Author's Message:This chapter covers the middle of the Land of Waves Arc. Sorry it took a little long I wanted to take a break.
Training
Naruto wakes up to the sun light hitting his eyes the next morning. He sits himself up and stretches trying to get himself ready. As he's doing this Sasuke passes by. "Oh your already awake, come on Kakashi Sensei told me to come get you." Sasuke says
"Alright I'll be there in a second." Naruto says and Sasuke leaves.
Naruto proceeds to put in his ninja gear and clothes and heads up stairs to go see Kakashi. He arrives to see Sakura sitting besides Kakashi and Sasuke not to far standing behind her. "You wanted to see us Sensei?" Naruto asks
Kakashi barley recovered from his injury is only able to sit up and speak. "I fear that we may have been tricked by that tracker ninja yesterday, Zabuza isn't dead." Kakashi says and Sakura gains a shocked expression
Sasuke curses to himself thinking they should've killed Zabuza themselves. "I was going to tell you about that Sensei." Naruto says and everyone looks at him
"The ninja could've killed Zabuza if he didn't use those needles, those needles are meant for paralyzing someone not killing." Naruto says
"If only we figured it out sooner, no matter this just means we are going to have to get stronger while Zabuza recovers." Kakashi says
"What are we going to do Sensei?" Sakura asks and Kakashi pulls himself up on a ledge and grabs crutches he was given by Tazuna's daughter
"I'm going to train you, more specifically on chakra control." Kakashi says which makes Naruto's heart sink
"By the end of today I hope we can at least have you guys walking up walls." Kakashi says and Team 7 follows him outside into a forest near Tazuna's home.
The Genin each stand in front of a tree as Kakashi explains what they need to do. "Climbing a tree with only using your feet is a very difficult task, you must be able to control your physical and spiritual energy." Kakashi says
"It's been awhile since I tried this with him, maybe he'll get it this time." Indra says standing next to Naruto's tree
"Allow me to show you." Kakashi says as he starts walking towards a tree using his crutches
The Genin look in disbelief as Kakashi puts a foot on the tree and starts walking up and soon upside down.
"The concept seems simple but it will probably take a while." Kakashi says as he throws three kunai at the Genin's feet.
"Use these to mark your spots when you get up the tree. We're going for progress here." Kakashi says making his way back down the tree
"I already know what's going to happen but I'll try." Naruto thinks, and he focuses his chakra and once he feels ready walks towards the tree
He puts one foot on the tree but already notices his foot is not sticking. "Even after all this time I still can't do this..." Naruto thinks
Sasuke goes next running at the tree and getting a couple of steps in before he marks his spot with the kunai and jumps off. "This is going to be more difficult then I thought." Sasuke says
Sasuke looks at Naruto who has a single foot on the tree and is hanging his head clearly disappointed. "Don't have it as bad as him however, where's Sakura." Sasuke thinks
"This is fun!" Sakura says as everyone looks up and sees her sitting on a tree waving.
"Nice job Sakura." Kakashi say
"You really let her beat you, come on get focused." Indra says to Naruto
"Who knew she would beat out two Uchihas." Kakashi says and a fire ignited within Sasuke and Naruto
Naruto backs up from his tree and closes his eyes and starts to focus. He breaths in and out slowly. "It's just like activating your Sharingan just in a different place and much more focused." Naruto tells himself
Naruto opens his eyes and grips the kunai he was given. He runs at the tree and puts his first foot on it. He gets up a couple of steps and reaches the same point as Sasuke's first point, and he jumps off and lands.
"He got as far as I did?!" Sasuke says to himself, and he looks at Naruto who looks at him.
"Seems like we have a bit of a rivalry going on." Kakashi says, and he watches for a few hours as Naruto and Sasuke constantly go up and down the tree until sunset
"Naruto, Sasuke are you coming back?" Kakashi says but the two are too entranced in their training as they are making progress
"Guess not." Kakashi says shrugging his shoulders and he and Sakura leave
Naruto lands on the ground after reaching his highest point yet. "Naruto drop the kunai." Indra says
"What why?" Naruto says to Indra
"I want you to use your katana instead, that's your real weapon." Indra says and Naruto drops the kunai and pulls his katana from his back
Sasuke looks at Naruto as he's falling and sees him running up his tree katana in hand. "He's not going to get far with that thing, is he?" Sasuke thinks
Naruto and Sasuke keep going for hours upon hours until late into the night. They both stand on top of the their respective trees and pant heavily. Their clothes look dirty with how many times they had fallen down onto the ground.
"We...we did it." Naruto says
"Whatever...it means nothing if we can't get down." Sasuke says and Naruto looks at him and grips his blade
"Race you down." Naruto says, and he immediately starts running down the tree with an angry Sasuke follows right behind him
The two reach the ground at about the same time and start breathing heavily again. "Maybe it's time we go home." Sasuke says putting his hands on his knees
"Yeah we probably should because I'm doing this every time I get the chance, I'm going to get stronger." Naruto says sheathing his katana
"You just never run out of energy do you?" Sasuke says, and he and Naruto start walking to Tazuna's
"Naruto why do you want to get stronger?" Sasuke asks surprising Naruto
"Like I said during orientation I want to be the strongest ninja ever and become Hokage. If I become strong I'll be respected." Naruto says but there's silence for a moment
"What about you?" Naruto asks
"I'm getting stronger to kill a certain someone." Sasuke says tightening his fist
"You don't have to avoid it Sasuke, everyone knows who. I'm sure you've heard this plenty but I'm sorry for what happened." Naruto says
"Just shut up." Sasuke says spitefully
"Fine, we'll get stronger together how about that?" Naruto says back
Sasuke doesn't respond
"I'll take that as a yes." Naruto says laughing a little
They walk for a little longer and eventually walk through the door and see met with everyone sitting around a table about to eat dinner. "Oh would you look at that the hard workers are back." Kakashi says
"Come on you two go wash your hands and eat." Sakura says and Naruto and Sasuke go and prepare to eat dinner
Team 7 and Tazuna's family eat dinner and talk and laugh for a couple of minutes. Soon Tazuna's grandson Inari pushes back his chair and stands up.
"How can you ninja laugh knowing your going to fail?!" Inari says and everyone looks at him in confusion
"You ninja laugh and make jokes and train for no purpose. All that's going to happen is that you'll die and your dreams will fall apart!" Inari says
"Inari that's not way to speak to these people." Inari's mother says
"Naruto I think it's time I try something, I don't like this kid." Indra says in Naruto's head
"Uh sure just don't make him cry." Naruto says and he lets Indra take control of his voice
"Maybe if you weren't such a brat you wouldn't have these ideals." Naruto says
"What did you say?" Inari says
Naruto himself decides to play along and stands up in order to make this conversation more convincing. "You heard me or can those ears of yours not hear anything besides your whining?" Naruto says and Inari's mom gasp
"Naruto stop." Kakashi says
"No because he's trying to tell me to just give up and do nothing. I have the slightest feeling Gato did something to you. How about you stop whining and do something about it!" Naruto says
"This is like a completely different Naruto." Sakura thinks to herself
"Gato will just kill you like everyone else!" Inari says back
"I'll kill that bastard just to prove you wrong, in fact I'll bring back his lifeless head back if he ever dares show his face. I'll promise you that you brat." Naruto says and Inari storms off into his room
"Woah that felt good yelling at someone other than you." Indra says giving control of his voice back to Naruto
"Naruto you shouldn't have lashed out like that." Kakashi says sternly
"Sorry but he struck a nerve." Naruto says apologizing
"Eh don't worry about it, Inari needed someone to set him straight. Ever since Gato killed his well almost father he thinks Gato is all powerful." Tazuna says
"You really do know how to get people worked up don't you." Naruto thinks so Indra can hear
"What can I say I've had a lot of practice." Indra says
"Inari just needs some inspiration, bringing back Gato's head is a bit excessive however." Tazuna says
"I made it a promise now, can't back down." Naruto says
Everyone finished eating and everyone goes there separate ways to head to bed. Almost all of Team 7 every other day will be going with Tazuna to work on the bridge in the mornings. Tomorrow, Naruto will be the one to stay home. Naruto goes to sleep think by about how Indra now made him have to keep a promise about killing a gang leader.
Only One
It's Naruto's day off from working at the bridge and protecting Tazuna. He's happy he got lucky with being the one person who doesn't have to go. He and Indra agree on training today and working on what they were doing yesterday.
Naruto spends his day in the forest running up trees with his katana and working on his swing. Indra wanted to make sure that Naruto now being able to run up trees using chakra wasn't just dumb luck.
"Think your tough now just because you can finally use your chakra a little?" Indra says
"Why can't you ever be happy for me for once, it's much easier to control my chakra now just watch." Naruto says, and he throws a Flying Raijin kunai at a tree and as soon as it hits Naruto is able to teleport.
"See no delay and I still feel like I could do that a couple more times more than before." Naruto says
"Nice job then kid you can now do your little tricks easier. But I want you to focus on something else today." Indra says
"What is it?" Naruto asks
"We're going to see how long you can keep your Sharingan active for, the Sharingan for an Uchiha if used correctly can make you a high level threat to others. If we can get those eyes open for longer than the later stages should be much easier to use." Indra explains
"How many stages are there?" Naruto asks
"You are on the first stage it's a good start but there are also the second and final stage of the base Sharingan. With the final stage of the base Sharingan you'll have unimaginable reflexes and visual prowess." Indra says
"The base Sharingan, there's more?" Naruto asks again
"You really like questions, the Mongekyou Sharingan or Eternal Mongekyou Sharingan is the peak level of the Sharingan for an Uchiha. However we don't have to worry about that for now, your not ready for that level of power yet." Indra says and Naruto nods
"Glad you understand now get to meditating." Indra says and Naruto sits in the grass and activates his Sharingan
"What are you doing?" Indra asks
"Doing what you told me to do, right?" Naruto says
"Oh no I want you to meditate while standing upside down using your Sharingan, now come on we have all day but still." Indra says and Naruto sighs
Naruto walks up a tree and stands upside down on a tree branch. He reactivates his Sharingan and stands there for a minute. After about a minute Naruto falls to the ground.
"Again." Indra says sternly and Naruto tries once more but falls a little later
"Again." Indra says once more
"How long are we doing this for?" Naruto asks while standing upside down
"Until you drop or die, no other way to do it." Indra says
This process continues into the afternoon and until nightfall. Kakashi came out to check and Naruto just make sure he was ok and afterwards went back to Tazuna's. Indra has said the word Again more times today then any other time in his own life or reincarnations lives. Eventually however with a cool breeze in the night and the moon shining down on Naruto, Indra then says something.
"Alright drop." and Naruto looks at him upside down confused
"What do you mean, I'm done?" Naruto asks
"Yeah it's been three hours since you last fell, so I'll cut you some slack." Indra says and immediately Naruto falls deactivating his Sharingan and hits the grass
"Grass has never felt this good before." Naruto thinks to himself as he lies on the soft ground
"Are you going to get up or no?" Indra says
"No I think I'm just going to take a minute to rest, my brain needs some blood flow after that." Naruto says and Indra shakes his head
Naruto lies on the grass and lies on his back staring up at the dark sky. He starts counting every star he sees in his head until his eyes close, and he falls asleep.
"What an idiot." Indra says
Hours pass until the sun has barley risen and Naruto is still sleeping on the grass tired from the day before. Indra is sitting next to Naruto meditating as he doesn't want to talk to Kurama at the moment.
Indra however starts to feel a presence come closer and sees a person walk closer to Naruto.
"Naruto wake up." Indra says and Naruto flutters his eyes saying he's awake just not fully.
The person kneels in front of Naruto and reached there hand towards his neck.
"I'll just take control then." Indra says, and he uses Naruto's arm and grabs the persons wrist which wakes up Naruto
"Can I help you uh miss?" Naruto says
"You'll catch a cold sleeping out here, it's dangerous to sleep outside like this." The person says
Naruto looks at the person who woke them up they wear a pink robe with black swirls around it. There hair is long and dark along with their black eyes.
Naruto let's go if the persons wrist, and he sits up. "No it's alright I'm pretty good at sensing things even if I'm not awake." Naruto says
"I can see, you must be a strong ninja then." The person says and Naruto scratched the back of his head
"I'm not weak but I can always get stronger, what are you doing out here so early anyways?" Naruto asks
"Gathering medical herbs, I like going out early it's peaceful. I don't expect to see ninja sleeping in the grass however." The person says and Naruto laughs a little
"I was just training really hard that's all, I have to get stronger." Naruto says and the person tilts their head
"And why is that, what's your reason for wanting to be so strong? Are you not strong enough already?" The person asks
"I need to get stronger so my village respects me, and so I can become Hokage. It's my dream to someday be the strongest ninja the world has ever seen." Naruto says and the person smiles
"Hmm...sounds like a task, here help me pick some herbs, and we can talk." The person says and Naruto starts helping them pick out herbs from the grass
"So do you only fight for your village or is there anything else you fight for or maybe anyone?" The person asks
"What do you mean?" Naruto asks back
"Do you have anyone precious to you, someone that goes beyond just a friend or comrade?" The person says
"Besides my team I don't have many friends but I guess there's one person that's like that. Only one..." Naruto says trailing off at the end
"That's good, having someone like that can make you much stronger." The person says
"How so?" Naruto asks
"It's even better that's its just one person, you can put all your effort into protecting them. Your will to protect that person can be so strong that it makes you stronger whenever there in danger." The person explains and Naruto nods
"Whoever that person is, if you keep fighting for them I'm sure you'll become a strong ninja." The person says smiling at Naruto and he smiles back
"Thanks miss I really appreciate it, I'll keep that in mind." Naruto says and the person stands up
"I must get going but it was nice talking to you, I'm sure you'll be able to reach your dreams." The person says and they start walking away but then stop
"Also I'm a boy." The man says and Naruto's face freezes
"I think my heart just stopped beating." Naruto thinks to himself and off to the side he can hear Indra laugh uncontrollably
Naruto gathers himself and gets up to head back to Tazuna's. Along the way he has a dead stare even when he walks inside.
"Oh Naruto your finally ba-." Kakashi tries to say but looks at Naruto and sweat drops down his face
"I'm going to sleep." Naruto says blankly, and he heads to his sleeping bag to go to sleep and contemplate what just happened.
For the next two weeks Team 7 watches over Tazuna while he builds the bridge. Everything is calm and going well and on there off days they train on their chakra control and other exercises. The bridge is almost finished and Naruto decides to rest for his off day while the rest of Team 7 and Tazuna work. Little did he know today would not be filled with rest.