Daze
Chapter six: First lessons
A/N: Ice here, running out of things to say enjoy the chapter.
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Karasu awoke with a warm fuzzy feeling percolating through his limbs. He got up from the floor and saw a series of leaves in a circle around him.
"How many did I get?"
Itachi smirked proudly.
"Thirty-three... I think... for fifteen minutes."
Karasu beamed with pride. Itachi smiled subtly and thought to himself.
'It's more impressive than you know Naruto, though you no longer hold the Kyuubi you still have your Uzumaki heritage which means you have a chakra reserve on par with my own.'
Itachi got up and handed Naruto a glass of tea and a sandwich platter.
"Eat up, when you're done we're going for a walk."
Karasu smiled widely.
"Really, awesome!"
Karasu rarely got to leave the hideout though Itachi wouldn't tell him why he knew there was a good reason and trusted his judgement.
Meanwhile in Iwa...
Tayuya sat at a cafe eating a plate of sashimi when a figure sat across from her.
She looked up and recognized the figure as Yoroi, a low ranking Oto ninja.
"What do you want Yo-Tan, are you trying to get yourself killed?"
The man smirked smugly.
"You wouldn't dare if you did, you'd be outed as a shinobi and banished from the village.
Tayuya shrugged.
"I've been meaning for a change of scenery anyway."
Yoroi looked at her and flashed a kunai under his sleeve.
"This is your final warning, come with me now and Orochimaru-Sama may show leniency."
Tayuya scoffed.
"Like I'd ever return to that creep tell him he can shove that kunai you know where."
Tayuya took a bite of her sashimi before locking eyes with the man, giving him a murderous glare,
"This is your final warning... leave now or I'll kill you where you stand, or sit... whatever shut up!"
The man nodded and turned to leave.
"This isn't over."
Tayuya smirked and yelled at the man ignoring the annoyed glances of the restaurant patrons.
"Blow your grandmother for me!"
The man growled but continued out.
She sighed returning to her lunch.
Same time, Forest near Tanzaku-Gai Provence...
Sasuke sat up cracking his neck and shoulders. He looked up at the sky and saw the afternoon sun burning high.
"Damn it they let me oversleep!"
He hopped out of his bedroll and hastily changed. He sighed. He had spent all of yesterday training and Jiraiya had carried him back to camp.
He ran his hands through his long raven-locks, in the three months since Naruto's capture he hadn't cut it, he had vowed to himself not to cut it again until his brother lay dead at his feet.
He tossed on his blue high collar shirt, and black sandals, tying his headband around his forehead in a way that kept his bangs out of his face.
He stretched, cracking his back.
"Jiraiya!"
The old man yawned wearily walking out of his tent in nothing but his boxers.
"W-what kid I was trying to sleep I had a long night."
Sasuke scoffed.
"A long night drinking maybe."
Jiraiya pouted.
'Just like Naruto, no respect.. no wonder they were rivals.'
Sasuke glared at the man.
"Are you gonna train me or am I gonna have to tell the bars nearby you've been shorting them money."
Jiraiya turned and grabbed his pants and began to get dressed.
"Whatever gaki go grab some breakfast I'll train you, just don't give me that look."
Jiraiya shivered internally.
'It reminds me of Orochimaru.'
"Hn."
Sasuke nodded and left to leave.
A minute later Kakashi awoke to Anko arms wrapped around his neck wearing nothing but a blanket.
"Morning Kashi-Kun."
She kissed him on his neck and he shivered.
"I have to go make sure Sasuke doesn't give Jiraiya an aneurysm."
Anko pouted.
"Are you sure I figured we could have a little fun."
He shook his head.
"Sorry Anko-Hime I have to go."
She nodded but stood up dropping the blanket and revealing her voluptuous body. She made sure to take a moment to pick up her clothes bending over to reveal her goods.
"Fine go, I'll have fun by myself."
Kakashi cried internally,
'Damn you!'
-but turned to leave.
Sasuke arrived at a cafe on the outskirts of Tanzaku-Gai and entered ringing a bell for service.
"Welcome what can I get you today?"
Sasuke ordered a glass of green-tea and some Onigiri. He sat down and waited for his mentors to arrive.
Five minutes later, Akatsuki HQ...
Karasu finished his lunch and followed Itachi outside. He saw the valley where a stream stretched as far as the eye could see above the cliffs on either side of them were forests.
"Follow me Otouto."
Karasu nodded and followed the man east down the stream. After about fifteen minutes of walking they arrived at a cliff face atop which lay a grassy hill dotted with trees.
Itachi vanished reappearing on top of the small cliff and Karasu climbed up after him.
"Aniki you need to teach me how to do that!"
Itachi chuckled.
"In due time Karasu-Kun."
He looked around before spotting what he was looking for.
"Come on."
Itachi began to walk up the hill and Karasu followed closely behind.
They arrived at the crest of the hill and Karasu saw what Itachi had seen previously. A red-haired man sat on a giant stone writing on a scroll.
"Itachi-aniki, who is that?"
Itachi put a hand on his shoulder reassuring him.
"That's Sasori, an associate of mine he's gonna help you with your chakra control."
Karasu nodded.
"Ah, Okay."
Karasu walked up to the man and bowed.
"Greetings Sasori-San."
Sasori's eyebrow raised slightly.
"So you learned some manners."
Karasu looked at him confused.
"What?"
Sasori smirked.
"Nothing, pleasure to meet you Karasu."
Sasori bowed slightly before returning to his writing.
Itachi walked up and they nodded in acknowledgement at each other.
"Where's Deidara?"
Sasori sighed in annoyance.
"The idiot went to buy some more explosive clay; he went overboard on our last mission and ran out."
Itachi sighed.
'Typical of him.'
"Karasu take a seat over there and continue practicing the leaf exercise stick with your thirty-three leaf limit once you can hold them for thirty minutes straight we can begin the next step."
Karasu nodded and left to grab some leaves.
Sasori's interest was piqued.
"Thirty-three aren't you overdoing it, when I was his age I only did thirteen."
Itachi nodded.
"He has large chakra reserves so he needs to have a higher level of control for jutsu to work properly."
Sasori nodded speaking more quietly so the boy couldn't hear them.
"Ah he was an Uzumaki wasn't he that makes sense."
Itachi looked at the scroll.
"What are you working on?"
Sasori smirked.
"The newest pieces in my collection."
He channeled chakra into the scroll and two human-puppets popped out one with a black ponytail and six arms, the other a pair of conjoined twins with long blue-hair.
Itachi tried to hide his disgust and regretted asking immediately.
"Weren't those Orochimaru's guards?"
Sasori nodded.
"Yes I figured two birds, one stone I get powerful new puppets and get to stick it to that Snake-Bastard at the same time."
Sasori sighed,
"Although I was a little disappointed that I couldn't transfer their curse mark power, once they died it left their bodies… typical of the snake always one step ahead"
Itachi nodded trying to sound interested.
"Yes, well that's a shame."
Sasori recalled the puppets sticking the scroll into his pocket.
Karasu returned and sat down. Sticking a leaf on his forehead he began placing others on his arms, neck, and shoulders.
He closed his eyes and began expelling chakra. Eventually he fell into a state of deep meditation and focused on his chakra.
Itachi pulled out a silver stopwatch and began the time for thirty minutes.
"Now, we wait."
Ten minutes later, Tanzaku-Gai...
Sasuke and co. finished their lunch and began to head for a nearby plain where they were training.
Kakashi reached for his favorite orange book only to realize Anko had pickpocketed it off of him.
'Damn that woman…'
He sighed and focused on the area around them.
"Jiraiya-Sama now that we've had Sasuke relearn the basics of chakra nature and chakra form, maybe we should teach him some new jutsu."
Jiraiya nodded, as he responded,
"That was the plan, I have a slew of fire jutsu and I'm sure you have more lightning jutsu hopefully before the three years are up we can awaken his third affinity."
Kakashi nodded.
"I'm planning on having him sign my dog contract."
Jiraiya nodded.
"Yeah that's probably for the best I don't think he'd mesh well with my toads and I'd hate for Gamabunta to crush him out of annoyance."
Kakashi chuckled at the thought.
"That would be a lot of paperwork with Tsunade."
Sasuke ignored the conversation behind him instead thinking about today's regiment.
He stretched his shoulder blades, his muscles had doubled in size and he had grown about an inch and a half from nonstop rigorous training that Gai and Lee would wince at.
Morning, Noon, and Night it's all he did only stopping to eat, sleep, or use the restroom.
Sasuke created a set of three shadow clones.
The first thing he had done was request the jutsu to expedite his training.
Though he couldn't create the hordes of clones Naruto once could, a three time boost to his training was still a colossal advantage.
He began warming up while Jiraiya and Kakashi discussed what to teach him today.
He began sparring with his clones while being careful not to dispel them; he didn't have the reserves to summon them if he kept destroying them.
After about fifteen minutes of sparring with them he dispelled one letting the knowledge reach the other two and repeated this process.
By doing this both he and his clones would improve endlessly as he discovered holes in his style improving them thus creating new problems and fixing those.
After he finished the third clone off and soaked in the information Kakashi called him over,
"Sasuke I'm going to let you sign my dog summoning contract. I just need you to promise me that you'll use them wisely and not endanger them more than is necessary."
Sasuke nodded.
"Of course sensei."
Kakashi's eye widened, that was one of two times Sasuke had ever called him that the other being after he'd learned the Chidori.
Kakashi laid out the scroll and showed Sasuke what to do. Sasuke bit his thumb signing his name in his own blood before placing his bloody handprint above it.
"Now to summon them you make the tiger, hare, and ram seal then bite your finger, drawing some blood, and slam your hand on the ground."
Kakashi demonstrated summoning a small yellow dog with shifty eyes,
"The secret to summoning them properly is to imagine them in another space and pull them out with your chakra. It's the same principle as pulling a kunai from a scroll."
Kakashi looked at him,
"Oh and you'll have your own chosen partners so there's no telling what their personalities will be like."
Sasuke nodded and followed his example summoning a medium sized grey australian shepherd dog with a high swept mohawk, and a green bandanna around its neck…
a small brown foxhound dog with a fauxhawk, yellow bandanna around its neck, and Yakuza shades…
and a mean looking abnormally large black beauceron dog with a military style flat mohawk, a scar over it's right eye, and a red bandana around its neck.
"So you're Sasuke huh nice ta' meet ya, the name's Kachi."
The grey dog offered him a paw and Sasuke shook it. The dog pointed at the brown foxhound who nodded cooly.
"That's Katsu he talks too much,"
He pointed at the black beauceron,
"And that's Kazan he never talks."
Sasuke bowed.
"Greetings Kachi I look forward to working with you."
The dog nodded.
"Yeah yeah just make sure to give us some treats every now and then."
Sasuke nodded.
"Peace!"
The dog gave him a salute before vanishing.
Kakashi chuckled.
"An interesting group to say the least."
Sasuke nodded in agreement.
Back at the hill, Two minutes later...
Karasu was snapped out of his trance by the sound of the stopwatch beeping. He opened his eyes, dropping the leaves to the ground.
Itachi clapped.
"Well done Karasu now we can begin the next step, tree climbing."
Karasu sweatdropped.
"Tree climbing?"
Itachi nodded.
"Without the use of your hands."
Karasu looked at him confused.
"Aniki have you lost your grapes? That's impossible."
Itachi looked at him shrugging before thoughtlessly walking up a tree and sitting on the branch.
"Nothing's impossible Karasu there are only things that are known and things yet to be accomplished."
Karasu's eyes widened.
"Woah that's crazy! alright I'll try what do I do?"
Sasori chimed in polishing a jagged blade.
"Expel Chakra from the soles of your feet, too little you'll fall off, too much and you'll fly off, you need to find the delicate balance between."
Itachi nodded in agreement.
"What he said, get a running start and try to climb the tree."
Karasu nodded and ran at the tree expelling chakra. He made it all the way up on his first try and sat down next to Itachi.
"First try Karasu, well done."
He shrugged.
"It just felt familiar, like I've done it a million times."
Itachi smirked.
'That's because you have Naruto though I am impressed you adapted to the change in your chakra so quickly.'
Itachi hopped up.
"Well then on to phase three follow me."
Karasu hopped down from the branch and followed Itachi back to the stream.
Iwagakure, Same Time...
Tayuya finished packing her few belongings and headed for the village gates.
She wasn't afraid of Yoroi in the least and the longer she stayed in one place the more chance of her getting outed there was.
She signed all the appropriate paperwork handing the guards her fake I.D. and passport before walking out of the village.
'Where should I go.'
She ignored the nagging part of her brain that told her to return to Kusa, head to the base, and free Naruto.
'I can't.. he's probably dead.. besides I can't take on Orochimaru myself I couldn't even face Kabuto.'
She nodded.
"Yeah that's stupid."
But part of her wasn't sure. She had grown attached to the young blonde. There was something about him that attracted her to him.
"Ugh, what should I do?!"
she groaned out while walking.
Later that day...
Sasuke lay exhausted on the ground. He had been training with Kage Bunshin all day and his chakra reserves were drained. He let out a groan of exhaustion.
Kakashi walked over, scooping him up into his arms.
"Thank you Kakashi."
Kakashi nodded, eye-smiling.
"What are sensei's for?"
Sasuke passed out in Kakashi's arms a mix of chakra exhaustion and regular exhaustion overtaking him. Jiraiya had left hours earlier to head to town for a drink.
When they arrived at the campsite Kakashi put sasuke in his tent before checking if Anko was there, "Hime?"
Nothing, she must've left to grab some dango she had an addiction to the treat.
He decided to head to town to meet up with her and grab something to eat. He arrived at the dango shop just in time to see her figure slip through the door.
He crept through the door and snuck behind her placing a kiss on her neck.
She blushed bright red. For a woman who wore a fishnet shirt and shorts 24/7 she was surprisingly bashful in public.
"K-Kashi-kun not here not in front of all these people."
He smirked, lightly nibbling on her ear, he whispered.
"Then give me my book."
She pouted but handed him the orange book, in the blink of an eye it vanished into his kunai pouch.
"Now, let's eat."
She smirked.
"Fine but you're paying."
Back at the Akatsuki Hideout...
As the sun began to set Karasu finally managed to walk on water for the fifteen minute period.
Itachi hopped down and motioned for him to follow him back to the base. Karasu waved at the red-haired man who grabbed his bag and prepared to leave.
"Goodbye Sasori-san I hope to see you again."
The man was surprised at what the kid said.
"Y-yeah night gaki."
He vanished amid a swirl of sand. Karasu followed Itachi back to the Hq and called it a night.
"Goodnight Aniki."
Itachi smiled.
"You did good today Karasu I'm proud of you."
The blonde boy blushed with pride rolling over to sleep.
Itachi pulled a book out, sitting on an alcove he began to read when the candle flickered slightly and a figure appeared before him.
"Report."
Itachi nodded.
"He was able to master the three basic chakra exercises today."
Madara nodded.
"Well done Itachi, keep up the good work and I'll let the boy continue to breathe."
Itachi nodded.
"Goodbye Madara."
The man's red eye glinted and he vanished amid a swirl of chakra.
X END X
A/N: Naruto's growth might seem a little slow right now but just be patient. He'll grow strong soon enough.
2/2/21: Chapter six revised.