Chapter 3: Training

"Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!!!" Naruto declared.

Instantly, 10 others Narutos popped into existence, each with a determined look on their face. The 10 surrounded the original, they each had plenty of room to spare in the open clearing of training ground 7.

"Okay you cheap imitations, lets see what you can do against the best ninja in Konaha!!"

Naruto rushed at the clones, striking one square in the nose. Before it could hit the ground, Naruto circled with fox like speed, slamming his foot against the clone in mid-fall. The clone flew 20 feet and smashed into the ground, skidding before finally exploding into a cloud of smoke. Seeing an opening, another clone quickly grabbed Naruto from behind, arms around his neck, trying to choke the life out of his original. Held in place by a clone, Naruto was defenseless against another's barrage of shurikens. The shurikens met there mark, catching Naruto in the upper chest and throat. The clone looked wide eyed, did he kill his master? Unfortunately for him, he learned the hard way, a massive blow to the head caused him to fly side ways exploding in smoke. The Naruto that got hit ceased to exist, as well as the one holding him.

"Ah, got to thank Kakashi for that one." Naruto breathed out.

Naruto, let a small smile wash over his face, four down, 6 to go he thought. Letting out a battle cry, he charged into the remaining, round housing one, while simultaneously slicing another with his Kunai. Naruto's grin wore off as a clone kicked him in the stomach hard making the ninja buckle over, then with a painful blow to the back of Naruto's head he fell to the ground. Laying there, Naruto was able to see the remaining clones as they instantly tried to kick the downed ninja. Naruto however was able to turn around and leap up, while doing so caught another clone under his chin with both feet. The clone sailed up and vanished into smoke. Whirling around to face the last 3 shadows, Naruto hoped these three would be more of a challenge. However, unknown to Naruto, as he trained against his clones, he was being watched by a white eyed admirer.

"Naruto-kun." Hinata whispered. She stood behind a tree, well out of sight from her beloved ninja. She was watching the fight, very impressed with the skills of Naruto, it seems that his hand-to-hand techniques were improving. The pressure to just walk right up to him and confess about her love was weighing her down like a million pounds. But, she couldn't do it, she was just too shy, and afraid of the pain she might feel if he rejected. Plus, he liked Sakura, who as far as she was concerned didn't deserve his heart. She couldn't believe that even after Sasuke's betrayal that Sakura was still drooling over him. Hmmf, as far as she was concerned, Sakura deserved to suffer, and wait while Sasuke sat in that jail until they figured out what to do with that cursed seal.

"No." Hinata said to herself, Sakura's my friend, I shouldn't think like that. I hope they figure out something and heal Sasuke. . . for Sakura's sake.

"Ah, It seems you have a fan, Naruto." A clone spat out. "You know why she keeps watching you right, It doesn't take a shadow replicant to realized why."

"Shut up, I'm not stupid, I realized that already, I just don't know what to do. Once her feelings became known to me, I've just been torn between her and Sakura, and instead of trying to get either, I've just shut them off and trained."

"Well, tell you what, why don't go talk to her now, You know good and well that Sakura will forever love Sasuke, stop denying it and move on."

Naruto thought, he's right. . . well I'm right . . . well whatever. Stupid out of body argument with myself. I will never get rid of this feeling if i just ignore it. I cant be alone anymore.

"Fine." Naruto said, and at that the clones vanished, leaving Naruto alone, with the mission of telling Hinata about his feelings.

Hinata was confused, after what seemed to be a conversation with his clones, Naruto canceled them. Not knowing whether or not to leave, she looked down thinking of her next move. Assuming that Naruto was done training she looked up to find something terrifying.

"Hey Hinata, I need to talk to you!!" Naruto yelled as he ran towards where Hinata stood.


Ino was walking very slowly, thoughts of the past week rushed through her head. She was so confused. From finding out the truth about Shikamaru and Temari, too the constant worry about her teammate. Well, she thought, I don't have to worry about the latter, he's finally awake. Ever since the revealing of Shikamaru and Temari's love, Ino found herself caring more and more about her teammate. She always like the over sized boy. She thought of him as a big teddy bear. But now, well, now she didn't know. She thought that if he ever lost weight that he would be better looking. Yet, hes not just better looking. . . he's gorgeous.

Ino's confusion was pissing her off, two weeks ago, she loved Shikamaru, one week ago that was crushed and now she felt herself growing towards Chouji. Maybe she always liked him deep down, but it never surfaced because of what she felt for Shikamaru. Which ironically, she covered that up with all that crap she did for Sasuke, just to piss off Sakura. How could she be so stupid?

"Shut up Ino, your thinking too much." She scolded herself. She finally decided to drop it and continue towards her destination: Konoha Hospital.


Not getting much sleep at all, Chouji laid wide awake. In his entire life he has never been this bored. And despite his claims of feeling healthy, the doctors refused to let him leave until the next day. He wanted to train, never in his life has he ever felt like training so much. Maybe the fight with sound-nin rubbed off of him. Maybe the power he felt after he ate the 3rd pill is now giving him the hunger for more. Chouji was so confused.

The room's door opened, and big man stood in its place.

"Father." Chouji said excitedly.

"Hello son, Shikamaru told me about you being awake before he went off to train, I'm very happy that your alright."

Chouji simply nodded.

Chouji's father sat down next to his son's bed. While sitting, he reached behind his back and pulled a bag of chips out of nowhere. Opening them, he started to munch on the greasy snack.

"What some?" Chouji's father asked between a mouthful.

"No thanks, I already had some hospital food earlier."

"Okay. . . your loss."

Chouji looked at his father, he was a strong man, one of the strongest in his clan. He was proud of him.

"Oh. . .Dad, can I ask you. . . why aren't I dead. . . I ate the last pill."

His father stopped eating, he knew that this question was coming.

"Simple, your 1 in 100."

Chouji looked at is dad with complete confusion. "1 in 100?"

"Yeah, throughout our families history, every member that has ever taken the third pill died. Thats why it was forbidden to eat unless it was deemed absolutely necessary. However. . . throughout the years, there have been two members of our clan that have successfully taken the pill and survived. And not only did they survive, they became enormously stronger. Well Chouji, that number just now went up to three. In others words, your the equivalent to a genius, except far more rare.."

Chouji looked wide eyed at his father. Was this true, was he actually a rare person. He never thought of himself as anything special, he was just fat, lazy Chouji. Now. . .just like that, hes a genius.

Chouji's father smiled, he was so proud that his son was the rare member to be able to stand the effects of the third pill. In fact, if he lost his son, he would have no meaning to life. He would have become an empty shell. . .

"Dad, I know I've never told you this before, but I feel like training, could you please try to convince those doctors to let me leave?"

"I'll see what I can do." With that, Chouji's father got up and headed out of the room.

"Oh hello Ino." Chouji's father almost ran over the small girl as he headed out.

"Hello"

"Go on in, hes up"

"Okay, thanks."

"Oh Ino, how you doing, you look very pretty." Chouji complement here. . . thinking to himself where the hell did that just come from.

"Oh thank you." Ino blushed. She thought to herself, where did that come from?

"So, how much of that did you hear Ino?"

"Enough, but I'm happy that you found out about how special you are. I always knew you were destined for more then just single handily keeping the chip company going."

"Ah, thanks a lot."

"No problem, So anyway, It seems like your doing pretty good. I heard you ask you father to bail you out of here. Something about training."

"Yeah, ever since I awoke this morning, I've had the urge just to get up and train. I don't know why. Maybe I'm tired of being the one thats the weakest. And maybe this new body is the catalyst to my ultimate strength."

"Yeah, I know what you mean, I'm the weakest of the genin, and I'm not smart enough to be a good strategist, I'm useless."

"Now Ino thats not true, your very strong, and very smart. I wont let you make the same mistake I made, and downplay your abilities. I have faith in you, just like how Shikamaru had faith in me."

"Bah, Shikamaru, he isn't the only one who had faith in you, and I. . . crap. Just thinking about Shikamaru makes me want to beat his face in."

"Ha ha, sorry about that, I forgot."

"Oh, you know?"

"Yeah, Shikamaru was with Temari this morning, he was just hiding from you. But yeah, they told me everything."

"Oh"

"Yah, but they said that you have visited me everyday, thanks."

"Now Chouji, don't think I don't care about you."

"Don't worry, I know you care, you were always helping me when I got hurt during training, even though you made a fuss about it."

"Hey, speaking of training, you want to go whenever those doctors finally let you go."

"Yeah sure, don't know when that might be but, Yeah i would love too."

Right on cue, Chouji's father came back through the door. A smile on his face. "Chouji, it took some time, but they finally said you could go. But whatever you do don't forget your still a little weak."

"Finally, thanks dad." Chouji was excited, he looked over at Ino, he always thought she was beautiful, but for some reason, she shined today. "So Ino, you want to go train now?"

"Well. . .why not, I don't have anything to do, Sure lets go."

Luckily Chouji's cloths were kept in his room for the day his awoke. Changing swiftly in the bathroom, they walked out of the hospital together. The three parted ways down the street, Chouji's dad heading for the estate, while Ino and Chouji went off to train together.