Growing Up
Naruto's New Art! Kakashi-Sensei Attacked?!
"Naruto, that brush isn't your ordinary painter's brush. It's special," Jiraiya grinned as he stood over Naruto, a second paintbrush identical to Naruto's span lightly between his fingers.
"What's so special about it, it looks like a normal brush to me..." Naruto sighed as he tossed the brush away over his shoulder.
"Naruto! Pick that back up, now! These brushes are rare,"
"Why?"
"These brushes aren't just for anyone to pick up and use. You must be trained with it,"
"Why?" Sighing deeply he picked the brush back up.
"Because, with this brush you can possibly have an ultimate defense to all ninjutsu,"
"What do you mean?"
"Here... Naruto, try and attack me. The Rasengan, use it against me,"
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"Hokage-sama?" Shy nervous eyes peered in through the small open crack of Tsunade's office door. Small voice calling to the apparently sleeping Hokage.
A loud trilling yawn rose from the Hokage's voice as she stretched her arms slowly, arching her back as she leaned as far back as possible in her chair. Fingertips rubbing her eyes lightly she licked her lips lightly as another sighing yawn ran through her. "Yes? Come in,"
The door opened slowly, stepping inside Sakura stood close to the door. "Hokage-sama..."
"Call my Tsunade-sama, or Tsunade-hime, or Tsunade-chan would be even better," She smiled, giggling lightly to herself as she turned in her chair, arm resting on her desk as her hand held her head lazily. "What can I do for you, Sakura-chan?"
"It's nearly noon and Kakashi-sensei has yet to arrive at our usual meeting place. He was going to help me train for the Exams and no one has seen him at all since last night," She approached the desk slowly, she was so nervous around this new Hokage, yet why? She knew.... Tsunade was one of the Sannin, a power that many feared to meet. A power she wanted to achieve for herself one day...
"Oh yeah... I'm sorry Sakura-chan, I meant to have someone tell you,"
"What? What's wrong?"
"Kakashi-san.... He resigned from his position as Jounin teacher this morning. Your no longer his student,"
Her eyes widened suddenly, as her hands fell fall upon the desk, rustling a few sheets of paper. "What?! How? W-why? Why did he resign? He can't do that, he was suppose to train me!" INNER SAKURA: "THERE BETTER BE A GOOD REASON WHY HE LEFT!!!"
"He resigned with the ANBU...."
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"KAIII" Dashing forward, arm out thrust, the typhoon shook Naruto's hand with pure power as he moved swiftly towards his elder. "RASENGAN!"
"Hmm..." A slow smirk appeared on Jiraiya's face, holding his brush silently and calmly as Naruto ran forward. The wind of the Rasengan approaching, closer and closer. A loud roar of power moved through Naruto as the Rasengan began to turn even faster... faster.. faster!
"SEAL!"
Blue paint sprang from the brushes tip as Naruto's typhoon made contact, wrapping around the Rasengan like a strangling attacker, it held the typhoon tightly. Bristles opening, the painted pulled the Rasengan in... Sucking the chakra away. Smiling, he span the brush in his hand, the brush suddenly larger.
"That is the power of this brush,"
Eyes lit up in wonderment as fists closed tightly in excitement. "Cool! Cool! Cool! Cool! COOL!"
Hopping up and down, Naruto bounced energetically. "That's what the brush does? How? How do I make it work?"
"Heh... it is simple. This brush acts as a chakra vacuum. Remember Itachi's partner?"
His arms crossed as he rubbed his chin lightly as if actually having to think about it. "Yeah, the shark guy,"
"Yes, well this brush can be compared to his shark-tooth sword,"
"It eats chakra?" Excited eyes lit up once more.
"Kind of... it seals the chakra away. Feeding on the attack - if you notice the brush is bigger now. The attack it still within the brush, but it cannot harm anyone,"
"How do I get it to seal my opponent's attacks?" Holding his own brush, he grinned, whipping it through the air quickly.
"Let your chakra flow into the brush, using it as an extension of your arm, the chakra will fill the bristles which will give it life," He stared to Naruto with a light smile, proud to impress the boy still after all this time of training together.
"Got it!" Naruto grinned as his eyes focused on the brush suddenly.
"Naruto, before you get too deep into the training there are things you must know,"
"What?" His arm fell, looking up to him. His face turned quickly to and impatient frown.
Jiraiya rose three fingers. "There are three rules to remember using the brush. Rule One- to work, the brush must touch the attack directly. Rule Two- It will not protect you from simple Taijutsu and weapons attacks, do not damage it trying to defend with it. And the most important rule. Rule Three- you must clean out the brush and seal the attacks into a scroll within three days of sealing it within the brush, or the brush will break open, releasing the built up chakra,"
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Sighing softly, Sakura moved through the halls of the council building. Sitting down on the couch in the lobby, she stared down to the floor quietly.
"Sasuke is gone... Naruto is always with Jiraiya... and now, even Kakashi-sensei doesn't care enough to even say goodbye..." Biting her bottom lip softly she closed her eyes slowly, not allowing anyone to see the fear tears in her eyes.
"Sakura-chan?"
"Hmm?" Rubbing her eyes dry quickly, she looked up. The ebony haired medic stood before her, smiling lightly as she knelt slowly to Sakura's level. She smiled lightly. "My name is Shizune.. I'm Tsunade's top student. She told me to come out here and talk to you,"
"It's alright Shizune-san. I don't need anyone to talk to. It's just I am still a bit surprised that Kakashi-sensei left me to train alone,"
"Well, you won't be training alone now. Tsunade-sama has asked me to become your new sensei. If you will accept me that is. I specialize in medicine and poison, so I can't offer you much aside from that,"
Sakura smiled slowly. "Medical jutsu's are what I've wanted to work with... I'll accept you as sensei, Shizune..."
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"Hokage-sama... can you promise me that Sakura, Hanabi and Naruto will not be rejected from the Exams? There is no longer a Team 7, and each of them have found their own sensei's. Men they could look up to with pride and respect," Kakashi stood against the filing wall silently. No long carrying the weight of his scroll vest, a short sleeved skin suit replacing his full bodied one.
"Don't worry, they will all make it into the exams, I promise you," She stood slowly as she moved from around the desk, approaching Kakashi slowly. Her hand lightly came to rest on his shoulder. "Kakashi-san... tell me the truth. Why have you rejoined the ANBU? Is it for him? If so tell me, and I will approve your mission request now,"
"No... I'm not going to go after him... not yet. I hate to say it, but right now... I am not strong enough. The gap between our powers are too high. Once I am ready though, I will come to you asking for the mission. But for now, I am nothing more then another ANBU member," A cloud of smoke burst from his feet as he disappeared from her sight.
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"Your not going after him? I thought that is why you rejoined all the sudden," Anko smiled lightly as her hands folded behind her head as she and Kakashi walked side by side. To Kakashi's right was Asuma and Kurenai.
"As I told Tsunade-sama, right now I would die if I faced him," He sighed lightly, everyone seemed to tell him the same thing... go after him, go after him. But they hadn't seen his power, not like he had.
"Do you really think you will ever be able to fight him at an even level? He gets stronger everyday..." Kurenai's eyes lowered slowly as they approached the Jounin buildings.
"I don't know... but I will go after him one day, when I close the gap as much as I can,"
"How can you close the gap when you can't measure his strength?" Stomping out his cigarette, Asuma lit another.
Kakashi sighed heavily once more, his head fell slowly as he shrugged his shoulders lazily. It was true, he was getting strong day by day. The gap would never fully be closed.
"Your killing yourself, Asuma," Anko smirked as she opened the door for the group.
"Heh, your the one stabbing themselves for fun - what are you doing with us anyway. Your still Chuunin,"
"No, I was promoted a few days ago by Hokage-sama for my work as such a dedicated Academy instructor," She grinned, sticking out her tongue as Asuma passed by her.
Taking the door from Anko, Kakashi held it for her, thanking him with a smirk and kitsune grin.
Grunting lightly, the door suddenly left Kakashi's grip, slamming shut, four kunais held the door tightly shut. Kakashi and Anko leapt from the door quickly, eyes scanning the rooftops quickly.
"Who did that?! Show yourself!" Anko stomped her boot lightly as she held her throwing kunai ready.
"Anko-chan... put that away. Who ever threw those were waiting for a open chance at me..." Standing ready, his legs planted tightly, Kakashi's hand shook slowly, ready to reveal the Sharingan at anytime. "Stop hiding... show yourself,"
A rustling of leaves came from above them, a dark figure leapt from the roof of the Jounin building. Falling quickly, he rolled along the ground, resting on his knee as dark eyes zipped to meet Kakashi's. Draped in black... the look of an old ninja of earlier times. Black hood... tunic... pants. Black taped gloves and socks. Standing upright slowly, he took a ready stance.
"Fight me Kakashi!"
"Tell me who you are... why should I waste my time fighting a man I do not know in times of peace?"
"Fight me!"
"Why do you want to fight me?" Sighing lightly, stance becoming relaxed quickly as he slipped his hands into his pockets.
"Fight me, and if you win - I will tell you everything,"
"Why? Do I really care who you are?"
"Grr....." The mystery ninja's body shook slowly as his fists tightened.
"Kakashi!" With a gasp of surprise, Anko cried out. Kunais pierced through her coat, pinning her to the building tightly. Two kunais driven through her ankles, securing her legs as well. She grinned in pain as blood fell to the ground.
"Fight me... or Anko-san will die,"
"Fine..." Sighing slowly and fully once more, Kakashi' hands slipped from his pockets. Gripping his headband lightly, it was slowly lifted. The Sharingan revealed.... "We will fight..."
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Author's Note: Hello again. Yeah I know, a lot of you are going to hate this chapter. Sorry to Anko fans for making her seem a bit weak. But everything will work out, hopefully leaving everyone happy in the end.
Anyway, thanks for reading, please review.
Next Chapter: Kakashi vs The Mystery Ninja - Who Is This Man?