I am getting so much better at the fillerish stuff.

They met in the forest by Tazuna's house, in a nice sized clearing with tree just begging to be climbed. Kakashi, against Naomi's recommendation, decided to join the group and watched as Yura lead Team Seven through their training.

"Alright, this exercise is actually very simple. You use your chakra to stick to any vertical surface and climb up it against the flow of gravity." Naruto slowly, hesitantly, raising his hand with the most sheepish expression stalled her explanation. "Yes, Naruto?"

"What does vertical mean?" He looked embarrassed, something not helped by his teammates scoffing and Kakashi's sigh.

Yura hated then for it, scowling at them. "So he doesn't know the word, teach him so he does." Sasuke didn't seem affected by her scolding but Sakura did, actually flinching back with shame filled eyes. "Vertical means up and down Naruto, horizontal means left to right. The tree goes straight up so it is vertical space it is taking up, does that help?" Naruto nodded, a happy smile on his cute face. "Now, how do we do this and why is it important. How is easy, you channel your chakra into your feet at just the right frequency, the right amount, adjusting as needed based on how the surface feels. If it's too sticky or rough or lacks any traction...

As for why, well it is very hard to pull chakra into the soles of your feet so this gives you better understanding and control over your power. It can also be used to increase your chakra reserves. Naruto has more chakra then all of us combined, so he doesn't need that part but he does need more control so this will help there. Sakura has the least chakra here, alongside Naomi and Mio, so this will be more of an exercise in growth for her. Sasuke being in the middle, will get both benefits from this, especially if he wants to master his Sharingan when it activates. It will help with microbursts of chakra which is used often in bloodlines.

Any questions?"

Naturally, Naruto was raising his hand. " How do you know how much chakra we have, can you sense it like Aoba sensei?"

"No, my eyes can see chakra when I turn them on. Like the Sharingan actually, it is something I was born with the potential to do. Looking at you is like looking at the sun, you have so much power... it is incredible really, but your power is also super dense and overflowing since you lack control over it. I imagine you are going to have a lot of trouble with this, but that is why I am here, to help you make your adjustments so you don't hurt yourself. I have some tricks for people like you." She winked at the boy, making him blush a little.

"Like what?" Sakura piped up, looking genuinely curious.

" Well, typically you learn this technique by running up the tree like this." And she demonstrated, rushing up the tree with ease, quickly reaching the top and staying there, only turning to face the amazed genin. "However since Naruto needs more help with his more specific exercise, he is going to start by laying on the ground and get used to sticking his feet. Naomi will show you."

From behind Naruto, Naomi walked over to the tree and layed on her back. Lifting her feet, she placed then on the tree. " The trick is to try and stick your feet with just enough force that they need some force to pull them away. Not too much energy, Naruto this is important for you. Your chakra is so dense and high you might blow the tree up and hurt your coils. Sakura, your chakra is so low you might not put enough energy into it and just fall. The other trick is to recognize this requires more physical chakra then spiritual but how much is up to you to figure out."

Yura nodded, leaping down to her fellow genin. " Take out a kunai and mark your path up the tree. See how much you can do and remember the amount. I would try on your back for all of you, it is a good tool and we all learned that way. Still, it's up to you either way."

Standing back, she watched as Team Seven bar Naruto shot up the tree. Sakura, to her shock, made it almost all the way up the tree on her first try. Sasuke on the other hand only made it about fifteen or so feet before he had to flip off.

Naruto, to her pride and pleasure, did as she asked and walked over to the tree only to lay next to Naomi. "Like this?" And slowly put his feet on the tree.

"This is easy." Sakura barked out, not seeing how her words aggravated Sasuke and disheartened Naruto.

Yura smiled despite that. "Good work Sakura, you might want to consider a career in healing or genjutsu. They require great control and it is clear you have control by the bucketful."

To her shock the girl actually blushed, turning away with a happy smile. "Do you really think so?"

"Sakura, my bloodline is made for control and I took almost twenty minutes to reach where you are now. Trust me, you've got a serious talent. Be proud and harness it."

"What do you think, Sasuke?" Sakura turned to the other boy, who only scowled at her hatefully, making Sakura look like someone kicked her puppy.

Yura hated that. "Stop with your jealousy, she's got a talent for this that is rare. Being an Uchiha, like being a Hyuuga, is not an automatic button for perfect success. You need to work at it. Grow up." She moved closer to the boy, who oozed hatred and killer intent on a minor scale. She laughed, getting so close she could taste his breathe. "Are you challenging me? I promise it would be a close fight, I know I'm faster then you." She wasn't sure where her rage was coming from, maybe it was his arrogance or maybe her parents were rubbing off on her... but she wanted to take the most arrogant boy she knew down a few pegs.

Unfortunately Aoba coughed, making her step back. "No fighting, Sasuke get over your jealousy and be proud of your teammates. Ask her for advice, learn from her then offer her the same aid. Trust me, even your brother needed help. I would know, I was on his team often enough."

Sasuke's recoil and pained look almost broke Yura's heart, she knew of the massacre as a Hyuuga. She could not even imagine what he was thinking of at that moment. "You knew Itachi?"

"Yes, he was on my team on many occasions. And Kakashi's actually. I meant what I said though, I saw him learn from others and it was a big part of why he grew so powerful. Shisui Uchiha taught him a whole hell of a lot. He's a genius, a prodigy, but that does not mean he does not need help. Nor does it mean you, who have insane potential, do not need help."

Somehow, the words had a physical affect on Sasuke. His rage seemed to fade, leaving a determined look on his face. " Are you sure that... that he needed help?"

"Yes... everyone needs help, no one is skilled at everything even Itachi. He had to work at things constantly to get that good."

"Fine... Sakura...how... How did you do that so easily?" His tone was rough, abrasive, but there was clear progress.

Sakura's smile was down right radiant as she shot over to Sasuke to begin chatting happily with the boy.

'''

"Am I doing it?"

Naruto's voice was happy but oddly pitiful making Naomi smile a little. " Your doing fine. Trust me it is boring but it helps. It took me three days to master tree climbing and my chakra is only a little higher then Sakura's from what I gather."

"Why? I mean, why do you have so little chakra and I have so much... is it because...?" He looked at her, innocent and sweet and curious.

She sighed a little. "I have no ninja family Naruto, my bloodline has no perks or enhancements. I probably will never have more then Jonin reserves, if I am lucky. You are an Uzumaki, we learned about them in the academy actually. Your bloodline was famous for their chakra reserves, so you always would have gotten high reserves." She leaned in for the last part, whispering softly. "The Fox only added to them..."

That seemed to make him happy. "Oh, so family helps with your chakra?"

"Yup, my teammates are both from powerful families so their chakra is stronger and they have more of it. I don't have that advantage, so I compensate by working hard and training Mio. I need every edge I can get. You should still do that, even with your insane reserves. It would make you epically powerful."

"You think so?"

"I know so. Now, let's focus on this exercise so I can get to working on your taijutsu. I think you can master this entire technique by tonight. Care to refute my challenge?"

Naruto's smirk was delightfully mischievous. "Your on!"

"""

Kakashi felt sort of bad, watching his team thrive under the tutelage of Team Thirteen. Even Naruto, the least accomplished and capable, was doing exceptionally well. It made the Older Jonin reconsider everything... maybe he had the wrong method of teaching them. Maybe his hands off, figure it out, approach was not the best...

"You really screwed up Kakashi." Aoba sighed before glaring at him through his glasses. "Your team is seriously behind, they should be far, far more advanced then this before taking on a C rank mission."

"I know."

"Do you? Not everyone is a genius like you, blessed with a genius father and amazing senseis. You got lucky more then most despite all of your tragedies, and I think it eft you thinking everyone learns like you, without much aid. Just a few odd directions, a base explanation and no real help. These kids deserve better then you gave them... and that is not even the worst of it. They have emotional issues out of the ass. Sakura is a bully from what I gather, and has no confidence. Naruto has even less confidence and is uneducated from the abuse of our village and his own laziness. Sasuke is envious of the slightest success and is stuck up on his brother. These kids are not ready for anything resembling a C rank. Reading their minds, even accidentally, is a nightmare of pain. I am not even sure they should be ninjas at all."

Kakashi whipped around, anger in his eyes... eye. "Who are you to judge that, Aoba?"

"Someone that actually seems to care, unlike you." Recoiling, Kakashi did his best to reign in his temper... then Aoba dropped a bomb home. "I will be reporting your lack of any actually teaching to the Hokage, and recommending that you are removed as their sensei."

"I am the only one who can-"

"Teach Sasuke, I know but I also know from Itachi there are family scrolls he had can learn from. Your not meant to be a teacher, that much is obvious to me."

"He would never remove me."

Aoba actually had the audacity to smirk. "He might after an evaluation of their skills."

Kakashi had no words after that, just pain and anger and shame all mixing like hell in his heart.

'''

Haku sighed as Gato and two others entered their hideout, but he did his best to maintain an air of peace and calm. He barely turned to face them as they entered the room where he sat over Zabuza, who quietly lay there in a wash of annoyance and rage. Haku understood this, he had been beaten too, his body wounded from the Jutus Kakashi had copied and fighting the skilled Jonin whom he was certain could read his mind if his reactions meant anything.

"Some Jonin, the unbeatable Ninja just got beat limping back home like some pathetic has-been. Demon of the hidden mist, haha, more like coward of the Hidden Mist."

Haku stood, and the idiot wannabe samurai unsheathed a part of their katanas. "Drawing swords?"

Hang on a minute let's here what you have to save about this fiasco." And Gato approached Zabuza's bed, arrogance wildly oozing from every pore of his tiny body. " And don't play possum I know you can talk." He reached out to touched Zabuza and that is when Haku snapped. With blinding speed, he grabbed the man's thin arm and squeezed.

"Keep your filthy hands off of him!"

"Ahh you going to break it!" The man screamed, signaling his idiot samurai to fully take their blades out.

Haku was done playing, before they could react, he had both of their blades in his hand poised to slice their heads off at a moments notice. "Don't push me, I am in a really foul mood." He threw the blades away in that instant, leaving them powerless.

"One chance, that's it. If you fail this time, I'll cut you off, and they'll be no one left to cover for you." Gato barked out before leaving with the idiots. " Let's go."

"Haku, that wasn't necessary." Zabuza said, a blade hidden in hand that Haku could sense. He was always armed...

"Perhaps, but it's too early to take out Gato. He's still our best cover. Think about it, the murders would draw their attention. Then they'd be after us again. We need restraint."

"Right.. how are you feeling, you were injured too. I'll be up and about in a few days, three probably."

Haku smirked a little. "The jonin I fought wasn't the best I've face in Taijutsu but he was skilled. He was too busy examining my style to be much of a concern. If we fight again, I am certain I could beat him."

"That team will be trouble, they had skill and they had teamwork. We might need more then just us."

"Who is there to call? With my Ice mirrors, I am certain they will fall."

"They'd better. It is better to cut off those with potential early, less they become like Kakashi... or you."

Chapter, end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was beyond fun to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.