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Training

Ryuu deflected Naruto's blade again and again, Naruto pushing himself harder to try and at least make Ryuu move from the spot he was standing. His kenjutsu had improved drastically, but he had a long ways to go. Ryuu deflected the blade into the air and Naruto spun, dropping and slashing at Ryuu's legs. Ryuu jumped, and instantly realized that was the wrong move. Naruto grinned and flipped onto his free hand, as he favored a one-handed fighting style the same way Ryuu did, and slammed a kick into Ryuu's crossed arms, throwing him away. Ryuu flipped backward, landing on his feet and smiled, nodding.

"Well done, Naruto," Ryuu said, letting his Vacuum Blade disappear. "You're a quick study. You've improved the most drastically out of anyone I've ever trained, arguably except for Hinata."

Both turned, watching as Hinata and Fu sparred, both of them using both their sword, Hinata currently using a training katana like Naruto while Fu used a Water Sword. Hinata was good. Like, intimidatingly so. She was actually pressing Fu hard, which even Ryuu had trouble doing in a purely kenjutsu match.

"She's so amazing," Naruto mumbled.

"Oh really?" Ryuu grinned.

"Uh, I mean, at kenjutsu!" Naruto said hurriedly. "She's so good she's actually holding her own against Fu!"

Ryuu chuckled. "That she is. But it's okay if you meant she was amazing for other reasons. I think the two of you would be good for each other."

"I don't feel that way about her," Naruto said. "I like Sakura."

"Do you?" Ryuu asked. "Or were you just trying to find another way to compete with Sasuke, which is why you haven't made a single move to try and win Sakura over while Sasuke's been away, because it wouldn't be a challenge that way?"

Naruto stared at him, then at the ground. "I...I don't..."

"Anyway, back to your training," Ryuu said, Naruto nodding. "Show me a Vacuum Blade."

Naruto formed one quickly.

"Now, I'm going to blindfold you, and you're going to attack my clones," Ryuu said. "You have to learn to sense their chakra."

"But, I'm not a sensor type," Naruto said. "I've never been able to."

"It's never too late to learn," Ryuu said. "And doing so will improve your chakra control drastically."

Naruto nodded and Ryuu blindfolded him before forming three clones. The clones spread out around Naruto and Ryuu explained to Naruto how to sense for chakra, then turned to Yugao as she walked over. She had been helping Shikamaru train his chakra reserves and endurance with Asuma, and off to the side from them, Kakashi and Yamato were still helping the real Naruto train his new Rasengan.

"What's up?" Ryuu asked.

"I was told to give you a new test weapon," Yugao said, handing him some kind of blade in a sheath. "Tsunade asked you to test it out, since you're the one who uses blades most commonly."

Ryuu nodded and drew the blade. It was about the same length as his tanto, except that it was chakra metal, and was all one piece of metal with tape around the grip, a flat part on either side of the guard with the Konoha leaf symbol engraved into it, then the blade going from the edges of the guard on top in a smooth curve upward, then curving to a point. The blade didn't have a flat section along the blunt sides, instead having a small ridge along them, making it a four-sides, vaguely western-style blade. He liked it, but he was partial to his tanto, for obvious reasons. However, he was asked to test it, so he would.

He looked up at the Naruto clone he was training, finding him doing admirably at the training, though not perfectly. Ryuu attached the blade's sheath to the back of his belt before drawing the blade again and channeling his chakra into it. The silhouette it naturally formed was double the blade's normal length, and took the form of a broader double-edged blade with the silhouette's guard also sharpened and extending outward from the blade's actual guard, then spiked upward on the ends. He was less a fan of the silhouette, but it could be useful.

"How's Shikamaru's training going?" Ryuu asked.

"Seeing what he thought was Asuma die lit a fire in him," Yugao said. "He refuses to lose anyone again, and he wants to be strong enough to actually watch Asuma's back next time. I don't know if he's ever trained this hard before. And from what I've heard, Ino and Choji are doing the same thing."

Ryuu nodded. "Good. Hidan and Kakuzu are both still on the move and inside the Land of Fire. I'm not sure what they're up to, but we'll need to deal with them. Soon."

Yugao nodded. "Hopefully for good, this time."

"I couldn't agree more," Ryuu nodded. "I'm going to go see Tsunade. Can you take over training Naruto to be a sensor?"

"Absolutely," Yugao nodded.

Ryuu released his clones and extended his wings, taking off for Tsunade's office. After a few minutes, he knocked on the door and it opened, revealing Danzo. Ryuu's hand instantly grabbed the handle of his new weapon. Perfect opportunity to test it out. However, he stopped himself. Deserving as Danzo may be, he couldn't attack him without an excuse. Danzo glared at Ryuu in silence.

"Get the hell out of the way, Danzo!" Tsunade snapped.

Danzo stepped aside and Ryuu walked in, Danzo closing the door behind him.

"How can I help you, Ryuu?" Tsunade asked.

Ryuu glanced at Danzo before beginning. "I think we've waited long enough. I'd like permission to go after them with a team of my choosing."

Tsunade nodded. "Granted. Send me the list before you go."

"Now wait just a minute!" Danzo snapped, Ryuu again gripping his new weapon's hilt but keeping it in its sheath. "I've raised concerns about Ryuu's loyalty before, Tsunade! To put such blind trust in someone who's being kept alive by pieces of a member of the Akatsuki is a mistake! Ryuu has proven himself vastly more powerful than these two Akatsuki members numerous times, and yet they have repeatedly managed to escape! Does this not seem suspicious to you? And we have no way of knowing how much he told Orochimaru in order to buy himself rest from Orochimaru's torture and experiments! Here and now, I demand that Ryuu be taken into custody and interrogated to find out if his allegiance remains with the Hidden Leaf!"

"And I assume it would be your faction of the ANBU that hold him?" Tsunade asked.

"It would be my honor, Lady Hokage," Danzo said, bowing.

"Oh sure," Ryuu nodded. "Great idea. And then while you're holding me prisoner, you can take my Sharingan without anyone knowing, and then you can kidnap Fu and turn her into your own personal weapon, just like you tried to do when we were children. Yeah no one's going to fall for your bullshit again, Danzo."

"Ryuu is one of my most skilled, and most loyal, shinobi," Tsunade said. "He suffered through his time with Orochimaru without revealing a single secret about the village, and the substance holding him together is fully under his control, not the other way around. He is no more a traitor to the village than the First Hokage was. You, on the other hand, need I remind you, are still on thin ice. You have been ever since I got here and found out you attacked Ryuu and Fu in the middle of the village in an attempt to kidnap them. You're goddamn lucky I didn't have you executed or banished then and there. And you're lucky I allow you to continue being free still. If you lay a single hand on any of my shinobi, Ryuu and Fu especially, since you seem to be obsessed with them, I will allow Ryuu to do with you as he pleases. And I believe he would please quite a lot."

"Oh I would," Ryuu agreed. "Please, Danzo. Give me an excuse. Any excuse."

Danzo grit his teeth and turned, leaving the room. Ryuu grinned.

"He's going to be a problem again," Ryuu said. "That's the first time he's spoken out about anything in forever."

"If he's a problem, you have my express permission to deal with it as you see fit," Tsunade said. "However, I would advise you against excessive force."

"Don't worry," Ryuu said. "I'm not looking to kill him."

Tsunade nodded and Ryuu left the office, heading back to the field. He walked over to Shikamaru, who was resting from his own training.

"Have you been thinking about Hidan and Kakuzu?" Ryuu asked.

"Yes," Shikamaru said. "I think I have a plan to deal with them, or, at least one to keep them from escaping again."

"Good," Ryuu nodded. "Gather whoever you need for the plan and meet me at the main gate tomorrow morning at dawn. Tsunade's given me clearance to take whoever I need."

Shikamaru nodded. "Ryuu, thank you for protecting Asuma. I don't know what I would've done if he had actually died."

"The same thing you're doing now," Ryuu said. "Just with a bit stronger motivation to kill Hidan. Or as close as you can get."

Shikamaru nodded. "I'll round up the others."

"Who will we be taking?" Ryuu asked.

"Us, Choji, Ino, and Fu," Shikamaru said. "However, you're not going to like Fu's involvement."

"Bait," Ryuu said. "I trust your plan."

Shikamaru smiled. "Thanks. I can tell you on the way to them."

Ryuu nodded, sending a clone to let Tsunade know who was going, as well as that he would like Teak Kakashi as emergency backup if needed. Then, he and Shikamaru both returned to their training, Ryuu having both Naruto and Yugao attack him with their swords so that he could challenge himself.

Ryuu pulled his flak on and walked to the front door, finding Fu waiting for him. He slipped his hand into hers as they headed for the gate, neither of them speaking. He had told her about Danzo's outburst, and she had agreed that he'd be a problem before long if nothing was done about him. However, as they were not allowed to do anything about him, they had agreed that the best policy was simply to keep an eye out for him.

"Are you ready?" Shikamaru asked as they reached the gate."

"Yes," Ryuu nodded. "I can lead us to him, or we can get ahead of him and set an ambush."

"Ambush," Shikamaru said. "I need to get something ready anyway."

"Alright," Ryuu nodded. "Fill me in on this plan while we travel."

Shikamaru nodded and they left, Shikamaru beginning to explain from the first stage of the plan.

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