Land of Waves Part 2

I do not own Naruto

Ino's (POV)

They had reached the coast late that evening, the old man led them towards a pier that seemed to be falling apart, many of the wood planks fell away under their weight. A small barge waited for them tied to a stronger part of the pier, with an older man, not as old as Tazuna but older than Asuma sensei. They had managed to avoid any other conflict, but they had all remained in high alert and as quiet as possible.

"We will need to take this barge across, and quietly," Tazuna said throwing his travel sack at the man.

"Will this even be strong enough to hold us all?" Shikamaru asked.

"Yes, it is strong enough for all of us," Tazuna's friend answered and they all got on board of the barge, after a solid push off from the small pier the driver started a small engine that hummed lightly.

"Alright it's time to talk there is more about the bridge you aren't telling us," Asuma sensei said pointedly at the builder "there is no reason for a simple builder to be attacked by such high-level ninja, someone is targeting you."

"You're right I've been lying," the builder started a look of shame appearing on his face "the land of waves isn't really prospering anymore, not since Gato arrived using his thugs to take over our land."

He paused and their attention was drawn towards some large pillars holding up the bridge or at least half that had yet to be finished.

"He took control of the waters around the land forcing high prizes in any import and export, while his thugs ran amuck," Tazuna said his gaze fixed on his unfinished work "while their continued harassment against our people have kept many from fighting back, few of us have decided to rise up and we do so by building the bridge."

"You think that by simply taking away their monopoly over the water they will just leave?" Ino asked not sure how that was supposed to help.

"Well maybe they won't just leave but we won't have to depend solely on their imports and exports, and once they lose their funding to pay their thugs we will be able to fight back," the builder said shaking his head slightly "but they won't let us finish the bridge assaulting my builders and their families."

"They have an army of thugs and have hired ninja to fight for them, this should have been a rank B or higher mission," Asuma sensei said looking down.

"We can't afford a higher mission and I was hoping that just by having hired ninja of our own they might back of," Tazuna said "and I know the hidden information violates the contract."

"Yes, the violation gives us leave to end the mission and return home," Asuma sensei said lighting a cigarette "If we come to that decision."

"I just think you should all know that the demon twins or whatever are under the custody of team seven," Naruto said who had been quiet since their last fight "and Choji says hello and good luck."

"What about the mission then?" Ino asked Asuma sensei ignoring Naruto's comment.

"What about it? We need to leave and go home, we have done enough," Asuma sensei said flicking the butt end of his cigarette into the water.

"We can't just abandon these people," Shikamaru said.

"He's right sensei," Ino said, she could not believe that Asuma sensei would willingly abandon people in need.

"So, you all want to stay and help?" Asuma sensei asked "What about you? You haven't said anything about it."

"I believe we need to stay and help," Naruto responded, "these people are defenseless and at the mercy of these thugs."

"Alright then, we'll finish the mission," Asuma said a pleased expression finding a way to his face "there's more we need to discuss once we reach your house Tazuna, but for now it has been decided we will protect you till the bridge is finished."

"Now we need to be quiet, the docks are closely patrolled by Gato's men," Tazuna said while shutting down the engine of the boat they were on "They're not very vigilant when it comes to watching the waters since their boats tend to catch most smugglers."

The current carried them the rest of the way between some floating houses and a few other buildings that were held up by some wooden poles. Tazuna stopped the small barge a couple of times to avoid patrols pushing off and allowing it to carry them once it was deemed safe to proceed.

"If we are here to deal with these guys why don't we do it while they don't know we are here," Naruto asked he seemed to be itching for a fight after they had let the hunter ninja take their last kill.

"They already know we are here I think," Tazuna said pointing at a few more patrols "there seems to have been an increase of patrols, since we last left."

"Well the sooner we get to your place the better," Asuma sensei said in a lowered voice.

Tazuna did not respond but pointed towards a pair of guys with long swords walking one of the piers in front of them. Naruto was eyeing them with something close to hatred, as if at any point he would jump of the boat and kill them there. Tazuna grabbed a large pole and used it to quietly push them the rest of the way, and they arrived at a small house that was on the outskirts of the small town.

"This is my house I live with my daughter and grandson," Tazuna said looking around the platform that led to his house for any enemies.

With a quick leap Naruto was the first one on the barge once Tazuna gave all clear, and after a second, he made his way towards the top of the house looking out for any other enemies. Asuma sensei followed seemingly as if he did not care, but his head was on a swivel looking back and forth. Then Shikamaru who truly did not care hands in his pockets, but he was taking too long so she pushed her way off the barge.

"Thank you, see you tomorrow?" Ino heard Tazuna ask his friend before stepping off himself.

Tazuna entered first leading them inside where they were greeted by a short woman with long dark, blue-colored hair. She was wearing a short-sleeved pink shirt with a red colored trim around the sleeves and collar. She also wore a long blue skirt that reached her ankles.

"Welcome, you must be the ninjas that are here to help us with Gato and his thugs," she said bowing her head slightly "Inari come down and greet our guest."

"This is my daughter Tsunami," Tazuna said setting his pack and shoving it in a closet "You have prepared a room for them?"

"Yes, but I wasn't expecting a girl to be here there's only one room available for all of you," Tsunami said an apologetic expression on her face.

"It's no problem I can share the room just fine," Ino said, heat spreading through her face as she realized for the first time that she would be spending the next couple days with two other boys. But she was not supposed to be worried about that she was a ninja.

"Who are they?" a small boy said before she could dwell on it for too long.

"Inari!" Tsunami said chastising her son "that is no way to greet our guests."

"Inari, these are the ninja that will protect your grandpa while he finishes the bridge," Tazuna said smiling broadly.

"What good will it do?" the kid said a sad, "They will just end up dead, like everyone who has tried to stand up to Gato."

"Inari!" Tsunami said her face full of shock "you apologize to them right now."

"Don't worry," Naruto said surprising Ino since she had not heard him come in "we have a hard time listening to the opinions of other."

"Your room is be over here," Tsunami said hoping to get past Inari's outburst "you can drop your stuff here and we can have some dinner."

"Let's hurry and eat dinner, there is a few things we need to discuss," Asuma sensei said placing his bag on one corner of the room "and we need to rest since tomorrow I will try to teach you guys something before we the builders start and we are stuck watching over the builders."

"Let's eat," Tsunami said once everyone was sitting around the table, it was a simple meal but its something she knew she had to get used to being a ninja.

"So, let get down to business," Asuma sensei said once Tsunami finished clearing the table and Inari had gone upstairs "Zabuza is not dead."

Ino was not sure how it was possible for Zabuza to be alive since the Hunter ninja stabbed him on the neck. But she remembered a lesson she had with her father about how some pressure points many that weakened the body, but something that shut down vital signs seemed far-fetched.

"That hunter ninja wasn't actually tracking and hunting him, but was a cover story?" Naruto asked his eyes hidden behind his bandages "I knew we needed to stop him."

"It's hard to tell but I'm sure they're both working for this Gato guy," Asuma said.

"So that means you will have to face him again," Tazuna said an angry expression on his face "the kid was right, you should have fought him when you had the chance."

"You may be right but, but I wasn't sure we could have beaten him," Asuma said "I can't explain it but the power radiating from the hunter ninja was impressive and after fighting Zabuza."

Ino noticed the disappointment in his eyes as he realized he was not strong enough, he seemed to carry himself as a carefree guy, but this was bothering him. Ino felt the same way she had ben near useless when they had fought Zabuza.

"Well that's a depressing thought," Tazuna said looking down at the table, but his smile soon returned "but I'm sure that with Naruto's moves we won't have a problem beating whatever is sent our way, you even fought the sword wielding maniac with his own attack."

"Yeah, that was impressive," Ino said a frown making its way to her mouth "how did you do that?"

"I don't know, I just watched and did as he did, my vision went red for a second," Naruto said pulling his bandages off his eyes "these eyes are still so foreign to me I know that it helps me see better, I see everything in greater detail the simplest of tension in muscles indicating an attack."

"That is how Kakashi indicated his sharingan worked," Asuma said.

"That is how to you were able to see and repeat the jutsu," Shikamaru said realization spreading through his face "but in order to be able to use it properly you must have an affinity to water as well as air."

"I'm sure in a ninja village that must help you get all the girls," Tazuna said nudging Naruto with his elbow.

"I don't care about that," Naruto said his face devoid of any emotion.

And now that she thought about it no one every thought about him in that way, the villagers all of them including the children treated him like he was the monster. Ino had known better since Naruto had arrived at Konoha, he had been a good person. While he was quiet and reserved it made him a good friend and listener.

"While Naruto was impressive today there is more you all can learn," Asuma sensei said.

"Like the walking on water thing the three of you were doing?" Ino said hoping to be able to return to the village and sticking it to Sakura with something that impressive.

"Well yes but we need to start with something considerable easier," Asuma getting up and pulling up his pack of cigarettes "now we rest, it has been a long day and tomorrow we will be starting practice early before the builders get to work again."

Ino and the others got up of the table after Asuma sensei and as they entered the room Ino realized how tiered she really was. Ino was the first one to go to the bathroom and the other two did not argue it as she was a girl she assumed. She did not take too long in the shower since she did not want them to think she was vain. Tsunami had placed a small divider blocking off a corner of the room for her to have more privacy and as soon as she got on her sleeping roll, she fell into a dreamless sleep.

She woke up to the sound of a door opening and got a glimpse as Naruto exited the room and for a terrible second, she thought he was leaving them. Naruto never spoke of his time before he came to Konoha, or his masters from before but the stories she had overheard from her father made her doubt him.

"Naruto," She said rubbing the sleep of her eyes, her voice was too low, and Naruto did not seem to hear her.

She Struggled up to her feet and looked around the room to see if anyone else was up and noticed that Naruto had fixed his bed roll, but his bag was still there. A sigh of relief escaped her, if he was not leaving them where is he going, she had to find out. She got dressed quickly forgoing the bandages and instead wore her purple high neck blouse over a black compression shirt. A low moan came from Shikamaru as he slept, she crept her way outside only looking at a small clock to see the time was five in the morning.

'What could he be doing this early,' she thought stifling a yawn.

She exited the house they were staying at and looked around for any sign of Naruto and he had just stepped out of the water and he was headed towards the forest. She had to take the long way around the pier and hoped she could catch up to him. She made her way into the forest following what she thought was a trail but after thirty minutes had passed, she was unmistakably lost.

"Hello?" She called out, there was no response.

The sound of birds surrounded her as the sun started to rise, and she stubbled into a small clearing where to her surprise Naruto was in the middle. He had removed his jacket but kept his under shirt and still had his sword on his back and his bandages off. Naruto's eyes were closed, and he was 'dancing' his arms and legs were moving in a seemingly random but smooth motion. His limbs seemed to stretch to their full extent, but every movement was a deliberate strike as if he were fighting multiple enemies.

"Naruto?" she asked, but Naruto did not seem to notice and continued with his dance. She watched as he drew his short blade from his back and repeated the dance now with his sword. He was dripping with sweat once he was finished and he just sat down and crossed his legs and started meditating. Ino was not sure if he was just ignoring her.

"What was that?" Ino asked kneeling besides him.

"I've never been much good at taijutsu," Naruto said after taking a long time to answer his eyes still closed "the third Hokage gave me some scrolls, they show proper forms and details, performing this dance helps create muscle memory for when you do fight."

"Does it work?" Ino asked "You did very well against Zabuza last time, and the only other people I've seen you fight was Sasuke."

"Quite honestly I don't know," Naruto said opening his eyes the startling red color of the sharingan hypnotized her.

"Did it hurt?" Ino asked after noticing for the first time the small scars around hie eyes "I never noticed but you have all three tomes."

"I don't remember," Naruto responded grabbing the bandage to cover up his eyes "everything hurt when I was being trained by my old masters."

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked," Ino said watching as he wrapped his eyes once more "we need to go Asuma sensei will be up soon and expect us to train.

"Don't worry," Naruto responded lowly "Asuma will come here since it's the ideal training place for today's training?"

"How are you sure?" Ino asked looking around "I don't think he will be able to find this place I got lost trying to find this place."

"Because if we wait, he will come into the clearing from there," Naruto said pointing to his left, and just as he said it Asuma sensei came into the clearing followed closely by Shikamaru.

"Good you two are already here," Asuma sensei said throwing his cigarette and stomping it out, Asuma set his pack on the ground next to him "you three are powerful ninja and this exercise will test your chakra control."

"What kind of exercises are we doing today?" Shikamaru said dragging his feet.

Asuma sensei focused on channeling his chakra, walked towards a tree and started walking up the tree Ino had to smile. But her smile slowly faded as she did not understand how it was supposed to impress Sasuke or how this put her above Sakura.

"Naruto clearly knows how to do this," Asuma sensei said now hanging off a branch "the way it works you concentrate your chakra on your feet, but you must maintain a constant amount of chakra other wise you will simply fall of the surface you're on."

As if on cue he released the grip he had on the branch and dropped flipping around in mid air and landing on his feet.

"That's all?" Ino asked annoyed.

"Yes, for now you will start with this but your chakra control will make it easier for you to do more advanced ninjutsu," Asuma sensei said lighting another cigarette "you will begin with climbing this tree and once you're able to properly stand there a while you will fight each other."

"This gives you another angle of attack," Naruto said.

Ino was not sure if Asuma sensei had more to say but she did not think he would be much help. She focused on channeling her chakra to her feet and headed towards her closest tree and placed her foot on the trunk and felt the tugging sensation on her foot but did not stop placing her second foot and then the next.

"Good Ino," Asuma sensei said she was now six feet off the ground.

She looked back for a second and saw Naruto was also looking and she smiled and for a second, she got distracted and felt herself start sliding. She tried to refocus, but her grip was slipping, and she did not know how to recover, and she fell.

"Ino are you okay?" Asuma sensei asked.

"Yeah," she responded as she started to stand up, she had landed in a soft patch of grass, but it still hurt her back "you got any pointers?"

"Next time try to start with a running head start, mark your progress with a kunai and stay focused of the task at hand," Asuma sensei said "Shikamaru your turn."

With a big sigh he focused his chakra and made his way slowly up the tree he kept his hands together focusing on controlling his chakra. Ino watched as he made his way onto a branch and as he reached for the branch his legs gave out and he stayed hanging from the branch.

"Naruto?" Asuma sensei asked and Naruto quickly ran up the tree and pulled Shikamaru up the branch where he sat breathing hard.

"You guys working hard?" the loud voice of Tazuna asked from behind them "we wont be working on the bridge today since many of the workers have been scared for a while but starting tomorrow I'm sure we will have the workers."

"A major delay?" Asuma sensei asked lighting a cigarette.

"Might be, but I'm sure everything will be okay," Tazuna said "and if you where to join me to show the workers that we have protection more will show."

"Makes sense," Asuma said taking a long drag of his cigarette "You heard him guys, I need to go with him but you three are to continue with this training, Naruto you are in charge of making sure they don't get hurt and that they keep improving."

"There is something I will need help with once you return," Naruto said from the tree he and Shikamaru where on.

"Sure, but if it's something training related, I'm going to need a please sensei," Asuma sensei said an arrogant smile on his face.

Ino could tell that Naruto was not happy about that, he did not seem to have a high opinion of Asuma sensei still. Ino like many of her classmates had heard about how Naruto had killed some ANBU black ops when he arrived the village, but Asuma sensei was also some kind of hero since he had served as one of the twelve Guardian Ninja for the Daimyo.

"Naruto, I'm sure I can get the hand of this," Ino said drawing Naruto's attention back to her "but I don't think I'll be much good at fighting any time soon."

"It will take practice and one day you will be able to do it without much thought," Naruto said and jumped from Shikamaru's tree to hers "now try it with a head start."

Ino focused the best she could, drew her kunai and ran directly at the tree running up the tree she quickly passed where Naruto was standing. However, after she reached halfway up the tree, she felt her grip weakening and she made her mark. Then her body felt weightless as she fell, looking down she could see the ground racing upwards to meet her, she rolled as her feet contacted the ground.

"That was good Ino," Shikamaru said laying down on the branch he was on.

"Yes, that's good, now you Shikamaru," Naruto said.

Newest chapter and I am sorry I have not been as consistent as id like too but thanks for keeping up with the story. Stay safe and avoid the virus.

David out.