Chapter 16
Kakashi decided to stop for the day. He led the team off the road and into a secluded spot. He did this so that he could get to the bottom of the attitude of one of his genin. Since leaving Nami no Kuni (Land of Waves), Naruto had gone out of his way to ignore him and Sasuke. He was also very insubordinate to his orders and just downright mean to Sasuke. While Sasuke did deserve it, he could have been a team player and helped him out some. He was not that way to Sakura, which surprised him. The two still argued but they were friendlier to each other and helped one another improve. He wasn't against it but he had grown tired of Naruto's attitude toward him and his other teammate.
"Okay, let's change things up. Sasuke, you go and get us some fish while Sakura goes and get us some firewood. Naruto, you set up the security around the area." Kakashi said.
"Hai!" they said and went to do their duties. After a while and making sure that the other two were far enough, Kakashi decided to act.
"Naruto, we need to talk." Kakashi said.
"Oh yeah, what about?" Naruto asked.
"It's about you're current attitude. I don't know why you are acting like this but it has become a problem." Kakashi said.
"So, my attitude is the problem? Maybe, it's your lack of being a sensei that's the problem." Naruto replied.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Kakashi asked. Naruto glared at his sensei before remembered what he saw back in Nami no Kuni
***Flashback***
Naruto was coming back from his training. It was all he could do since he was rejected again by his sensei. He did know what Kakashi's issue was but he was starting to get sick of it. It wasn't just him but it was Sakura as well. She was starting to take her training a little more seriously. All he told her to do was to work on her chakra control. It was a slap to her face in his opinion. Seeing that she liked books and all, he gave her the manual with basic fūinjutsu (sealing technique). She took to it pretty easy and he saw some merit in her learning it. Still, he was pretty upset with Kakashi.
As he continued his walk, he heard voices. He quietly sneaked up and saw Kakashi with Sasuke. Kakashi was sparring with him and teaching him things. Kakashi stopped him for a second and the two settled down.
"That wasn't bad Sasuke. You're get use to the Sharingan and its power. I'm impressed that you've done so well in three days." Kakashi said.
"So when are you going to teach me that jutsu that Naruto knows?" Sasuke asked.
"We've been over this Sasuke. Naruto's chakra is larger than yours so he can handle it. You don't have the chakra to use that jutsu. Just keep working on increasing your chakra and I will teach it to you some day. What about the jutsu I showed you earlier? You can use it in many ways." Kakashi said. Naruto had heard enough and quickly left the area. He was so angry at what he heard that he needed to punch something.
***Present***
Kakashi looked at the eyes of an angry Naruto and cursed. He calmed himself and tried to explain as best he could to Naruto.
"Look Naruto, as someone with the Sharingan, I am the best to teach Sasuke how to use his kekkei genkai. He doesn't have a family to teach him, so I must give most of my time to help him improve." Kakashi explained.
"So what, me and Sakura get put in the rear just because he has a pair of eyes that copies everyone's hard work? That's nothing but an excuse!" Naruto spat.
"Listen Naruto," Kakashi said.
"No, you listen! You have three students, not one! You can't just push two of us aside just because the teme activated his eyes! It is blatant favoritism and you know it! Sakura has excellent control so why don't you teach her some genjutsu? I have the chakra of a jōnin so why don't you teach me some ninjutsu? You might be the only one who can teach Sasuke but that doesn't mean you can make excuses on why you abandoned me and Sakura! You're not just a lazy sensei, you're a bad sensei as well!" Naruto shouted. He quickly left and went back to what Kakashi told him to do.
Kakashi was not happy about what had just happened. He couldn't believe the nerve of Naruto to call him out like that. He couldn't argue that Naruto was wrong but he didn't like the fact that he said so to his face. He had never been talked to like that, especially from a genin. He sighed and decided to confront Anko about this. He only hoped that she would do something about it.
XXX
Kakashi began his search for Anko as soon as he was out of the Hokage's office. The rest of the trip home was in total silence. Naruto continued to ignore him and Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto continued to talk to each other and Kakashi was still a little angry. After dismissing his team and giving his report, he immediately seeked her out. It didn't take too long to find her as she was either at her favorite tea shop or hassling Iruka. Lucky for him, she was eating dango and drinking tea. He walked up to her and caught her attention.
"Oh Kakashi, you're back already?" Anko said.
"We need to talk Anko." Kakashi said seriously. Anko gave him a critical eye before nodded. He led her out of the tea shop and to somewhere more private. Once there, Kakashi faced her.
"So what's on your mind?" Anko asked.
"I have to ask that you talk to Naruto. His attitude is unacceptable and a determent to the team." Kakashi stated.
"What are you talking about? Yeah, he has issues with authority but Naruto isn't someone to do something that would hurt the team." Anko explained.
"His issue of questioning his superior's methods is hurting the team. What I do is for the good of the team and he needs to understand that. I know that you like the question people and I don't need another Anko on my squad." Kakashi said.
"Okay, first of all, be happy that you have a second me on your team because I am awesome. Secondly, if Naruto questions your methods, then he either has a good reason to do so. I've taught him to always look at things for different angles. If he sees something wrong, then he's going to call you out on it, despite your rank." Anko said.
"Just get him under control Anko." Kakashi stated and vanished via Shunshin. Anko did not like the fact that she was just blown off like that. She was curious as to what happened on that mission.
XXX
Naruto had just finished unpacking his equipment and decided to relax for a bit. He would not get his wish as he was suddenly tackled from behind. He wrestled with his attacker until he got pinned. His face was in between someone thighs and they were starting to crush his head. He refused to open his eyes because he had been in a similar situation and was very embarrassed by it.
"Damn it Anko, get off me!" Naruto growled. Anko chuckled before releasing him. Naruto sat up and rubbed his cheeks while Anko raided his fridge.
"Hey, where's my sake?" Anko asked.
"I got rid of it. I'm underage and I can't have that stuff here." Naruto said.
"Spoilsport, luckily I keep a stash around here." Anko said. She grabbed a small bottle and a saucer before moving over to Naruto's living room. She sat down and took off her trench coat and poured her some of the liquid. Naruto did the same and sat down across from her. "So, I was visited by a very upset Kakashi earlier. Apparently, he's upset with how you're acting. Care to tell me what happened?"
"He actually complained to you?" Anko nodded and Naruto sucked his teeth. "Wow, he's a bigger baby than I thought. All I said to him is that he was a bad sensei because he has ignored me and Sakura when it comes to training." Naruto said.
"Well, he does have the Sharingan and he is the only one who can help the Uchiha brat." Anko said.
"That's no excuse for ignoring me or Sakura. Sakura is finally taking her training seriously and she even asked him for help and he ignores her. We could have been killed on that mission because of his lack of training and attention." Naruto argued.
"What happened on this mission Naruto?" Anko asked. Naruto went into detail about what happened on the mission. Some of the things he was telling her were very surprising and upsetting. She couldn't believe that Kakashi had taken such an unprepared team into such a situation. When it got to the fight he had with the enemy, she noticed that he was kind of hesitant to talk about it. He, however, told her about the battle and the feeling that went through him when he got angry. At the end of it, the two fell into a comfortable silence.
Anko understood why he was so hesitant in telling her. It seems that Naruto had tapped into the chakra of the Kyūbi no Yōko (Nine-Tailed Demon Fox). She didn't know how the seal on Naruto worked but she assumed that it was designed for him to use. She looked at the boy who called her his sister. It seem that he didn't know what he did when he was in his rage but he felt that something was wrong with what he felt. She didn't know what she could say to him that would snap him out of his funk. She decided to go with her gut.
"So, do you feel that you're a monster?" She asked.
"What? No, no I don't. I'm just… confused. I can't really remember what I did but I remember that feeling. I just wanted to destroy everything and everyone. I just don't want to have that feeling again. I don't know what I would do if I hurt one of my friends." Naruto said. Anko did understand because she had similar thoughts when she was younger. She moved over to Naruto and gave the blond a one armed hug. Naruto was a little confused by the action. Anko sensed his confusion.
"Don't worry, I'm not tricking you. Just be warned that if this gets out, I'll gut you like a fish. Clear?" Anko said.
"Crystal." Naruto said with a gulp.
"Look, I can tell you a lot of things Naruto but nothing I say will help with how you feel. All you have to do is train harder than before and make sure that this never happens again. I know that you can do it because I believe in your strength." Anko said. Naruto smiled, a genuine smile, at her words.
"Thanks onee-san (big sister)." Naruto said.
"No problem, otouto (little brother)." Anko said.
XXX
Naruto was walking around with Sakura. He had invited her to join him at Ichirakus' after she was rejected by Sasuke. Naruto was a little put off by her sour mood and sighed at her behavior.
"Are you really going to mope all the way to Ichirakus'? You aren't going to kill my mood for ramen just because you're sad about the teme." Naruto said.
"Oh shut up Naruto! You don't know how it feels to hear someone call you useless!" Sakura said. Naruto gave her a look and she sighed. "Okay, maybe you do but I'm still feeling bad."
"Well, you shouldn't feel bad. The teme doesn't know what he's talking about. You've come a long way since Nami no Kuni. You're starting to take your training seriously; you're pretty good with the fūinjutsu stuff and that genjutsu that you created, that can deal some real damage to anyone who isn't expecting it. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if you dominate Ino in a spar." Naruto said. His words made her smile. Sakura had taken her training seriously and surprisingly, Naruto had helped her get stronger. She thought that he wouldn't but he stuck with her and helped her grow.
"Thanks Naruto, I needed to hear that. Now, can you tell me what your problem is with Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke-kun? I can see why you have issues with Sasuke-kun. How he's acting toward you is wrong? Still, what's your issue with Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked him. It was something that nagged her since they got back to together after taking a few days off. A couple of days after they got back together, Naruto refused to call Kakashi 'sensei'. He was still respectful and called him 'taichou' (captain) but she could see that Kakashi was not happy about it. His issue with Sasuke, she could understand after Naruto pulled out a new jutsu called Doton: Doryū Taiga (Earth Release: Earth Flow River). Sasuke did not hide his intent to copy his jutsu. Naruto was so upset that he nearly turned Sasuke into a cut up tissue. Sakura actually defended Naruto's actions and blamed Sasuke for the event.
"Look, you can call Kakashi sensei if you want but until he actually teaches something to us, you can forget me calling him that." Naruto stubbornly said. Sakura sighed and the two just continued their trek to Ichirakus'. Unknown to them, another challenge was about to befall them.
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Authors' Notes: Here's a new chapter. I changed things up this time and I explained why Naruto was mad at Kakashi. I've decided to use jutsu that the Sandaime uses because of Naruto's closeness to him. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter.
