The new Genin teams.
Written by: Kin-Ryu Chikara
I don't own anything from the manga/anime Naruto. It is Masashi Kishimoto that owns Naruto. This is a fan fiction based on Masashi Kishimoto's manga and anime: Naruto. It really doesn't have much to do with the story, other than some events. Warning, does involve spoilers to things that happens in the anime and manga.
"Ordinary conversation"
'thought'
"Kyuubi speech"
'Kyuubi thought'
Scene change and story perspective. Example: Tsunade's POV (Point Of View): Tsunade is telling the story. Hinata's POV: Hinata is telling the story.
Golden dragon speech
Authors note: a comment from me about the story.
-- paragraph
Wordlist: Konoha one of the ninja villages, Suna another ninja village, Hokage leader of Konoha, Kazekage leader of Suna, Sandaime Third, Yondaime Forth, Godaime Fifth, kage shadow, bunshin clone, jutsu technique, Hijutsu secret technique, Katon fire element, Suiton water element, Doton earth element, Fuuton wind element, Raiton thunder element, Iton healing element(my creation), kawari replacement, shinobi ninja, Jounin high ninja, Chuunin medium ninja, Genin low ninja, henge transformation, KAI undo/cancel, shuriken throwing star, kunai throwing knife, Hai 1. yes 2. here, Yatta I did it, Honto really, Īie no, sugoi 1. amazing/wonderful 2. awful/terrifying, Nani what, baka idiot, dobe moron, gambatte do your best/try your best, obāsan grand mother, otosan father, okasan mother, onesan Big sister, 1.onosan 2. nii-san big brother/brother, imoto-san little sister, ototo-san little brother, sama/san Mr, Mrs, or Ms (formal), nesan elder sister(familiar form), Ero gaki perverted brat, Ero-sennin perverted hermit(Jiraiya), tenketsu chakra holes, Jyuuken gentle fist, Gouken iron fist, Katon, Goukakyuu no jutsu Fire element, Grand Fireball technique, Katon, Karyuu Endan no jutsu Fire element, Fire Dragon Flame missile technique, Katon, Housenka no jutsu Fire element, Phoenix fire technique, Katon, Ryuuka no jutsu fire element, Dragon Fire technique, Katon, Gamayu Endan Fire element, Frog Oil Fireball (can only be used together with a frog summon).
(A/N: I am not going to write down every jutsu name in Japanese. That will be too troublesome. So I'll only write down some of them, the rest I'll use the English translation.)
Ryu-ichizoku the dragon clan, Ryu-kuni the dragon country, Kin-ketto golden lineage, Infomeshon Information, Cymer Chikara's ninja helper, Mujaki Chikara's adoptive daughter, Namida-chan Chikara's pet name for his adoptive daughter, Taiyo-kun Temari's pet name for Chikara.
Chikara's summons(all are dragons): Kaji (fire), Chikyu (earth), Kaze (wind), Mizu (water), Kori (ice), Raimei (thunder), Seibutsu (life), Yugure (darkness). Chikara in his dragon transformation is called: Kin-Ryu.
Continuation from "The Chuunin exam continues"
Two months later. Chikara POV
"So those of you that stand in front of me have passed the Jounin exam, and are now officially Jounins of your respective villages. Congratulations." Tsunade said and the Jounins behind her gave their applause. Kakashi was still in a state of shock about his newest student becoming Jounin after being a Chuunin for two months. I was really tired after all the fighting, but also extremely happy. 'Now I am a Jounin. But I can't rest. I have to continue training and becoming stronger and better. And in six months, I will have to go home again. But I can't think about that now.' I was thinking happily
--
"Now you have to go to your kage and good luck with being a Jounin." Tsunade said and motioned for me to follow her. The rest of Konoha's Jounins present followed as well. When we were in her office, Tsunade turned around and gave me a crushing hug. "I thought you would die, but as usual you surprise me. And now you are a Jounin. I'm so proud." She said, still hugging the air out of my body. When she saw my purple face, she let go, and I almost fell to the floor, trying to get my breath back. She went to her desk and picked up my Jounin vest. I took of the Chuunin one and put on the Jounin. Tsunade looked like she was about to cry from pride, but pulled herself together. She sat down behind her desk and motioned for us Jounins to sit down on the chairs in front of it. "Now that we have our new Jounin, we have to discus some serious matters. Firstly I must inform you Chikara that you now don't have much freedom when it comes to dressing, even it you are a royalty. You have to wear a Jounin vest like that one, but the rest is thankfully up to you." Tsunade said almost laughing at my expression.
'serious matters she said' every Jounin except Gai thought. He was thinking of how he could get me to wear green spandex.
--
"The other matter is our Genins. Our Genin teams have been pretty unorganised for about two months now. With Sasuke gone, and Shikamaru, Shino and Neji Chuunin, we don't have a whole Genin team any more. Not from their age group anyway. It happens that their age group is the one that most needs to be as whole as possible. I guess you five already know that?" Tsunade asked us with a raised eyebrow
"Yes, we know. But what do you suggest we do about it? We can't take away Shikamaru, Shino and Neji's promotions to make the teams whole again." Asuma said, cigarette threatening to fly out of his mouth.
"I suggest we make new teams. It will take some work from the Genins to become accustomed with working with new team-mates, but as I see it is the only way to balance the teams again." Kakashi said, and Kurenai nodded her agreement.
"That is a good idea. We will have to make the teams as balanced as possible though. And I suggest that we have out newest Jounin take one of the new teams." Tsunade said, smirking at me.
"What? Right of the bat like that?" I asked, but Gai laid a hand on my shoulder and said: "You are ready. Heck, if I wasn't so strong I am I would ask you to train me. You really are a paragon of the power of youth." I sweat dropped in response.
"Also, I became an instructor for team 8 right after I became a Jounin. As much I hate to admit it, you are a more capable teacher than me. You already have started training Naruto and Sakura into becoming stronger and better." Kurenai said and she added with a playful tone: "Actually I think you have made progress with those two faster than Kakashi did."
Kakashi scowled when he heard this. "I trained them and he just continued with what I started" he said, a little pissed at being called a bad teacher.
"Back to the matter at hand. I have a proposition for the new teams." Tsunade said.
--
"My proposition for the new team 7 is:
Uzumaki Naruto
Harona Sakura
Hyuuga Hinata
And Chikara as the Jounin instructor.
--
My proposition for the new team 8 is:
Inuzuka Kiba
Yamanaka Ino
Akimichi Chouji
Asuma as Jounin instructor
--
The last team will be
Tenten
Lee
Gai
Kurenai
The two Jounin will share the instruction job, but they will also have missions.
--
Kakashi will go back to having regular missions, but I would appreciate it if you would be able to cover for Chikara if he is on a mission. The same applies for the rest of you also. I think that cooperation between the teams is good. If Asuma is sick or something, Kurenai or Kakashi is substitute for a while. You get the idea. Is all this alright or do you have objections?" Tsunade took a deep breath from all the talking.
--
I didn't have any objection but Kurenai had. "Do you think it is wise to place Hinata on the same team as Naruto. She does have a serious crush on him. Won't that be a hindrance for her?" no one looked surprised by the question
Tsunade looked at me. "What? I don't know Hinata that well yet, but if we look at her mission profile to see if she has done missions with Naruto." I said, slightly bored. I also was on the verge of falling asleep due to exhaustion.
Tsunade took out a folder from a cabinet and looked into it. "She has finished two missions with Naruto. Both failed, but according to their reports that was because Naruto messed up on the first mission and on the second it was because the criminal they were chasing got captured before they could. It doesn't seem like her crush is a problem, but if it is it's up to Chikara to find a solution. Now if there is no other objections, go home. I will talk to the Genins tomorrow, and introduce the new teams then. Come here at 9 o clock sharp and get to know your team. You are dismissed. Everyone was about to go before I said: "I have something to announce. Please sit down." I said, and waited until everyone was sitting comfortably.
"In six months I have to go back to my country. The reason is because of a transformation I will undergo, and I want it to happen on the sacred grounds that I have trained in before. Think of it as a sort of baptism. I would also like if you guys would accompany me on this trip, as my friends." I explained
"What transformation?" Kakashi asked
"Tsunade knows about it. It's written about in legends in my country. After this transformation I will take another step towards becoming who I am destined to become. But it will be explained in due time." I answered, mater of factly.
"Why should we come? Is there some sort of thing you need your friends to do?"
"No, except to be my support. This transformation will be very hard to do, and I need all the motivation and support I can get. Also look at it as a chance to unwind and have some fun. This transformation hasn't taken place in about five hundred years, not since the last guy was able to accept the golden dragon's power. This transformation is really rare since the golden dragon is much stronger than the other dragons my clan summons, and the golden dragon don't unite with a person not chosen by it. But when a worthy person is chosen, a great festival takes place when the transformation happens. So it is a great time to have fun."
Tsunade looked like she was thinking a bit but Gai said: "Wow. That sounds great. I'm in if I don't have any missions. It should be a great time to spread word about the power of youth" The rest said similar things, minus the youth thing. After that we left, and went to each of our apartments, preparing for the next day.
--
Next day, on top of the Hokage building. Chikara's POV
"So you see why we have divided you into new teams. I'm sorry if you are unhappy with them, but you just have to bear with it. Learn to trust each other and to fight together. Now go to your team-mates and wait until a Jounin comes to pick you up. There is a new Jounin that will be team 7's instructor. Now, good luck and work hard. You have three days without missions, use them to get to know each other and work on your teamwork." Tsunade said, and ignored the blonde Genin who still didn't understand why they needed a new team-mate, but deep down he was glad it was Hinata, since he liked Hinata and she also had some pretty good moves.
--
"Who do you think will be our Jounin this time Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked. He, Sakura and Hinata were sitting on the roof and waiting for me. I was observing how they interacted on their own. Hinata was indeed blushing, but she stood with Naruto anyhow, and Sakura didn't look down upon Naruto as much anymore. Naruto still focused on Sakura for the most part, but he also talked to Hinata.
'This is good. We can develop a good teamwork here' I thought and appeared in front of them. They looked at me, but didn't recognise me, since I wore a cloak over my Jounin vest, and hood over my head.
"You are late." Naruto said, and Sakura nodded. Hinata actually frowned at their lack of manners and asked: "Are you our Jounin instructor?"
I laughed and took of my hood. Their eyes widened when they saw it was me. "Yes, I am your Jounin instructor, and No, I am not late. I was told to come here at 9 o clock. Now it's 8.59. But go home now. Meet me on top of Yondaime's head in one hour. Bring ninja equipment." I said and I was gone. My three students looked after me with curiosity, but went home and got their things anyway.
--
The Hyuuga mansion
"Hinata. What are you doing here? I thought you had a meeting to go to." Hiashi said as he found his oldest daughter in her room, packing her things.
"Um Good day father. I was at the meeting, and all the Genin from my class got rearranged into new teams. Neji-nii-san's two former team-mates also got a new team. I have a new teacher now. He wanted us to get our ninja equipment." Hinata explained.
"New teacher? Who is it, and why didn't I hear about it. I'm supposed to know who your teacher is." Hiashi sounded angry, but not at Hinata. He was angry at this new teacher, who ever it was.
"It's Chikara-san, and I thought that he told you. But I have to go now. I'm already late." Hinata said and was about to walk away.
"I will accompany you. I want to talk to Chikara-san." Hiashi said, making his daughter tense up
--
The Haruno residence
"Sakura? I thought you had a meeting?" Sakura's mother asked
"I was at the meeting. We were arranged into new teams, and I have a new teacher now. One that is actually on time. He wanted us to get our ninja equipment and meet up to train I think. So I have to leave now. Bye" Sakura yelled and took of towards the Hokage monument
--
Naruto and Iruka
"Iruka-sensei. I have a new team now. Tsunade-baa-chan rearranged every team and I am now on team with Sakura-chan and Hinata. We have a new teacher too. It's Chikara. I'm so excited. Now I'm sure to get many good missions." Naruto rambled on while he was packing. He had bumped into Iruka on his way home and he was now fascinated in Naruto's story.
"So you have a new teacher. How come I haven't heard that name before? Can I come and see him? I want to talk to him about something." Iruka said. Obviously Naruto didn't mind.
--
On top of the Hokage monument
I was sitting in silence, waiting for my three students to arrive. Sakura was the first one.
"Hello Sakura. Have you seen Naruto and Hinata?" I asked
"No. They're not here yet?" Sakura said
"There Hinata comes now. Ah, Hiashi wanted to talk to me. I probably should have told him about me being Hinata's new sensei. This is going to be troublesome." I said, and Sakura wondered what I was talking about.
--
"So you are the one who will take care of my daughter from now on. Why didn't I know this?" Hiashi asked, clearly angry at the lack of information.
"I have been a Jounin for a day, and it was decided yesterday that I was going to be Hinata's teacher. I would have told you, but since I came straight from the Jounin exam, I was really tired, so I went home and slept instead. Now you know, and you don't have to worry about your daughter. I will train her good. And I won't train her in techniques that doesn't suit her. She has found her own style, and I will help her develop that. So you don't have anything to say in the mater." I said, annoyed with the older mans attempt to patronise me.
"I don't have a say in the mater? I am her father, and even though you have helped my clan beyond measurement, it doesn't give you the right to…" Hiashi began before I interrupted him
"I didn't say that I could decide over Hinata because of what I did for the Hyuuga clan, but I am her teacher, and if you followed her fight in the Chuunin exam, you know that she has her own style. A style no other Hyuuga has, and you can't teach her how to do it better. You have tried to teach her the regular Hyuuga style right? And she doesn't master it right? That is because it does not suit her. When something doesn't suit you, you have to try something else. She did that, and has her own way of fighting. I can help her, but you can not. I'm sorry, but the decision has been made. Do you question my ability to make your daughter a stronger and better ninja?" I said, and the three people before me flinched at my tone of words.
"No, somehow I don't, but I would feel better if I knew for sure that you are good enough to train Hinata." Hiashi said
"Fine. Accompany us to our training then. That is if Naruto and Iruka can hurry up and get here." That last bit I said so loudly that the two of them heard it.
"You hear him Naruto. I told you it wasn't a good idea to sneak up on your new sensei." Iruka said, and dragged the protesting kid out from a bush. "I'm sorry Chikara-sama, Hiashi-sama." The Chuunin said blushing.
"Do you want something Iruka?" I asked before Hiashi could open his mouth.
"I just wanted to meet Naruto's new teacher. I was wondering if he got a good teacher" Iruka said, and I sweat dropped.
"Well, now you have meet me. I will take care of Naruto now. If you want to see my skill, you have to accompany us to our training area. But I have to ask the two of you, Iruka-san, Hiashi-san, not to interfere. This is my team now, and I supervise the training. Got it? If you try to help, you will just be in the way. Now we must be of." I said and started walking.
Sakura ran up to me, but stopped when she saw my expression.
"What is it, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked when he reached her. Hinata also wanted to know. The two older men was walking behind me, but in front of the kids.
"Chikara's face. It was filled with suppressed anger." Sakura said, slightly shaking
"Anger? What did we do?" Naruto asked
"No, we didn't do anything, but father and Iruka-sensei did. They came along and interrupted his training. They also placed questions on Chikara-sensei's ability to train us. I think that is why Chikara-sensei is angry." Hinata explained. And she was absolutely right.
'Damn. Those two has slowed us down. I have to make this training much smaller than I wanted.' I thought and yelled behind me: "Alright. We are going to start with a speed test. Naruto, Hinata, Sakura. Your mission is to catch up to me, and hit me. Start!" As soon as I was finished, they increased their speed, while Iruka and Hiashi looked surprised.
'He's going to start training right now?' Iruka thought.
Hiashi was thinking similar thoughts
--
"This is too simple" Naruto said and gave a swing at the Jounin in front of him. Poof, Chikara was gone and Naruto found himself trapped in a genjutsu who made his head spin around and around. He was saved by Sakura. She had fallen to a trap and was angry at herself for being able to fall for something so simple. Hinata was close to the actual me, and she tried to hit me on the head. Seconds before her fist connected, I vanished and a log replaced me. When her fist connected the log exploded and she was stuck in a genjutsu. A genjutsu that showed her the last few seconds over and over.
--
"So, no one of you could catch me. But you were close, so I give you credit there. With a bit training, there is a big possibility that I will get caught. Now for the next exercise." I said and looked proudly at my three students that stood in front of me, panting. I took out three leaves, and placed a leaf on each of their foreheads.
"This exercise is to sharpen your chakra control, and to heighten your concentration. What you are going to do is focus your chakra on this leaf, and make it stick to your forehead. Then you are going to walk around, but you have to see where you go. Still you have to keep the leaf in place. This forces you to focus on more than one thing at a time." I said
--
They waited for more instructions, but when none came, they started doing the exercise. Naruto had some difficulties, but Hinata and Sakura managed pretty fast. Soon the two of them were running around, fighting and deflecting kunai while still having the correct amount of chakra focused on their leaf. After a little while, and some help, Naruto joined them and he was able to move almost as freely as the two girls, but he lost his leaf a lot more than the two girls. After even more practise, I stopped them and said: "Now for something different. You are to have your leaf on your forehead, but now you are to complete the tree climbing exercise. I assume all of you have completed it?" I asked, and they all nodded. They started walking up and down a tree. I was surprised to see that Naruto was doing well. He still didn't have the same control and he wasn't able to mold chakra as good at the two girls, but he was doing well with what he had. He was also steadily improving. After several hours later, they all lay on the ground, panting.
"Good. That is enough training for today. As I told you, this sharpens your control and focus. Now I will tell you why this is useful. When you are in a fight, you have to focus on your enemy, but you also have to focus on your chakra and what you are doing. When you have mastered this exercise, you will find it much easier to do a jutsu while moving around or watching your opponent. This gives you an edge. Basically this exercise divides your brain or rather your focus, into parts that can work individually, while you still have control and chose what to do yourself. One part of your focus is on chakra, one is on movement, and one is on the enemy and so on, depending on how skilled you are. We will continue this training every day, and for the next week or so this is all we are going to do. When I think we are good enough, we will start other training, while still having our leaf on our forehead. But for now we concentrate on control, focus and chakra capacity." I said, and grinned at them. For a strange reason, even Naruto understood and he was amazed.
"Wow Chikara-sensei. You really are good at teaching." He said, and Hinata nodded with him. Sakura was smiling happily, glad to be improving.
--
"That was a really good training exercise Chikara. I don't have any doubt that you can teach my daughter a great number of things. Pleas accept my apology and join us for dinner tonight." Hiashi said, shame written over his face. Iruka was staring wide eyed at me and said: "That was so simple yet so complicated. The logic is amazing. How come I never heard of this kind of training? I didn't even know you could divide your focus." The Chuunin mumbled something before he said: "Naruto, I hope you are happy with your new teacher. Oh, look at the time. I have to go. Please accept my apology Chikara-sensei."
I nodded and he was of. When we began to walk back to the village, I saw that my students were really tired. Naruto was walking awkwardly, Hinata was having trouble with her balance and Sakura was close to collapse.
--
"Kage bunshin no jutsu" I said and created two clones. One of them picked up Hinata as softly it could, while the other picked up Naruto and placed him on its shoulders. I picked up Sakura and said: "I think you guys have deserved a ride home. Rest good for the night so that you are fresh tomorrow. Also Hiashi, I have to decline on the dinner offer. I already have plans. Sorry, but in case you wonder, apology accepted."
Hiashi nodded and we disappeared.
--
Next day at the Hyuuga mansion
"She is still tired. Can she train so soon?" Hiashi asked me, while watching the sleeping form of his daughter.
"Sakura and Naruto are also tired, but if they train now, and tomorrow and so on, their recovery will increase. There is a reason I am so strict as I am. I'll go and wake her up." I said, and as he nodded, I walked up to her door and knocked softly. Hinata moved a bit before sleeping on. I knocked again, and her eyes flew up.
"Who is it?" her voice was a tired squeak.
"Chikara. It's time for training. But if you are feeling too tired, then you can stay here." I answered from behind the door.
"Wait, I'll be right out. I just have to get dressed and grab something to eat. Please don't go away." She said, jumping out of bed.
--
"See? She wants to train, and when we get to the training area, I will give her some of food developed by my people." I said to Hiashi. He raised an eyebrow and asked: "Food? But she said she was going to grab something on her own."
"Yes, I know. But this food is different. It satisfies hunger, and restores chakra much better than other food. I want Hinata to eat at least one meal of this each day. I can bring the recipes to your chef if you like." I said and took out some scrolls from my backpack. "Here. This is copies of the recipes. Enjoy."
--
Later at the Haruno residence
"Sakura is still in bed? Go wake her up. Tell here that I'm here to see her." I told Sakura's mom
Fifteen minutes later, Sakura stood yawning in front of me. Her mother was preparing a breakfast for her, and she was raising her eyebrows at the recipe I had given her.
"This kind of food gives you back all your chakra much faster than normal. It can also help you heal. I want you to eat a meal of this every day. At least." I explained and watched as the pink-haired girl in front of me ate as if she never had seen food before.
--
Even later at Naruto's apartment
"Naruto, do you eat anything but ramen?" I asked in horror as I saw nothing but instant ramen in the boy's fridge.
"Nope. Ramen rules." He replied happily
"Jeez, you need more varied food. You'll die if you just eat one type of food. Here, let me cook you something" I said, and made him some food. A little later the blonde had a breakfast unlike he ever had before
"Hey. This isn't bad. I never knew you could cook sensei." Naruto said, his mouth full of food
"Oy, Naruto. It's not polite to talk with food in your mouth. Swallow before you speak. Okay? Now from now on I will ignore what ever you say when you have food in your mouth.
So what did you say?" I couldn't help but smile at his expression, but he swallowed and said: "This was really good. I never knew you could cook sensei" he repeated
"Well, you have to learn how some time. But finish up so we can train." I said jokingly
--
The training field
"Okay, now everyone is here, refreshed and ready? Let's continue our training. Today I think I will join you." I said and placed a leaf on my own forehead. The three kids in front of me looked curiously at me.
"The first exercise is a game of tag. The rules are that the one who has the tag has to track down the others. If you are found, you can try to escape or fight. In a fight, all jutsu are forbidden and you are only to use these blunted kunai." I said and handed out some kunai that never could cause damage. "If you are 'killed' you have the tag, but have to remain stationary for five minutes. The area for this exercise is this forest. We will meet up here again in two hours. Now let's see. Naruto has the tag. Begin!" I said and we were of.
--
Two hours later we were done. All of us were slightly panting; I had forgotten just how hard it was to hold the leaf in place, while moving and fighting. All in all I managed pretty good, being tagged three times, once by each kid.
"Good. Now let's take five and have lunch." I said and walked over to a bench and table, where a basket stood, filled with food.
--
We ate in silence before I finished and leaned back, looking up at the sky.
"Now we have run around enough, let's do the tree climbing exercise now. Start of standing, and go up and down as fast and controlled as you can." I said and walked over to my own tree. As I walked up and down several times, I saw that Hinata and Sakura were doing fine, but Naruto had some trouble with a bird and its nest. I shook my head and whistled. The bird flew of, and I told Naruto to choose a different tree. After about half an hour I called everyone to me again. "Alright, time to try something new. I know Naruto has completed the water walking, but have you two done that?" I asked Hinata and Sakura. Hinata nodded but Sakura shook her head, and I explained the theory. As we walked to the nearest river, Naruto asked me: "What will I do then? I can walk on water already. I want to learn a jutsu."
"You will try to walk on water anyway. It's much more difficult when focusing on keeping the leaf to your forehead, but before you put on the leaf, I want you to help me explain everything Sakura. First all of you will try to walk without the leaf, and then when you have mastered that, you will do the same with the leaf." I said, both sternly and softly.
Naruto pouted, but then his expression softened and he jumped up and down. "You mean I can be a teacher? I can teach Sakura-chan how to walk on water?" he exclaimed.
"You can help me, but can I ask you something?" I replied
"Yeah, sure." He grinned, waiting for me to continue
"Why do you call Sakura 'chan' but not Hinata? Is there a difference between them?" I asked.
Naruto thought for a while and made sure that the two of them was out of earshot before he said: "I think it's because I always liked Sakura, but I haven't always liked Hinata. I thought Hinata was dark, timid and a weird person, but now I understand her more. She is strong, brave and a nice girl. After her fight with Neji, I got a lot of respect for her, and she even stood up to you and fought you. I think I like Hinata almost as much as Sakura-chan now." It was clear that Naruto wasn't good with words, but neither am I, but I understood him anyway.
"Naruto, I think that if you like Hinata almost as much as Sakura, that you should call her Hinata-chan. I think she would like that. That would also help the teamwork, since you then show that you like and respect both of them, and that you treat them as equals. But that is just my opinion." I said, trying to sound as wise I could, but I didn't succeed much since I have almost no experience with girls either.
"That sounds like a great idea. It's settled. I will call Hinata 'Hinata-chan' from now on. But sensei, what will you call her then?"
"Me? I will use her name of course. Just as I call all of you by your name. I may throw in 'kun' and 'chan' but at a daily basis I think I will refer to you as Naruto, Sakura and Hinata." I said truthfully.
Naruto seemed strangely quiet and the girls caught up to us before he blurted out: "Chikara-sensei. Do you have someone precious? Like a girlfriend I mean."
I looked shocked into his eyes, and saw that his reason for asking was curiosity and he also wanted to get advice on girls, so he needed to know I had any experience. Hinata blushed and looked at me, curious for the answer, but Sakura hit the blonde boy on the head, saying "That's not something you just ask your sensei."
"Sakura, that's quite alright. It fits into my and Naruto's conversation just now. And I have no objections to answer. The answer is no, I don't have a girlfriend, but I have many precious people, people like my friends here in Konoha, you three and my family back in my home country. I know it sounds like a huge cliché, but its true. However, I had someone I loved as a girlfriend before, but she is dead now. And I don't want to talk about her. Not even Tsunade knows about her." I said, a sad look sweeping over my face, but I returned to my serious self when we came to the river. "But enough of that. We are here to train now. I want you to walk on the water. Now I have already explained the basics. Now observe. Naruto!" I said and Naruto and I both walked out onto the water. "Now this is difficult to see for Sakura, but Hinata should be able to see it easily with the Byakugan. Hinata, activate it and look at my chakra flow and Naruto's." I commanded. Hinata did as I said and looked at our feet where the chakra kept us afloat.
"But Chikara-sensei. Why do you use less chakra than Naruto-kun? I thought you had to use more chakra the heavier you are." Hinata said, and she certainly had logic on her side. Naruto and Sakura looked puzzled
"What Hinata sees is the difference in chakra usage between me and Naruto. I use less chakra, because I know how to use it better and to mold it better, but Naruto uses more since he doesn't mold it as much. This way I use less chakra to stand on the water, and has more to spare. But don't worry, after you master this, the molding will come naturally. Now, Hinata, Sakura. Try to walk on the water." I said, and they did try. The only problem was that while Hinata walked easily out on to the water, Sakura fell right in.
--
Several hours later, and a lot of explaining from me, Hinata and Naruto, Sakura stood on the water, a little unsteady at first, but she got better fast. "Great. Now all of us know how to walk on water. After a break, I want to try walking on water with a leaf on our forehead. For now take a break while I go practise something." I said and walked away a bit.
--
"What do you think he is doing?" Sakura asked. Naruto shook his head and said: "Hinata-chan. Why don't you use your Byakugan to see?"
Hinata almost choke on the water she was drinking.
"Hinata-chan? Eh, why did you call me that, Naruto-kun?" she asked while playing with her fingers
"I don't know, but I like the sound of it." Naruto said, and shrugged. Hinata looked like she was about to say something, but she activated her eye and looked at me instead.
"He has a sphere in his hand. It looks like its made from water, but I can't see anything else." She said
--
Moments later I let the sphere fall and walked back to the three kids. "Alright, now walk on the water while doing the leaf exercise." I said, and did so myself. It was harder even for me who had done it many times, but for the three Genin it was close to impossible. But after a while, Sakura was able to stay on the surface for about three seconds before falling. Hinata managed two, while Naruto had trouble with a whole second.
--
Many weeks went by and we completed several missions, most boring ones, and we also trained well and hard. All three of them had perfected the water-walk and they had also perfected the leaf training so much that they didn't think about it any more. I had modified the training, placing the leaf on different body parts and also using several leafs at once, and all three of them now focused almost perfectly. Their fighting style had improved as a result of the training and I had started working on their individual fighting styles. I had spent long hours watching them spar and fight, using my eyes to see the style that suited them best. Hinata already had her own style and I helped her develop it more. Sakura and Naruto didn't have a personal style, but I developed one for Sakura.
--
Hinata's special style combined her natural flexibility and her chakra control. She actually shapes her chakra into thin needles that stands out from her hands.
The style I developed for Sakura makes use of her natural talent in genjutsu, as well as her stubbornness and the strength she learned from Tsunade. She was pretty happy with it, since it is her own. The only other person able to use it is me, and I don't use it as I stick with my own style.
--
Naruto's tactic in battle was to rush in there and fight with as much power as possible. But during a fight I showed him that it was a stupid way to fight, and I began teaching him my own style, the one I had developed during my travels with Tsunade. That style consisted of high speed, high power and a lot of stamina. It didn't exactly suit Naruto perfectly, but I figured that as he grew and practised the style, he would grow into it, and learn to use it better himself. It was a hard task for me also, since I had to in a sense break him down and rebuild him as a ninja. First I had to teach him the basics, but since he learned fast when he tried he got those relatively fast. I also had to teach him not to be so loud all the time. After that I taught him how to respond to an enemy, and how to assess the situation. Planning I had Shikamaru teach him through playing shougi. I also made Sakura and Hinata go through similar training, but in the beginning I focused mostly on Naruto since he actually needed most work.
--
When he had learned to counter and plan during a fight, I started teaching him how to increase his speed, strength and chakra potential. Since he constantly was training his control and concentration, I didn't introduce another exercise for that. While he was training that, I began focusing on Hinata and Sakura. I found that they had low confidence in themselves, so I helped them slowly build that up. Also I helped them with their styles as usual. I had decided not to teach Naruto a new jutsu before he mastered the rest of my fighting style, but I taught Hinata and Sakura a couple of useful ones. This of course was over several months, but their strength and skill increased faster than I thought.
After five months, Naruto had mastered my style so much that he could fight equally with Kakashi when Kakashi wasn't using his Sharingan. Hinata could easily rival Neji, and had far surpassed her little sister. Sakura was well above Ino.
--
One day Tsunade called me into her office and as I sat down she said: "I don't know why I'm surprised, but you have done the impossible. You have trained your team very well. All of them are above regular Chuunin now, but I have spoke to them, and they don't want to take the next Chuunin exam. They say that they need more experience. So I'm thinking of giving them a little bit experience with visiting our allies in Sand. I have a mission for you. The mission is to go to the Sand and sign a treaty with them. Do you accept?"
"Yeah, I guess I don't have much choice. Also that would give me a good opportunity to ask if Gaara, Temari and Kankurou want to come with us to Ryu-kuni." I said
"You want them to accompany us?" Tsunade asked, a little surprised.
"Of course. I told you, I want all my friends there. Those three are my friends also, and I want all my friends to be there, since that moment will be the biggest of my life. And probably the last." The last bit was a murmur, but judging from Tsunade's facial expression, she heard every word.
"What do you mean? Last moment?" she asked worriedly, but I just shook my head, and said: "Well I'm off to inform my cute little team." I said and left.
In the office, Tsunade looked in horror at the door. "He never talks like that unless he is under a lot of stress. What exactly is going to happen in that ceremony?" she asked herself
--
"We have a mission to the Sand. We leave tomorrow. Be ready by 8 o clock. Okay?" I asked my team, and they nodded enthusiastically.
"Okay, now if you would just follow me, we need to go shopping." I said and walked towards Konoha.
"What do we need to buy?" Naruto asked
"Heavier weights. Those that you have on now are to light. Don't worry, it's my treat." I said. Inspired by Gai and Lee, I had started wearing weights about a month into the training, and Naruto, Hinata and Sakura had also started about that time. First they had used little weight, but now they wore almost the same extra weight as their own bodyweight. Unlike Lee who only wore weights on his legs, we wore weights on our legs, arms, torso and head. Although the weights on our heads were small.
The one to cope with the weights worst in the beginning was Hinata, since she had to depend on her flexibility, and the weights slowed that down. That is why Hinata wears fewer weights than the other two, but she also was able to cope faster than the two others, simply because she had to. She was accustomed to her weights in half the time than Naruto. Sakura took a little longer. I was improving a lot slower than I would if I trained myself instead of training my three little kids, but I never thought about that actually.
--
"Jeez, now I feel really heavy again. And we leave tomorrow? That puts me in a disadvantage in a fight. I need about three days to get accustomed." Naruto said as he walked. He looked like he had a huge weight on his shoulders, and of course it was true. Sakura and Hinata gave their reply as they also felt the increased weight. I wasn't too high in my horse ether since I had now twenty more kilos on different parts of my body, but I couldn't help but smile at Naruto's change. In five months had the loud and clumsy boy vanished and had been replaced by a strong kid who showed massive potential and willpower. He was now the strongest Genin in Konoha. It made me proud to think I had helped him on his way.
--
Next day at the Konoha gates
"Everyone ready?" I asked, and looked at the tired faces in front of me. We had worked a lot to get accustomed to the new weights. The way we did that was to run around Konoha for several times, and after we did that, we played tag within a small area for many hours, all to increase our speed. We had stopped after I was satisfied with the improvement, about 3 in the morning.
"Yeah, let's go." Naruto said as enthusiastically he could, but the effect was rather spoiled by a loud yawn from Sakura.
As we walked on, I couldn't suppress the chuckles and Sakura frowned at me.
--
"So you are going to undergo a change in a month's time, and want us to be there?" Gaara asked, when I had told him and his two siblings what I had told my friends back in Konoha.
"Yes, I would like that. This change is…difficult and I would be glad if my friends were there to support me. And since I look at the three of you as friends, it felt natural to ask. But if you don't want I understand…" I was about to turn around but Temari stopped me and said:
"Sure we'll come." She then smiled and turned to frown at her brothers. "Right" she said with treat in her voice. Kankurou nodded scared and intrigued while Gaara said: "I would have gone even without you staring at me like that. But Chikara, tell me more about that change of yours."
"Perhaps we should go and sit down. This will take some time to explain" I replied, a little sadly
--
Later same day in Gaara's apartment
"I guess I should start with the basics. In my country, Ryu-kuni, the people are different than in other countries. We have the dragon's powers. A dragon is a powerful being. Each dragon is ancient and has chosen its element long ago. Each of the eight normal dragons controls one element, fire, water and so on.
A person from Ryu-kuni has a dragon that he or she can summon. Each person only has one dragon to summon, except me. I am special in that I can summon all eight dragons. And that comes from the fact that I am chosen to inherit the power of the golden dragon, the greatest dragon of them all.
He controls all the elements, and has one of his own, called the holy element. The golden dragon, Kin-Ryu, chooses a person to unite with, and the last one was roughly five hundred years ago. So when the newborn son of the royal couple showed he was chosen, everyone looked forward to the day that comes in a month's time. The day when I unite with Kin-Ryu and become the golden dragon. I will get all the golden dragon has, and that day will be known as a national holiday. The reason is because the legends and history say I will be the one to bring peace and prosperity to my country. You see, Ryu-kuni is constantly at war with other countries that threaten to invade the shinobi lands. You know of these countries as uncharted, and no self-respecting ninja would go there. Those countries try to take over, but are stopped by the Ryu-kuni, and our power. But it is a hopeless fight, both sides are equal in strength, so we live in a tense peace, sometimes short battles happen to test each other, but mostly it is as quiet as before a huge storm. The legends say that the Kin-Ryu will change that. In short, I am supposed to stop a war that has been going on for thousands of years. And to do this I will unite with the golden dragon and everyone becomes happy. Except me." I finished with sorrow in my eyes, but no question came.
Everyone was silent and I continued: "When I unite with the dragon, I will have a series of test, and difficult decisions, and I even risk losing myself. That is why I want my friends there, to support me and be my motivation to go through with it. The reward is great, but the price is perhaps even greater. I won't know for sure before I actually meet the golden dragon. But one thing is sure: I will have to do this with or without my friends."
--
A long silence, suddenly broken by Naruto's quiet murmur: "If you are going to end a war that has been for thousands of years, you need friends by your side. Friends that are willing to fight alongside you. I don't know about the rest of you, but I will fight. I will train hard and will fight alongside my sensei and friend in that war." I looked at the boy and said: "You do realise that this is not your war?"
"That doesn't matter." Gaara said. "All that matters is that friends stay by each others side, and I can say this: I will also fight."
The others nodded in reply and I felt a lone tear roll down my cheek. Hopefully no one noticed.
"Thank you, but for now I just want you to be there when I transform." I said and the six people in the room nodded.
--
A month later, in the sacred area that the transformation was going to take place.
We had arrived in Ryu-kuni two days ago, and the time was soon to come. I was in my room and was preparing to die. I looked into my mirror and said: "The 'great' Chikara is going to die, to let the even greater Kin-Ryu be reborn. I just hope mom and dad haven't told my friends. I don't think they would let me do this if they knew."
--
"What's going to happen to Chikara-sensei down there?" Hinata asked the older woman standing besides her. The rest of my friends also paid close attention to what the queen of dragons answered.
"I don't know, but I think he will just gain power. I don't know anything else. Since I didn't grow up here, I don't know all the legends and history." My mother answered while locking down to the holy grounds that I would come out shortly.
"You're not originally part of the Ryu-ichizoku?" Tenten asked. She had thought that a clan so old didn't take in outside blood.
"No, I'm not. I'm not from any noble family. Actually I come from a normal ninja family. So you girls still have a shot at capturing Chikara." All the female ninja around her blushed.
--
Then the doors opened and I walked out onto the plain where I would soon be fulfilling my destiny. I raised my hands to signal silence from all my friends who had come to see this.
"This is the day that our legends come true. Chikara will die and Kin-Ryu will be reborn."
