just never occurred to me. It was essentially nonstop training from day one."
Tsunade nodded 'That's just like him.'
"Well, still, there's only one thing to do with someone as disobedient as you." She suddenly without warning flicked his forehead, making him double back. "And of course, this is for coming back alive."
Her arms suddenly wrapped around him, taking the slightly dazed boy by surprise. "A-a thank you..." He said, blushing a little at the close contact. There was a pause. "U-uh Tsunade-sama? You can let go now."
She suddenly pulled back at arms length, ruffling his hair. "Right, of course. I understand, you were never that big on contact. Although I don't recall a no when I offered you that help-"
Naruto raised his hands in alarm. "D-don't say that so loud. Ero-sennin might still be conscious, and if he were to find out about that help you gave me, well..." He trailed off.
"Oh your just too cute. Look, on a slightly darker note, your in need of a place to stay, if your not aware." Naruto's happy demeanor faltered a little, but he remained at least in a good mood.
"Most of the building is still intact, at least from what I could tell. Its fine." Tsunade shook her head, waving a hand. "I will hear nothing of it. You're a vital person, and it just so happens you have several people who immediately spoke up after the fire about you staying with them until repairs were made. The only reason the building isn't intact NOW is due to...well political problems."
"Yeah, its in the slums area. The council always had a tendency to shirk off work there especially, even when Sarutobi-sama was in office."
Tsunade nodded. "Until a better home is in place you can stay here. There are several emergency cots that no one uses, blankets are in a closet on the second floor."
Naruto nodded. "Thank you."
"Now on a different note, there's someone who wants to see you as well. You can come out now." Through the gaping hole in the wall strutted a figure Naruto hadn't seen in a long time.
"Yo." Hatake Kakashi waved, his eye in a smiley.
"Ah, Kaka-sensei, I'm glad to see you. I have something that might interest you." Naruto exclaimed suddenly. Kakashi's eyebrow rose, but he remained silent.
"Ah-ha, here it is!"
He held up something that actually made Kakashi's heart stop for a moment, reaching out to it slowly in astonishment. "No...it can't be...my whole life has been worth it, if only...if only...
"IF ONLY TO READ THE NEW ICHA ICHA!" He cried into the air, raising the latest novel in the series, Icha Icha tactics. "!" He cried happily, crushing Naruto in a hug.
"Y-your welcome."
'Never seen him like this before. The changes just keep coming...' Naruto thought to himself while trying to get over this strange development.
Slowly Kakashi inched the cover open. The room was lit with the brightest flash of light any had ever seen, as though the purest angel had arisen from the novels first page. And then Kakashi commenced reading. Several minutes floated by. "K-Kakashi..." Tsunade spoke up, an extremely disgruntled look on her face.
'Honestly, he's worse then Gai when you get him riled up enough...'
"Kakashi, you were here for something...?" Tsunade trailed off.
Kakashi didn't look up when he answered. "Oh? Right, it's good to see you and my new issue of porn Naruto. I was hoping to have some time to catch up, but since there was a delay in when you could come, I've decided to skip right to the point."
Naruto nodded. "Its good to see you to."
"Meet me at the old training grounds in ten. And bring supplies, you'll need them." Kakashi said with a wave.
Naruto smiled to himself, turning back to his Hokage. "I'd better hurry then. Sorry to keep you before." Tsunade just smiled. "Its alright. I'll see you later." Naruto turned to leave but was stopped.
"Oh, one more thing." Tsunade spoke up.
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you got rid of the goggles. You always had very striking eyes." Naruto turned, though Tsunade couldn't see it; and blushed.
"Y-yeah. I'll see you later." The door closed with a shut.
From the side of the room Shizune suddenly stepped out. "Ah, Shizune, I'm glad your here. I need you to wake up Jiraiya."
She gave her a puzzled look. "Jiraiya? What's going on?"
"Naruto? This is the second time today." Sakura exclaimed at seeing her friend at late-mid day.
Naruto was equally surprised. "Yeah, Kaka-sensei sent me here ten minutes ago. Why, I have no idea. But from the nostalgia I'd say training or a test." Sakura hmmed, but was interrupted by a familiar person.
"Your dead right Naruto. I'm here to administer a test, or gauge of your current abilities. Since we're still a semi-active team; despite all that's happened, this will be a good way to catch up on one another's abilities. This will be good for me, as a teacher needs to know just how are his students have come." Kakashi didn't once look up from his book.
"Yeah, it figures I just got a manicure before this." Sakura sighed, brandishing her sparkling nails. Also pink, Naruto noted.
"Well, I'm sorry, but Naruto's appearance has put me at a fault here. I just want this to get out of the way quickly."
Sakura sighed "Naruto, seriously I'm glad your back, but if I break a nail-" Her knuckle cracked "-Your dead."
Naruto inched back a little, surprised at the raw display of fury. '...she's...TOO much like Tsunade...'
"Anyways, so what's this test on Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi just smiled his ever-so-creepy smile. "Why its a very familiar test of course."
*Jingle-jingle*
Sakura's and Naruto's faces went slack at the slowly tottering chime of bells. Two silver clinkers dangling from a string was not something either were unfamiliar with.
"Takes you back huh?" Sakura smiled nostalgically while Naruto shrugged.
"Yeah. The test begins when this c(l)ock goes off" (reference). "And lets keep this quick okay? I have a new book to read through." Kakashi waved his novel.
Naruto smiled. "Oh we will."
Sakura smirked as well.
The crank of the spring in the clock cast itself over the clearing as Kakashi wound the clock. "Test begins soon. You three might want to go hide yourselves." Neither budged however, something that surprised Kakashi. "Um, guys? Point of the test is to gauge your abilities as ninja. I can't do that if you don't ACT like ninja." Naruto answered for the two.
"Oh, we know. Its kinda pointless to go hide if your going to be watching us the whole time though sensei."
Sakura nodded "It would ultimately be pointless. So we'll engage you in the open until your distracted enough or an opportunity presents itself."
Kakashi sighed. "You two truly have grown up. Yeah, it would be pointless-"
*cling-cling-cling*
The match was on.
Naruto backpedaled as Sakura leapt high towards her target. Kakashi suddenly blurred into nothing, which caught Sakura's attention when she landed in a crouch. 'Behind. Nope. Above. Nope. That leaves-'
"Below!" Her fist impacted the ground with tremendous force, the earth cracking into pieces and splitting apart.
There Kakashi sat in a daze. "T...that's a bit over the top."
Naruto agreed, "Yep, she is TOO much like Tsunade."
Sakura smiled at her opponent. "That trick won't work twice Sensei."
Kakashi just smiled. "I suppose a more direct approach is in order then." Kakashi exploded from his crouch into the air, above Sakura before coming down onto her with both the force of the fall and his leg.
The blow connected with her arm, which didn't budge under the force. "...you've improved." Kakashi admonished. Sakura just smiled, before grabbing his leg and swinging him over her arm. The jounin was sent hurling towards the blonde puppeteer. Naruto's joints cracked as he briefly reviewed his options. He came to a more subtle and commonplace move of his.
His hands clapped together, forming a mesh of chakra strings before threw them around the body of Kakashi while it sailed past. Kakashi gagged as his entire upper body was incased in the chakra restrictions. Naruto smirked. It was short lived as Kakashi burst into a log a second later. "Replacements, oh how I hate replacements." Naruto's red-eyes gained a slight glow to them.
"Wow, never seen your eyes do that before Naruto. Then again I never REALLY got a good look at them before." Sakura said as she trotted over.
Naruto's eyes lost their glow, growing calm. "Yeah, they do that when I'm annoyed. The higher the glow the more angry I am."
Sakura smirked. "Well don't tell me that, then it'll be WAY to easy to read you." Naruto just rolled his eyes.
"Okay, so now we gotta find our teacher then..." He trailed off, looking around. "Any ideas?"
Sakura shook her head. "Knowing him he's probably in a tree somewhere reading his stupid book. Wonder where he got a new copy..."
Naruto just scratched the back of his skull. "...yeah, a real wonder..."
Meanwhile in a tree, Kakashi caught that same comment and scowled. It was a little disturbing how close they were to him and familiar with his techniques and practices. It also upset him that at least one of them was so ignorant of the sheer awesomeness that was Icha Icha. Watching them above he waited for some sign he had been discovered.
The two however seemed more interested in just idly chatting. "They don't take this situation seriously at all."
"Well that is where your wrong sensei." Kakashi whirled at the voice and had stopped himself from falling. In the branch behind him sat one Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura, crouching with palms raised in greeting. Kakashi frowned, swiveling his eye towards the two who had apparently been clones. He was right, the telltale puff of smoke informing him of all he needed to know.
"I didn't even see either of you use a seal. Or replace yourselves. That...that's great!" Kakashi smiled. "You two have obviously improved. However, your too naive to think that you can steal a bell from me that easily." With that, Kakashi burst into smoke. Sakura looked at Naruto and Naruto looked at Sakura.
"Figures." Both said to themselves. "He's probably off towards somewhere to hide or somewhere he has a higher strategic advantage."
Sakura sighed. "Mai, you'd think after all this time at least some of his habits would have changed." Naruto shook his head.
"But that's where you're wrong." Both ninja twitched as a familiar voice sounded over the still night. "Since you two are so clear on my usual tactics, I think I'll take one out of Gai's book. Come at me with everything you've got. And come at the same time, I want this to last more then three seconds." Kakashi stood at the edge of a clearing, his hand raised in a 'come-on' sign.
"Well, that's different." Naruto laughed, hopping down to the forest floor. "Together then Sakura?" She nodded. In a flash they disappeared from the forest floor and canopy respectively.
'Shunshin.' Kakashi's eye squinted. There technique was flawless it seemed, as there was no blurring, just a seemingly instantaneous movement.
One behind him, and one in crouching in front of him. Unable to move with a pair of arms wrapped around his own arms and waist, Kakashi looked helplessly as Sakura wound up. "Shannaro!" Her fist connected with him at that moment, hurling both Kakashi and Naruto straight up into the air.
Before two logs slammed into the ground, one with a smoking crater in its bark. Sakura cracked her knuckle in irritation as Naruto reappeared before them. "Damn he knows how to replace fast. Wonder why he didn't switch with me instead of a log?"
Sakura shook her head. "Because he knows you, and he probably guessed you'd replace yourself and a log wouldn't protect him."
Meanwhile in a tree Kakashi laid sprawled, looking a tad freaked out. "...that...that was close..." his eye twitched. "I'm not taking them seriously enough. Time to crack out the big guns." With that, he curled up and walked around the tree. "Oi!" The two heads spun to look at their teacher. "I apologize for not giving you two the proper respect-"
His hand raised to his forehead protector, and revealed his greatest weapon. "I won't make the same mistake twice."
Kakashi hunched and exploded high into the air, somersaulting before bring his foot around. For a moment he lay framed against the moon, coiled to strike. Then he fell.
"Getsuei-Kiba Kakou!" (Moon-fang drop) Kakashi fell with unprecedented accuracy and power.
"On my mark we move." Sakura hastily snapped.
"Hn." Naruto nodded.
Kakashi's kick descended faster, catching the moons rays with a silvery ark trailing form Kakashi's ankle. "NOW!' Sakura leaped left, Naruto right.
Kakashi missed them sparingly. In her mind as Sakura cart wheeled she congratulated herself.
It was short lived. Kakashi hit the ground-
And then fell through it like it was water. "Gah?!" Sakura blanched while Naruto just stared surprised. Then his instincts kicked in. "Gotta make this fast!" His wooden hands suddenly clasped together in preparation-
"Your too late. Bu-meran handou!" (Boomerang kick) Kakashi's leg exploded out from the dirt, his hard toe cracking into Naruto's chin, sending him cart wheeling. The blonde landed in a heap.
"Naruto!" Sakura shouted, taking off after him.
Kakashi turned to meet this commotion, "She was always a little too emotional." He sighed.
"Kind of like how you never pay attention." A surprisingly boisterous voice called from the treetops.
"What the-?" Kakashi blanched yet again that day as the very same boy in white and black clothing stood on a tree branch, eyes smiling.
"But thats-" Kakashi looked around at the still body, which was now standing.
The head popped up, and to his surprise it was a wooden replica of Naruto's own face. "You...made a puppet of yourself..." Kakashi's eye twitched.
"Oh it gets better then that." The puppets stance shifted to a wide crouch, Naruto's signature wrist-blades popping out simultaneously. Kakashi noted that they were a thicker and longer model then Naruto's original design.
"He has his own chakra network." Naruto added before the puppets hands flew together in a seal. "Katon: Goukyakuu no jutsu!" Naruto's voice shouted from the trees. The puppets mask broke apart and split forth a fireball of 'grand' proportions, its heat steaming the air around it. Kakashi had precious seconds-
And he used them well, leaping around the path of the ball and somersaulting away. The puppet turned to meet him, but suddenly faltered before collapsing. "Eh?" Kakashi quirked his eyebrow.
Naruto shook his head "Well, I said he has a chakra network. I didn't say it was very big." The other two sweat-dropped.
"Right, well, if that's all you've got-" A swipe from Sakura cut the man off. She was now inside his guard and was making short work of him. A front-somersault kick followed by two more swings forced him to backpedal hard, only to be met by a similar offensive from Naruto. There double teaming was uncanny.
"Shit-" He leaped above the boy as his four arms flashed out quickly, inches from severing Sakura's scalp, who had ducked for a low punch. Kakashi landed, before standing up. He then started clapping. "In such short time you two have become such excellent ninja. But you still have a way to go if you think such rudimentary tactics." Kakashi took his book out and flipped a page.
"You mean like faking my puppets death then forcing you towards the seemingly unconscious puppet so it can attack you?"
"Yes, something like that is-"
*ZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAP!*
Kakashi's body lit up twitching and spasming violently as a large voltage of electricity arced its way up his body, courtesy of a helping hand from Naruto's puppet. The spasms stopped abruptly, Kakashi's arms falling limp at his sides. Naruto and Sakura remained silent, watching carefully.
"You didn't tell me you had learned electrical attacks Naruto." A voice from the far end of the clearing alerted them of a presence. From the shadows of dusk stepped one Hatake Kakashi, looking unharmed and serious.
"Well, I actually installed him with a battery. You never know when a sharp charge comes in handy." Naruto smiled.
"Ah. Well at any rate-" The very fried clone exploded.
"-The test will end with this." With a click Kakashi pulled out a favorite scroll of his. With a flick of a kunai his thumb bled slightly, and with a flick of his wrist the scroll was unfurled. In mid air he ran a thumb along its surface, leaving a long line of blood. With a twirl and a flip it landed perpendicular to a seal.
"Kuchiyose no jutsu" There was no smoke however.
Sakura and Naruto twitched, before leaping into the canopy. Where they'd been standing dogs snapped out of the earth, from their stance they likely intended to hold them in place.
"You guys dodged that, and moved out of range. But the bells are down here, and your time is running out." Kakashi flipped a page in his book, which had mysteriously appeared.
The two remained silent for a moment, watching the seemingly still ground. "Sakura, how fast can you run?"
She shook her head. "I'm strong, not fast. This is more you or..." She trailed off, not wanting to say his name. Naruto appreciated it.
"Its fine. There's a technique I've been practicing that I've been meaning to use. In a situation for speed its the next best thing over another technique I'd rather not use..."
Sakura raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "What is it?" Naruto looked up to her and smiled with his eyes, something Sakura was starting to find was creepy.
"An old crowd favorite." His chakra spiked.
With a swish his poncho was spun around so to keep the flap out of his way. His upper-body was revealed, his four arms clicked in preparation. With a flick of his wrists two hands worth of chakra strings were invisibly propelled across the clearing. Sakura could more feel their presence, and was even more surprised at Naruto's next move.
With a seal two Kage Bunshin sprouted at his sides. "Light me." They nodded at his request. With a snap his wrist blades popped out, improved the same way his new toys had been. The two set to work, channeling his chakra in a whirling fashion.
'D-double Rasengan?' Sakura blanched.
The control to do such a technique was at her level at least, and the amount of chakra was still moderate! But Naruto just smirked her way the only way he could. "Oh just wait for the crowd pleaser." As the chakra formed the two clones suddenly burst, the smoke whirling around the twin incomplete balls of death.
Then the still unformed chakra morphed.
It wrapped itself around Naruto's blades, innate runes not visible in the light suddenly lighting with the same blue fire as chakra. The chakra churned and coiled around the blades before coming long, thin blades of whirling ripping chakra. "I'll explain right after this." He said towards her stunned face.
His legs coiling and arms bracing back were the only warning before he exploded towards his target.
From the ground Kakashi had watched astonished. The small warning of Naruto's tense legs was a good warning however, and he prepared to move.
If he hadn't he likely surmised he'd have died right then and there.
"KoJiten: RasenKEN!" (Big-spin: Spiraling blade) The chakra knives exploded past the man, catching his body in the kick-up of the attack. He was sent spiraling badly away, his arm bleeding from the sharp vacuum the attack had generated. He was nothing compared to the trees that had been behind him, now reduced to shreds less then timber. Several toppled over from the now gaping holes in there trunks.
Kakashi got up, sat on his ass, and stared. Sakura gaped for a moment, before steadily walking over to where her teacher sat. They remained silent for a brief period, before Kakashi cut the silence. "And I thought your super strength was scary..."
"...yeah." She nodded in shock.
From the rubble for trunks stepped a little disoriented Naruto. With a wobble in his step he walked several meters from where they were, stopped, before turning around suddenly and throwing up. "...and that's just gross." The other two present said as Naruto wiped his mouth, glad his mask automatically snapped aside when he needed it.
He'd rather not smell THAT until he could get to a sink...
"...so..." He said childishly. Sakura set to speak before there was a cracking in the ground under Naruto's feat. His eyes widened moments before he was pulled to his waist under ground. The dogs from before, the entire squad, suddenly wrapped all of his limbs in there maws, growling. The smallest had him by the neck.
"Don't move or we find out just how much YOU CAN bleed." He growled.
"Y-yeah..." Naruto trailed off, a comical tear running down his face.
"Okay...what the HECK was that?" Kakashi asked.
"T-that was a technique for the Rasengan I developed. My blades have runes that move chakra towards them. If you spin and control the Rasengan like normal it goes around them, becoming pointed and a lot more potent. But a side effect is the air is displaced by the high rotation, so if you spin it too quickly..."
"Your pulled forward by the wind."
Naruto nodded. "I think my clones over did it a little..."
Kakashi nodded. "...that's an incredibly deadly technique Naruto. Even at slow speeds the chakra would make your knives into a hypersonic chainsaw. They'd cut through most or all conventional metals. Put that at a pointed tip, and you've got a nasty technique."
"That's the idea. Now could you please let me go?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow as he sat up wrapping bandages around his wound. "Not until you forfeit." Naruto twitched and had to be reminded by a growl that he was a captive of his opponent.
"Umm...sensei...that won't be necessary." Sakura spoke up. Kakashi turned his head.
And his eyes bugged out.
"DAMMIT!"
Sakura smiled sheepishly, holding the two bells. "In the blast they must have been blown off and you didn't notice. I picked them up a little bit over there." She pointed too the spot.
Kakashi sat in a slump, head held towards the heavens with tears streaming down his face. "...why do you mock me so...?"
His summons grudgedly let go of the blonde, who happily pulled himself out of the soil. With a pass he had the bell. "Thanks Sakura."
"Anytime." She said with a wink.
"...I hate both of you..." Kakashi grumbled, pulling his bandages tight.
"Oh here, sensei, let me help you with that." Naruto raised an eyebrow as she placed her hands in a seal before putting them just inches above his wound. To Naruto's amazement her hands were engulfed in a familiar green of life-giving chakra.
"S-sakura, that's-!" He stopped however at her concentrated look. Remembering Tsunade's words of wisdom on how much concentration it took to do medical jutsu's he remained silent. There was a passing of time before Kakashi let out a sigh.
"That's a lot better, makes me wish I hadn't used bandages." Kakashi rolled his shoulder.
"Well keep them on for an hour. The healing isn't complete, and I'm still a novice at this."
Naruto sighed 'She's still Sakura, even if she's so much more like Tsunade.'
"Okay, well, since that's over...I'm gonna go home. I'll see you two at eight o'clock sharp." Kakashi disappeared in a shunshin.
"He's gotten more chakra." Naruto added as the night sky cast dark shadows among the leaves.
"He barely even noticed how much chakra he used today. Plus the Sharingan; he's gotten a lot stronger." Sakura admitted. "...look, Naruto. I'm glad to see you, but my parents are probably worried where I am. I'll see you soon."
"Yeah, bye Sakura-" He was taken aback as her arms suddenly wrapped around him. For a few moments he just stood still and waited for her to let go, before gently returning the hug.
"I missed you." She said in his ear before taking off suddenly. Naruto stood there before a bark caught his attention.
"Didn't Kakashi unsummon you?" He asked the small pug would threaten to cut his jugular a look.
The dog returned it or Naruto thought he returned it. "I go wherever I please."
Naruto just stared before nodding and heading off. "Aiko-can, we're done now!" From the bushes the small fox bounded.
"I saw! I saw! Naruto-kun, you made me so proud! I'm going to have to get you a treat sometime soon later..." She trailed off, hopping into his bag. Standing up Naruto walked off, but he didn't notice the small figure behind him.
"...Aiko-chan huh?"
"...a little lower....a little lowwweer....right....ooooh that's the spot..."
"You know if someone walked in on this they might think something really inappropriate was going on." Naruto's scratching slowed a little, and the small fox send him a look of confusion.
"Who could confuse a simple chin scratch Naruto-kun? Sometimes your a little too paranoid." Aiko lay on his chest and stomach in fox form, his fingers nimbly scratching her chin.
"I really don't see how scratching you is a reward for myself."
Aiko giggled. "Just think of it as...well just scratch why don't you..." she closed her eyes and the scratching picked up pace.
There was a long pause between them as Naruto tried to relax in the acceptably comfortable cot. The room was dimly lit; a single lamp in the corner of the sparsely dressed waiting room keeping things alit. Naruto thought it was nice, gave it a cozy feel. "So, first day back huh?" He trailed off, listening to the sounds of the city through the window.
"Yeah." Aiko curled into the blanket, content.
"You don't suppose tomorrow will be just as crazy do you?" Naruto asked. The fox's ear twitched, before she growled. "W-what is it?" Naruto asked alarmed.
The fox however raised a paw to his lip-area. "Sssh. I'll take care of this the only way a woman can." She hopped off his bed.
Walking over to the window she propped it open with her nose, using a soft chair for height. With a swift flick of her nose and the window was jarred open. "Oi! Baka! Go away already! You're just going to freeze to death out there after all!"
"I will wait as long as I need to! I am after all a smooth gentleman!" Pakkun the ninja pug summon called from an opposite rooftop. "I shall wait for all eternity if I must for you my beloved lady!" A shoe suddenly bashed him between the eyes.
"You'd have to wait that long, because I wouldn't be with you if you were the last dog on earth! And for the love of god, I'M A FOX YOU MORON!" With a wrench of her tail the window slammed shut. A huff escaped her snout as she trotted across the room to where Naruto lay. "We need our old apartment, it was to high for callers to easily get to my window." She sighed. Naruto just sweat dropped.
Laying back he crossed his arms behind his head.
"Tomorrows going to be different, isn't it?"
And with that, shippuden is off.
Yes. That was an unbelievably long wait, and I hope for all of you who aren't dead or dying or have lost all hope that this chapter sates you for a while.
If updates would come faster, should I write shorter chapters?
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