Chapter 3.5 - I'll get up, and never fall!

The sun is beginning to set on the horizon. Looking at it for a minute, Naruto
thinks back on all the hard training they had today. On the start of the run,
everything was normal, until about 5 miles down Choji took out some food and
started eating. This made Capt. Soonaga send out Shadow Clones, which then took
the food, tossed it in the air, and destroyed it with a fire technique, and then
stole every other bit of food from Choji. This shocked the others and then the
clones whipped the others forward saying that there was nothing to see here
and they should keep going. Later, after 5 more miles, Hinata started to fall
back. Noticing, Naruto began to slow down to help, only to have more of
Soonaga's Shadow Clones speed him forward at kunai-point, saying there was
nothing to see with a laugh. This angered Naruto, who split into clones
himself and then tried to get back to the others. Soonaga's Clones confronted
him, and Naruto attacked with the Flying Sparrow technique, only to get knocked back by an angry Soonaga whose speed was at least four times his. Soonaga then made
him do that technique for one hour, and then let him continue on his run.
Naruto ached so much from doing the technique, however, that it took him a
while to get back, and he found that he got back when the sun was starting to
set and he was the last to get back. He was also angry with some of the other
drills he had to do, including suicide tree jumping to avoid throwing
knives, and using Shadow Replication to see about how many he could split
into. He walks next to Choji and Hinata, who are both dead and out of energy,
and collapses, panting. At this point, Capt. Soonaga laughs and says that
they are the most dogged group he has had indeed and it is funny that they
should be out of energy already. This angers Naruto, who gets up with a lot
of struggling and declares that he may fall, but he will get up again and
keep going. Naruto stares defiantly at the now surprised Soonaga. Choji,
lying on the ground against a post, and Hinata, leaning on a post, start to
think that the two will start fighting. Both stare at the other defiantly,
then Capt Soonaga laughs and smiles, stating that at least this group has
lots of determination, so they just might pull through his training. For
that, he says, I hold all of you in the highest respect. The three Genins
look at him surprised. He says that training is done for today and they
should return at 6:00 tomorrow here to train some more. And watch out
tonight, he says, 'cause someone might be trying to kill you, he says,
grinning an evil grin. With that said, he vanishes.
Naruto wavers for a moment, and then falls on the ground again. The others
look concerned and Hinata asks if he is okay. Naruto struggles and sits up,
saying that he is stinging all over, then asks what the captain made
them do. Choji said that the captain and him did everything from arm wrestle
to brute strength drills, and he is sore all over from pulled muscles. Hinata
meekly that he made her do Taijutsu drills and...and... Naruto asks what. She
then says that he could do Hyuga attacks like the 64-point technique. Naruto
is shocked by this information, and recalls the times that the Captain copied
his speed technique better than him. Choji looks depressed, and states that
they can keep up with Jounnins, but the ANBU are on a whole different level,
so how do they expect to keep up? Hinata looks saddened by this. Even Naruto
looks depressed. Hinata looks at Naruto for some hope. Naruto, still looking
down, states that this may be true, but still, I won't give in to him. The
others look at him now, and Naruto's eyes flash with determination. Naruto
then stands up slowly, and says that he would like to see that stuck-up
captain on the ground beaten. But, I can't do it alone. He now lifts his head
and looks at Choji and Hinata, smiling. He says together, we can make that
man weep. He is strong and pushes us, but soon we will push back. Are you
with me? Choji raises a fist and says yes!! Hinata smiles and says yes
completely. With that, the three start to head back to the village. From a
distance, Capt. Soonaga smiles, says to himself that this group might be the
best he ever had, and vanishes, heading to the village.

The Group heads back to the village the same way they came. They meet at an
intersection and say goodbye there. Choji goes off towards his house, alertly
munching on a bag of chips he had hidden in case Soonaga attacks him at night.
Naruto is about to walk off, when he notices Hinata just standing there. He
asks her if something is wrong? She stutters a bit, "um...um...um...Na..na..
Naruto-kun?" she finally asks. Surprised, Naruto asks what's up. She stutters
some more, and then finally asks if he would like to walk her home. He asks
where she lives. She then says she lives near the Administrative Building in
the government area near the Hokage Monument. He says that he lives in the
exact opposite of that area and he really needs to get home (Hinata's face
drops) but he'll walk her home since he considers her a very good friend
(Hinata's face brightens at this). Also, he says flashing a mischievous grin,
if Soonaga ambushes them, they have a better chance working together to fend
him off. With that said, he wonders aloud how they should proceed. Hinata then
asks if they go with the formation they did this morning. Naruto says that
would be a good idea. With that, they head off towards the Hyuga household...

End for now. In Chapter 3.6, each will have their nighttime conflict with
Soonaga and Capt. Soonaga outlines their practice schedule for the week. Also,
the three teams move out!!