Quiet...silent... still... something that was absolutely easy for Naruto. He never had much issue in staying still when he was interested in something. Years of pranks had proven that. He had to be slow, to evade The Chunin and Jonin who wanted to stop whatever prank he commited... not that he realized this, at least consciously. All he knew or recognized was the need to be quiet to catch the yummy deer in front of him.
Slowly, he crawled from tree to tree, getting closer and closer to the Deer. From his pouch, Naruto pulled out a Kunai. Pulling back, Naruto tossed the Kunai hard, slamming into it's throat, knocking it down where it twitched and lay bleeding out. Horror slammed into Naruto at the sight, a visceral reminder of the man he slayed just a few days before. Falling to his knees, Naruto gasped and dry heaved.
" Oh... Ahh..." He shuddered, feeling dirty. " I thought it'd be like killing Fish, but that's just so..." Struggling to hide his tears, Naruto dropped down and quickly yanked out the Kunai, causing the deer to twitch one more time before it died.
Falling to his knees, Naruto cried over the body of the young deer, the first of his innocence finally destroyed as the image of the Fallen Hunter Ninja danced across his mind. The sight of blood, stench of seared flesh, and sound of crunching ribs echoing in his head.
" I can't, I can't, I can't breathe." His chest tightened and tightened as he sobbed, he swore he felt pain in his shoulder, swore he felt the blood dripping off of his chest, swore he felt spit filling his throat over and over again until he passed out. Black dots exploded across his eyes, and he was felt light headed. He thought he was dying.
" Hm, Hmm, hmm..." Azula's song drifted into his head, and Naruto knew what to do. Rocking back and forth, Naruto tried humming the same song Azula Sensei had sang to him the day before. Over and over again, he rocked and hummed and rock and hummed.
Slowly, but surely, he managed to calm down. " That... huh... sucks." He had never been so tired, not even when using Kyuubi's chakra during his fight with Sasuke.
Shakily standing, Naruto managed to pick up the deer and carry it over his shoulder as he made his way to Azula sensei's house. The weight of the deer on his shoulder was a reminder, a reminder of the life he had just taken, of the life he had chosen to live.
"""
With his new sword in hand, Naruto leaped onto the pond behind Azula sensei's house and fell into the stance he had taught him. He closed his eyes, ignoring the knowledge that he left a clone to skin the deer in his place. He couldn't do it, not yet... he tried, and almost hyperventilated again. He felt bad for the clone...
Shaking his head, Naruto took a deep breathe and moved through the Kata's Azula showed him. He didn't really understand it's name yet, but his sensei called it Yami's White Fortune. A self made style, which according to Azula sensei was a blend of her father's style and many other bits and pieces she picked up over a century of life. She evolved it over time, mastering it even further once the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist were created. She honed it over time, making many moves and attacks not that different from Bushy Brow Sensei's Strong Fist Style.
' Not that I'm going to be learning anything like that for a while...' Grumbling a little, Naruto moved into the first stance, then the second, then the third, then back to the first then the fourth and Fifth, then back to the First, Second and Third. Over and over again, he repeated the movements until he hear the Alarm Azula gave him ring.
Opening his eyes, he gaped." It's been an hour already?"
Smiling, Naruto put his sword near the alarm and reset it before going back into his stance and starting his taijutsu training just as Azula had showed him the day before. Kick, Kick, duck and roll to the side, upper cut, dodge, kick, knee, punch. Fall back into his stance, then backflip, Side dodge, roundhouse kick, duck, upper cut, punch, punch, kick.
Once again the hour flew and before he knew it, Naruto heard the alarm. Smiling and sweaty, Naruto moved to reset it, only to stumble. " Wow... I've never been so sore, I think this training is working!" Shrugging off his pain, Naruto reset the alarm again then grabbed the sword again.
Like before he felt into his stance, then he slashed his sword, moving into his second stance before kicking out, rolling to the side and slashing outwards and falling back into his third stance with a roundhouse kick. Back to first stance, then surge forward, shifting his sword to other hand and punching at an invisible enemy, then ducking, slashing upwards and returning to the first stance.
The dance continued, again, for one hour. When the final alarm Rang out, Naruto was left smiling. For the First time in his life, he found something he was actually good at!
" That was so easy! Maybe Azula sensei was right, maybe I am a Ken... Kina.. Kinetic Learner?" Stumbling over the word, Naruto shrugged it off, then started stripping. Azula sensei was very, very clear... she would not let him into her house if he smelled like sweat.
:::
Pride filled Azula as the smell of freshly cooked venison filled her nose, the knowledge that Naruto had done as she asked. She had a feeling he was a decent enough cook having spent years taking care of himself, so in making him so self reliant she also got a personal chief for a month. ' A the joys of being a teacher.' Chuckling a little, Azula quickly got dressed and shuffled into her kitchen where she was met with the sight of her clearly tired student yawning over a pan of Venison. He was dressed in jumpsuit bottom and a black shirt, making her sigh a little. ' Hopefully we can make him change that stupid outfit.'
" Good morning Naruto, how fairs your training?" The boy whipped to her, clearly shocked that she had gotten so close without being detected She barely hid her chuckles. " Am I going to get an answer or are you going to continue gaping at me as if I was Kami descending upon the earth?"
It took a few minutes but the boy managed to choke out a comment. " Um,.. good, Azula sensei. I finished my Tai and Kenjutsu exercises." He smiled brightly at the mention of that work. " I was actually good at them, I think anyway..."
Chuckling lightly at the boy, Azula sat down just in time for him to bring her a plate of venison with some rice. " Thank you Naruto, it looks delicious. Now, while we eat, why don't we discuss what you read yesterday, shall we?"
The boy gulped down what he had in his mouth, nervousness coating his expression. " Um... Mediation?"
" Are you telling me, or asking?"
" Telling you... I think." He frowned, looking confused. " Something about how Meditation can be used for focus... or whatever that means."
" Hmmm... Tell me Naruto, when you were hunting... did you stay still?" He nodded, looking even more confused. " And when you were still, and focused did you notice how much clearer you were? How much easier it was to focus on the details instead of having a million thoughts racing through your mind?" Again he nodded. " This is what meditation does, battle and hunting focus is essentially a quicker version of this effect. It is one of the many reasons I have you hunting for our meals. The other is to gain self reliance, increased stealth and learn to kill easier." This time, instead of confusion, the boy flinched. A Haunted look in his eyes. Azula sighed, knowing what was wrong and so she reached over and pulled the boy into a hug. " I am sorry... I wish I would heal the wounds of your soul. Only time and patience will help, as can talking. Perhaps killing the deer, learning the importance and need of taking a life will help. I can only hope so child."
They held that moment for several minutes, before separating to finish their meals. Eventually Naruto, having finished before her, started to speak.
" The other book I read was about Myths and Legends, It started with the Sage of Six paths and moved onto the start of the Shinobi clans and the Warring Clans Era." The boy's voice took on a more interested tone then when he spoke about the meditation. " I remember someone, a puppet maker... Monzaemon Chikamatsu, I think he was alive 900 years ago and was apart of an old clan related to the Senju. He took on an entire castle!"
" Yes, he did." She chuckled, enjoying his childishness. " His work is actually still around, Lady Chiyo from the Sand Village holds his Legendary Collection. I have faced them in combat... honestly it was my most painful loss, I nearly lost my life and as it was It took a year to completely recover from the effects of her poison."
Wide eyed, the boy looked up at her in shock. " I thought he was a myth, why else would he be in the book?"
" All Myths have a grain of truth, but I do not believe you've read the whole chapter have you?" The boy shook his head. " When you continue, you will see the myth part of the story. It is really a lovely read... oh and I have decided that you will have days focusing on certain subjects, this way you can get at least the basics in the next month in case something happens. Myth and Legends and History Start on Mondays, Botany and Biology on Tuesday, Meditation and Psychology on Wednesdays, Seal basics on Thursdays, Mechanic and technology on Fridays, The Bingobooks of the past and present on Saturdays, tactics and strategy of battles past on Sunday. Hopefully in that frame of time, you will have enough of a range of knowledge that you will be able to fully see the world as it is... Or at least, that is my hope. Sigh... anyway, I do believe that today we are going to reverse our debate of yesterday, Can you tell me what we discussed then?"
Anger slipped past the boy's happiness and he frowned at her. " We talked about Killing kids... you said it was sometimes necessary if they were sick or if they were a threat. I said it was bad, that killing kids is wrong... but you told me that I couldn't say that unless I had a reason. We stopped arguing after that... "
" Hmmm you have much to learn Naruto, Debating and arguing are quite different. Arguing is pointless, it is an assault of opinions where as no actual agreement or real dialogue is created. Debating on the other hand is a sharing of ideals, a compare and contrast of opinions where each person puts out their logic behind their opinions. I do believe that today will help you understand that. Today you will give your views on the point of killing children, and I will defend the point against it. Now, give your first point?"
Deep red, the boy turned away from her. " What... What... " he looked down. After a long moment of silence, Naruto all but whispered. " What if they were attacking me, and I had to kill them to survive." His voice was quiet, but still he answered. She knew, that had he not suffered his near death... he would not be open enough to consider such a different point.
" I counter your point with this, what if you could do something else? Knock them out, dodge their movements, capture them... would that not be more effective and morally sound?"
After a brief flinch, Naruto shook his head. " They... They could be a trained ninja, strong and loyal. Listening to their Kage... or they could be brain washed like what the Danzo guy did to those kids. Or maybe they really want to kill you and no matter what you say or do, they will keep on attacking you."
"Hmmm then perhaps we should prevent such a thing from happening, weeding out those who would put those children into such a position?"
" That makes sense, we should do that..." He frowned, looking down at his feet. " But we can't... can we? I don't know why... can you help me with this debate?"
Slowly nodding, she leaned back into her chair. " There are millions of people within the Elemental Nations, and each of those people have their own issues, beliefs, issues and a paths in life. What is your evil, is their salvation... think of it this way, do you remember the invasion that the Sand and Sound attempted?" He nodded. " It was evil to your village, the betrayal of your village at the hands of an ally, causing the death of your beloved Hokage... but to the Sand, it was a desperate attempt to better their village. The Wind Daiymo had been giving the Leaf the missions he should have been giving Sand. They were hemorrhaging funds, increasing their debts and damaging their way of life. By defeating your village, they would have been elevated to a higher level, allowing them more power, income and hope for survival. For Sound, it was a mission... one that would have elevated them to a legendary status, giving them drastically increased resources, power and respect something vital for the survival of any Shinobi Village. It was salvation to them and hell for you... do you see, how the same event had different meaning depending on the views of those tied to it?"
He nodded slowly, not looking happy despite the understanding trickling it's way into his eyes. " Kind of... but I don't understand completely but it does make sense." He frowned and looked at his feet again. " My team, we saved Wave country by stopping Gato from destroying it. If, if I think like you I guess I understand it. He got rich hurting them, and power." The frown turned angry. " But what I don't get is why they care about power and money more then friends and treating people like people!"
" Ahhh I wondered if you would bring that up. Like I told you, everyone's values are different. You value the Leaf, and the Kazekage valued the Sand. Tell me, would you destroy the Sand if it meant your village would stand forever? If that was your only choice?"
" I... I want to say no but, I don't think I can." He looked ashamed, like he was a monster.
Not having any of that, she lifted his chin. " Everyone values themselves over others Naruto, their views over others. It isn't wrong to think like this, but it is absolutely vital for everyone to understand this truth so we can truly appreciate the power of our actions. The sacrifices we take to succeed in our goals."
" Like my goal to become Hokage?"
" Exactly. Tell me Naruto, what negative costs could come of you becoming the Hokage? Or rather what negatives would you have to commit to become Hokage?"
His breathed out a long shudder. " I would have to kill any threats to my village. Like the Hunter who attacked me, not everyone can be talked to or would want to listen." He shrunk down. " I would have to make evil choices to help the village, like the Old man did with that Danzo guy..."
" And now you are starting to understand Naruto... the world, is very complicated. Good and Evil is just a matter of perspective... " Standing up, she grabbed his plate along side hers and hurried them to the sink where she began to do the dishes. " Now, before we finish this conversation... Send one of your clones to watch Jiraiya, and another to your previous training grounds. Though Jiraiya does not seem to care much, there is always the risk of him seeing your training here and stopping it." Shaking, she felt her chest tightening. " Naruto, go outside and grab some firewood please. We need some for tonight."
The moment the boy left, she barreled over and coughed in agony, barely able to stop the sounds from reaching her pain apprentice. Blood splattered across her the inside of her elbow. As soon as the pain subsided, she quickly washed away the blood. Naruto could not know, know just how close she was to death.
It was good that Naruto only had a month left in this town, for she could only last about a month...
She only hoped it would be enough to pass her legacy full on the boy.
Quickly, she hurried into her room and crushed up the herbs found in her dresser. Mixing them with Water, she downed them at once. Nothing would happen for several minutes but when they kicked in, the pain would hopefully subside along side the swelling in her alveoli.
" Sensei, I'm done."
" Very good Naruto, Now pull the book on the third shelf labeled Botany of the Elemental Nations. Write notes of anything you do not understand, we will discuss that tomorrow so we can see where you are struggling. Now, come and get me once you start your tai and kenjutsu training tonight. I wish to see your progress and correct anything wrong before they become engrained into your style."
She could hear the boy gathering the book, before calling out. " Alright Sensei."
Satisfied, she crawled back into bed and laid down. She needed her rest if she planned on surviving the next month...
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was fun to write, and I am so glad I am redoing this... it was some of my best work and it should be honored as much.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.