Note: Hey loyal readers. So you know, Screamers-kun is very lonely and bored person. If you ever want to keep me company as a work on "Growing Up", my book, or comic. Or want to just chat for a bit you contact me on MSN at ScreamersMetalaol.com (ONLY WORKS FOR MSN) As you can tell by this desperate plea for attention and someone to talk to, as stated above, I am a very bored and lonely person. n.n;;
Growing Up...
Who Is Your Precious One?
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43 Hours Before The Chuunin Exams Begin...
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"Dammit- Dammit- Dammit!" Yelling in anger Naruto through the brush to the ground, stomping on it as his fists balled. "Stupid thing!"
"Naruto... calm down. You're not focusing. After the Rasengan training this should be simple," Jiraiya sighed as he sat on a small bench near the edge of Konoha, smiling lightly as he took a sip of sake.
"I just can't get my chakra to go into the damn thing!" Naruto pulled the brush up from beneath his foot, trying to strangle it. "Die!"
"Relax Naruto... here we will begin a new type of training... it may work better then the current," Jiraiya chuckled lowly as he gave a soft groan, pulling himself into a standing position he took a few small steps towards the struggling ninja. "Naruto... think of it this way. It is a matter of life and death... a great ninja has attacked you. His chakra is enormous... and a great fireball is barreling down upon you..."
Naruto nodded softly, as his arms fell to his sides, taking a long deep sigh, his eyes fell shut.
"Just then... your precious one leaps in front of the flames in hopes of protecting you, by doing so they will surely meet death... you have two choices Naruto... let your precious one die from the flames... or protect them. Save yourself and your precious one by containing the flames inside the brush," He smiled lightly down to the young boy.
Naruto bit his lip lightly as his grip on the brush tightened slightly.
"Well Naruto... what happens?"
"I shove her aside... the brush isn't working..."
"And you both die from the power of the ninja,"
Blinking quickly Naruto's eyes snapped open, looking up to Jiraiya with a sigh. "But... why do we both die?"
"Because Naruto... you take the jutsu at full power. Even if you manage to save your precious one, they will die inside without you,"
His head fell slowly as he stared to the ground in silence; it was as if things just now began to make sense. A true precious one... someone you would sacrifice yourself for. Someone you can not live without, someone who acknowledges you and you acknowledge. Someone that you love... and loves you as well.
"Naruto... time is up. Your training is over... in my opinion a failure. I am sorry that I could not train you better, but it seems you just aren't meant for the brush. Nothing has worked..." Jiraiya sighed lightly as his arm rose, lightly rubbing the back of his neck.
"Ero-sennin... who is your precious one?" Naruto left Jiraiya's side, shuffling slowly to the bench, he sat down. Lightly spinning the brush between his fingers like a coin.
"Why do you ask?" Short steps were taken as the elder sat beside him.
"Because... I want to know. Everyone has someone they fight for. To protect, and care, and love for. Who is your precious one?"
Jiraiya smiled lightly to himself as his head lowered, arms crossing over his chest. "Tsunade-hime of course, you as well. Uzumaki Naruto-kun,"
Naruto's eyes rose, looking to Jiraiya as his mouth took a breathlessly gasp. "Ero-sennin..."
Suddenly, Naruto fell over Jiraiya, arms wrapping around him quickly. "Ero-sennin... you really care about me?"
"Of course Naruto... your the soon to be Hokage of Konoha, right? You are the final gift that Yondaime-sama gave to us,"
"A gift?" Monster... demon... Kyubii... fox-boy... dropout... loser... all these words were common to Naruto. But a gift? Never... never had anyone thought of him as a gift. Tears fell from Naruto's cheeks as he hid himself from Jiraiya's gaze... "I'm sorry Ero-sennin, a ninja never cries,".
"Naruto, a ninja never cries... but at times, we cannot help it. Humans cry... and we are human before anything else..."
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Shizune smiled as she and Sakura sat atop Konoha Hall, staring out over the forest as the sun slowly fell from sight. Sakura sighed softly as she rest her chin in her hands, feet dangling off the edge of the building. The young girl's body marked and bruised in a few areas from such harsh training over the past few days.
"Naruto is going to be amazed when he sees you at the exams. Two weeks and look at you know, your buff," Shizune giggled lightly as she reached over, her hand squeezing Sakura's lightly.
Sakura smiled lightly shaking her head lightly. "Stop that, I'm not that strong. Even I hope arms aren't that muscular. I like having slender arms, not big ropey ones like Hokage-sama,"
Shizune laughed lightly. "Shh... Never let Tsunade-sama hear that. She has changed her appearance enough; we don't need her trying to find a way to make her arms thinner,"
"What does Hokage-sama's real face look like anyway?"
"Even I don't know that... you know Sakura-chan, with all this training of the body, we haven't trained the soul. We haven't talked at all... if I am going to continue being your sensei, I should know some things about my student," She adjusted herself, pulling her legs under her body as she sat on her knees.
"Haruno Sakura... student of Shizune-sensei. Former student of Kakashi-sensei. What else is there you want to know?"
"Unlike Kakashi-san I want to know my students. I want to be your friend as well," She smiled as her hand rose to lightly run through Sakura's hair. "What do you do for fun? What do you like and dislike? Tell me all about Haruno Sakura-chan, I know all I need to know about Shinobi-Sakura,"
"Well... I study a lot. Sometimes I hang out at the Yamanaka Flower Shop... I like flowers, making sure I look presentable at all times. I dislike my forehead... and annoying people," She smiled lightly as she slowly pulled her legs up from the edge. Her knees pulled up to her chin as she hugged her knees to her chest.
"Do you have a boyfriend? A boy you like maybe?" Shizune smiled as she lightly nudged Sakura's arm as she slowly took the same position as Sakura.
"I did... Sasuke-kun,"
There was no more talking between the two... Shizune's smile slowly faded as Sakura's face fell. Looking away from her new mentor, Sakura turned her attention back to the falling sun. Teeth slowly gripped her bottom lip. Shizune moved slowly closer to her, and arms moving around her shoulders slowly.
"I- I'm sorry Sakura-chan. I shouldn't have brought it up,"
"It's not your fault... I told myself I was never going to think about Sasuke again... he means nothing to me anymore..."
"That's not true is it?"
"No... I still love him even though I am not suppose too... He is one of the most feared and dangerous nins in the world, an exile from Konoha," The shaking feeling over cold and loneliness ran down Sakura's spine as she moved into Shizune's arms.
"Is he your precious one?"
"Precious one?" Head slowly fell to rest on Shizune's chest.
"The one you fight for... to protect. The one you could not live within,"
"No... Not anymore, not after what he did..."
"Do you even have a precious one then?" Shizune placed her chin lightly atop Sakura's head. Gently strokes of comfort ran down Sakura's back.
"Ones I can't live without? I suppose I do..."
"Who?"
"Lee-kun... and of course, Naruto-kun,"
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"We are the ANBU; the best of the best is the easiest way to explain in Shikamaru. We take our orders from Hokage-sama directly," Kakashi stepped into the ANBU armory. Kunais, shurikens, swords, spears, caltrops, claws, scrolls and staffs hung from wall to wall. Leaning against corners in containers, held in glass cases. Hanging off the walls weapons of the ANBU filled the small room. There before the two were the most important items to the ANBU. The hunter masks...
"We fight for all of Konoha... we kill to protect those who are precious to us. We fight with extreme prejudice... kill or be killed is the law of the ANBU. Learn it well Shikamaru... Oh and one more thing," Kakashi lead the younger ninja towards the wall of masks.
"What is it?" He looked up to the older ninja who quickly pulled a mask from the wall. The vicious snarl of a rapid wolf stared to Shikamaru as Kakashi placed it over his face.
"There is a reason we are the best... we fight and survive so we may see our precious ones again. To the ANBU that is the ninja way. Simply live to see your precious one and to be with them and know they are safe for another day... you have a precious one don't you?"
"Yeah..."
"Who? Who is it that you are willing to give your life to protect?"
"Temari of the Sand..."
A rival ninja... Kakashi sighed lightly as he gave a light nod... he turned back to the wall of masks. "This is your mask Shikamaru... keep it safe, wear it proudly. Nara Shikamaru... welcome to the ANBU,"
The face of a bat stared up at Shikamaru as the heavy stone mask was placed in his hands. "The bat?"
"You see without seeing... you know what is happening and what will happen before anyone else could imagine. You fight in the shadows and dark of night Shikamaru. You attack swiftly and quickly with precision and strength. The bat...."
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"Haa...haa...haa...."
"Hinata-chan! Aren't you done yet? The sun is setting; don't you want to join us from dinner? Kurenai-sensei is treating!" Kiba smiled as he waved as he and Shino walked aside Kurenai.
"I- I'm sorry Kiba-kun... haa...haa...but I am going to continue...haa... if that is alright.." Hinata stood, nearly squatting as she panted heavily. Head hung between her legs; hands chuckling her knees tightly as sweat fell from her forehead.
"Hinata-chan, you are killing yourself doing this. Come with us and rest... the Exams are less then two days away," The soft spoken Shino spoke up with a bit of surprise from Kiba and Kurenai. His hands jammed into his pockets as usual, his shades slipped down his nose slightly as rarely seen eyes looked to the small girl.
"Please Shino-kun... haa...haa... I'll be fine. Please, I want to continue my training... I can't let Naruto-kun down this time..." She bit her bottom lip softly as she rose from her weak, tired stance.
Kurenai smiled softly as she listened to the young Hyuuga speak. Hinata... she didn't seem to realize what she was saying sometimes. Kurenai giggled lightly to herself as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. The little Hyuuga couldn't hide it at all... she loved Naruto with all her heart. If only she had to the courage to tell Naruto what everyone else knew...
"Hinata-chan, I'll be back in an hour or so. If your still here training I am personally going to knock you out so you will at least get some rest before the exams," Kurenai called out over her shoulder as she and the boys turned from her, leaving to enjoy a full dinner after a hard day of training.
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Chapter 8 complete! This was actually a rather hard chapter for me to write. I wanted a very deep, powerful and emotional feeling for this chapter, though I am not too sure if I accomplished this. This is the very reason why I chose the name "Growing Up" for this fic.
The main focus of Naruto has always been the fact that they are ninjas. Where in reality, they are all still kids and as Jiraiya said, human before anything else. While the story will still focus on the fighting, on the action and storyline progression of Naruto, many very human aspects will be coming out further in this fiction. Relationships will be made, emotions will be played with, and hearts will be broken. Everything that makes a human a human. The Naruto cast is still growing up, both as ninjas and as people.
The Chuunin Exams Are Finally Approaching! Less Then Two Days Before Naruto and The Others Face A New Journey!
But first:
Chapter 9: Kurenai and Jiraiya's Mischievous Plan!