Chapter 2.
Pairing: Naruto x Yugao.
A/N: Let me just say a huge thanks to all the feedback and kind words I've gotten! You guys are amazing, and please continue!
A quick WARNING. This story is heavily inspired by Kimetsu no Yaiba also known as Demon Slayer. A lot of that show/manga's traits will be seen several times throughout this story, if that doesn't suit your tastes, you've been warned. Thanks for your time!
Hokage's Office.
"Really? He learned to control it to that degree?" Tsunade asked with like skepticism.
Jiraiya nodded proudly, comically inspecting his nails as he leaned against the wall, "Yes, after getting a deal through with the furball, he learned how to control the amount of chakra he was gifted to him from the angry ass."
"I'm still not thrilled about him having struck a deal with the Kyuubi of all things, but it's reassuring that the seal is still the same as ever..." Tsunade sighed, rubbing her forehead.
Jiraiya gave a short nod, "As I said hime, the only thing that changed was the loudmouth fox agreeing to willingly let Naruto a portion of chakra, in exchange for sharing his senses and vision."
Chuckling lightly at the mention, Tsunade leaned back into her chair, "So the fox was desperate enough for a change of scenery that he willingly let his chakra be borrowed by Naruto…"
"Yeah, comical, isn't it?" Jiraiya snickered.
Rubbing her head, Tsunade sighed, "I still want his seal checked every time you're in town, we might have faith in Minato's seal, but it's a cunning fox we are dealing with."
"Yes of course, and I'm keeping a close eye on him at all times, but so far he seems completely in control, and is learning quite a handful of useful things to do with the fox's chakra, without relying on it for his own strength."
Nodding her head, Tsunade looked a bit excited, "Like what?"
"Oh, you'll see very soon…"
Inside Kakashi's living room, Naruto looked at the books in front of him with wide eyes "I never knew he had released this many…" Naruto mumbled with amazement, not being able to truly process the two boxes filled with reading material written by his mentor.
Kakashi who was laying on his couch raised a brow, and pulled the book away from his face, "Hmm, his most popular works are from his 'main story' branch. Most of those are side works, the 'Holidays in Kumo' book is my favorite from his side works."
Giving a silent nod Naruto opened the window in Kakashi's living room and sat up in the windowsill. Flipping open the book Kakashi mentioned, adorning a dark blue cover and an almost amateur seemingly drawn front, Naruto groaned.
"I just realized something. Because I haven't been home on time, I wasn't able to pay the rent for the last year. I only paid for about three years and a month in advance, so I am homeless again…" Naruto whined, resting the back of his head against the window casing.
Dropping the book onto his chest Kakashi looked into the hallway, or more specifically a door. "Well, until you figure out another living situation I got a guestroom down the hall. Feel free to use it if you want to, I don't mind having someone to help me pay the bills."
"I guess that's not too bad, this way I can also learn more about my parents and lineage. Plus, it'll be easier to make you be on time this way." Naruto smirked slightly while starting to read.
Sweatdropping comically, Kakashi started to mentally question whether or not this was actually a good idea on his behalf.
Laying his book down into his lap, Naruto pulled a paperboard formed container out of his pocket and looked at Kakashi, "Do you mind?" He asked while showing the package to his sensei.
Looking out of the corner of his eyes Kakashi shrugged, "Sure." Before looking down into his book. Then it hit him and he pulled the book away from his face yet again.
"You smoke?"
Shrugging himself, Naruto pulled a cigarette out of its package and put it between his lips, "Yeah, I know it's a bad habit and all… I started after that night I told you about, or more specifically Jiraiya had a long deep talk with me and made me try his pipe so I could feel this nicotine high as he called it. My lungs felt like they were on fire at first, but the effect was nice and I asked to try again. Before I knew it, I had bought a packet of these and have been found myself enjoying one or two while I was either down in the dumps, or doing something I liked to help me relax, like reading."
"Look, Naruto, I've never been one to judge about those things. I know Asuma does it for similar reasons, so he can cope with this line of work and more recently because of Sandaime-sama's passing. But you Naruto, are my student. It's bad for your health." Kakashi sighed with a tired yet concerned look.
Smirking as he held up a lighter, he flicked it and lit up the end of his cigarette. "Well, what can I say. There are some perks of being at the mercy of Kyuubi's healing abilities."
"That's a bad excuse and you know it, but who am I to judge. I read these things for the same reason."
Pulling a bit of smoke into his mouth, Naruto let it cool down before inhaling it into his lungs and exhaling it. "You do?" He then asked surprised, looking at his sensei by turning his head.
"One of my teammates died when I was on your father's team and the feeling was so unbearable I needed a distraction. Then I found one of Jiraiya-sama's books, and they made me somewhat ignore the constant images of her choking on her blood…" Kakashi sighed, his eyes getting filled with sadness as he relived the memories.
Looking back at the cigarette in his hand, Naruto frowned heavily with half-lidded eyes. "I'm sorry sensei."
"Don't be, it wasn't your fault and it's long ago now…" Kakashi sighed, getting back into his book, allowing a comfortable silence to fill the room.
Letting the cigarette rest between his lips, Naruto went back to reading the book Kakashi had borrowed him, and soon you could hear perverted giggles coming from both readers if you were present in the room.
Finishing the tobacco filled cylinder, Naruto flicked the remains out of the window with a sigh. "So, how was my mother at Kenjutsu?"
"That's the first thing you want to know?" Kakashi asked amused.
Snorting Naruto put a bookmark into the book and flipped it shut. "Starting out simply, that's all. And well, I read her notes and all along with the stuff we found in Uzushiou but it was mostly katas and how to swing and hold a sword specifically, not really a style."
"Well, Uzushiou was famously known for their use of Fuinjutsu, so it wouldn't surprise me that they didn't have an exact Kenjutsu style to perform. My former subordinate Yugao has her own sword style, using Shadow Clones actually." Kakashi mused, speaking softly.
"Sounds interesting, what about my mom?"
Putting his book aside as well, Kakashi sat up on the couch and stretched. "Hmm, she was good at it if I remember correctly, but I never saw her use an exact style as Yugao does. Why do you ask?"
"As much as the katas and stances alone were useful, I felt like they lacked something. So I made my own personalized style to work with, and I just wanted to know if there was something I missed in those notes that's all." Naruto explained simply, causing Kakashi to nod in understanding.
Smirking under his mask, Kakashi gazed at the sheathed sword resting against the wall in the corner of the room. "So, what kind of style did you make?"
"Still trying to lure me of my tricks sensei?" Naruto smirked back, causing Kakashi to sigh.
"Perhaps a little, but it just interests me a lot. A style is usually being made and fine-tuned over decades and generations, but you say you created your own over these four years." Kakashi admitted, his eyes locked onto the sword.
Dropping down from the windowsill, Naruto grabbed his sword sheath and pulled the blade out of it, "Jiraiya-sensei taught me a neat trick, how to train with Shadow Clones. In simple terms sped up my training thousandfold, gave me more than enough time to make this style." Naruto spoke, dropping into a stance with his sword allowing Kakashi to look at his form.
"Just by your stance alone, I can see you know how to use it. I'm looking quite forward to our little spar later, I want to see how good you've gotten." Kakashi smirked, standing up from the couch.
Strapping the sword onto its place on his belt, Naruto swung his Haori across his shoulders and smiled, "Oh it'll be a good show, I can beat Jiraiya-sensei, remember?"
"I want to see your skill before I believe it, it's quite a statement. Jiraiya-sama's strength is no joke." Kakashi commented, clapping his student on the back before walking out into the kitchen.
Following his sensei, Naruto just smirked back at his back, "Jiraiya-sensei taught me all he could, and almost ran out of things by the end of this month. Plus, I beat him in an all-out battle."
"Did you also get to experience sage mode?" Kakashi asked with interest, filling a cup with water to drink.
Chuckling Naruto leaned in against the doorway, "Along with learning it, yes."
"Do I even stand a chance?"
"I wouldn't count on it."
A few hours later Naruto was waltzing down the streets of Konoha, curious and interested glances from the female population coming his way still, causing him to mildly blush. "Have they still not figured out who I am, or do they simply not care anymore?" His thoughts kept him distracted enough, so he walked into the back of someone.
"Hey! Watch it!" A feminine yell came, and Naruto blinked getting out of his deep thoughts while turning around.
"I'm sorry, I was lost in thought and didn't look where I was going." He apologized, scratching the back of his head.
Huffing the woman bends down to grab what she had dropped, "You should be more thoughtful of your surroundings!"
As the woman turned around Naruto closed his eyes, and frowned, "Yes I know, and I'm really sorry."
"Naruto? Is that you?" The voice this time asked in a softer tone, causing Naruto to open his eyes as his eyes met the familiar form of a brunette having her hair put up into buns.
Widening his eyes Naruto smirked, chuckling as he placed a hand on his hip, "Tenten? What do you know."
"I should have known, only you could be so careless." She giggled, smirking slightly back at the blond.
"Geez, just got back after four years and this is the welcome I get?" Naruto sweatdropped, his hand finding it's way into his hair.
Giggling a little louder, she waved her hands in front of her, "Sorry, sorry, I was only joking. Since when did you get back? How was your trip?" She asked with a smile.
"Well, it was good and I learned a ton. I just got back a few hours ago, debriefed my return with Jiraiya-sensei and Baa-chan before I hung out and caught up with Kakashi-sensei." Naruto explained, smiling back.
Nodding her head, Tenten continued to smile, "That's good! Wait, is that a sword hilt I see down there?"
"Why does everyone seem so surprised I have a sword now?" Naruto mumbled, pulling his haori aside to show the sheath for his blade.
"Uhm, because no one predicted that you would return as a swordsman, duh!"
"Predicted?"
Shrugging the brunette reached down to touch the black and brown handle, "Well, the rest of our age group and myself had some interesting debates about what you would have learned when you got back."
"I see, so what did they say?"
Adopting a thoughtful pose, Tenten hummed, "Well, there was a ton of different ideas, but Ino said something along the lines of; bigger Rasengan and more clones."
"Geez, so much for having faith in me." Naruto sighed, his posture dropping.
Shaking her head the brunette punched the blond's chest, "Oh, don't get all down in the dumps on me, it was meant as a joke."
Sweatdropping Naruto scratched the side of his head, "Yeah alright, well, not trying to run away from you and all, but I have a lot of people to find."
"I understand, I also have to get back to work." Tenten smiled, nodding her head in acceptance of his words.
"Got any idea where I'll find the rest of the guys?" Naruto called while walking backward.
Thinking for a second Tenten snapped her fingers and yelled back, "Team Eight is at their training ground, and Ino is probably at the flower shop! And watch where you're going this time!"
"Alright, alright, give me a break!" Naruto yelled back, a mildly embarrassing blush forming on his face as he turned around and started to walk through the busy streets of Konoha.
About half an hour later, Naruto gave out a yawn while slowly walking through the woods. "Man, I could use a nap."
Feeling a sudden burst of chakra coming his way, Naruto's eyes sprung open as he leaped back as what appeared to be a huge drill crashed into the ground in front of him, causing all dirt and debrief from the impact to fly around the area.
As the small cloud of dirt, splinters, and rubbish disappeared, Naruto gave a small smile as a familiar boy came into view.
"Sorry man, I wasn't paying attention to where I was landing!" The boy apologized, as Naruto gave a short laugh.
"Still as unruly and brash as ever huh, Kiba?" Naruto commented, making the brown-haired boy look him up and down.
Kiba's eyes narrowed as he took in the scent of this guy, along with his features before it hit him and he took a step back in surprise while grasping onto his hair with a smirk, "Well I would be damned, Naruto, you're back!"
"That I am. It's good to see you, where's the rest of your team?" Naruto asked curiously, walking over to give an awkward high five to his former opponent in the chunin exam's second stage's ending fights.
Smirking Kiba rubbed his nose and chuckled, "Man, I couldn't recognize you at all! Only your scent gave it away. And Shino and the others are back in the clearing, I got too much power on fang over fang and flew all the over here!"
"Unruly as ever I see, well, how have you been?" Naruto chuckled along with the Inuzuka heir.
"Screw how I have been man, how have you been?! You've been gone for what, three or four years now? I want to hear all about it! And what's with the attire?" Kiba snickered, completely ignoring the remarks coming from the blond.
Scratching his head sheepishly, Naruto smiled, "Well, I've been all around the place. Been all over Hi no Kuni, turning every stone and leaf on my way while training to become stronger than ever. And my clothes, well, I needed something new."
"Sounds like fun! And you look much better in that, compared to that 'kill me' orange jumpsuit. You need to go more in-depth with me later, we could catch up at that Ramen stand you love so much!" Kiba cheered, while he started to lead Naruto over to his team.
Nodding Naruto looked at the green scenery as they walked, "Sure, I don't see why not."
"Excellent! Now tell me, how strong did you become?" Kiba asked curiously, looking at the blond from the corner of his eyes, watching him closely.
Looking thoughtful over at Kiba, Naruto spoke, "Well, I don't want to ruin the surprise for everyone asking, so let's just let it show in a spar at some point." Naruto smirked, making Kiba smirk back at him.
"Deal! Akamaru and I are going to pound you into the dust! You got no idea how crazy strong we've become!" Kiba boasted, pointing at his thumb as his smirk showed off his canines.
Sweatdropping at the boasting Naruto smirked to himself, 'Man you got no idea what's coming to you pal…'
Hearing a sudden rush of rapid heavy footsteps Naruto looked with wide eyes and a big smile as the small puppy he saw four years ago come running as a fully grown ninken. "No way! That can't be Akamaru!"
"What do you mean it isn't Akamaru? Of course, it is!"
"Yeah but, the last time I saw him you used to carry him around on your head… Trust me, he's grown… A lot." Naruto smiled, stroking Akamaru's fur-covered back while scratching his ears while the large ninken barked with glee.
Kiba chuckled and looked on with his hands on his hips, "Well, I suppose I don't notice as much since we're always together!"
"Oh trust me, Akamaru has gotten really big… And in such a short amount of time…" Naruto spoke with amazement while clapping Akamaru's back before walking again.
A few minutes later they entered the clearing Kiba's team were in, and Kiba roared up pointing Naruto's direction, "Hey guys! Look who the cat decided to drag in!"
Feeling like sighing, Naruto turned his gaze into the clearing as he watched people turn their gazes his way, "Long time no see!"
"I felt you coming, Naruto, my bugs sensed your chakra about a mile away," Shino responded in his usual monotone voice, his attire had changed so drastically that Naruto wouldn't have recognized him if he hadn't called out first.
Smiling awkwardly Naruto tensed up at the sight of a bug on his shoulder, "Nice to see you too Shino…"
"You've grown Naruto, you look much more mature and like an adult now." The soft tone of Team Eight's sense came from his left, and Naruto turned to look at the beautiful red-eyed woman with a smile.
Smirking lightly, Naruto decided to play around a bit and gently grabbed her hand to kiss the back of it, "And you look just as youthful and beautiful as ever, Kurenai-sensei~"
Blushing a mild red Kurenai smiled, "I see that you returned as a gentleman as well, it's good to see that you at least grew up over these years." Kurenai chuckled, giving a discreet glance in Kiba's direction, causing the Inuzuka heir to blush lightly due to embarrassment.
"But of course, a man should learn how to properly act toward the female sex." Naruto smiled and let go of Kurenai's hand, completely ignoring Kiba's death threats in the background for being so inappropriate toward his sensei.
"A lot of men could learn from you." Kurenai giggled with a hand up to her mouth.
Smirking lightly to himself Naruto mentally thanked Jiraiya for teaching him a couple of useful things about women among the countless useless things. "On my trip, I learned most things, but genjutsu was sadly not part of them. Perhaps you could give me some private lessons some time?"
"Oi! Knock it off Naruto, stop being like that toward Kurenai-sensei!" Kiba roared out, attempting to punch blond in the back of the head. But Naruto sensed it miles away and sidestepped and put out his leg to make Kiba trip and fall onto the grass face first.
Kurenai found the scene amusing as she answered, "Hmm, trying to hit on me Naruto? But if you mean it, I could give you a few lessons regarding genjutsu if you would like."
"Sounds great, eight o'clock at your place tomorrow?" Naruto smirked, finding Kiba's continuous death threats and attempts at attacking him hilarious as he dodged around the brunette, maintaining eye contact with Kurenai.
Shaking her head Kurenai giggled while writing down her address, "Sure, but it is strictly for professional purposes."
"But of course, I need to learn about genjutsu and I got a few theories to run through you," Naruto remarked with a smile, making Kurenai nod in acceptance.
"Now, I believe someone is eager to say hello." Kurenai chuckled, nodding her head in the direction beside her.
Looking in the direction she was referring to, Naruto smiled as he took in the grown form of the Hyuga clan's oldest heiress. "Hinata! It's been ages! How are you?"
"N-Naruto-kun…" She stuttered, causing Naruto to raise a brow as he tilted his head.
Opening his mouth he spoke, "Yeah, it's me…"
"W-Welcome home!" She squeaked out, nodding her head down as her face turned scarlet red, even more, red than his mother's hair he had seen in pictures.
Putting a hand on her forehead Naruto asked with concern, "You're burning up, you sick or something?"
Feeling the blond's hand on her forehead, Hinata started stuttering random words before she passed out onto the forest floor.
"That's never going to stop, is it?" Naruto remarked with a chuckle.
Kiba whistled and shook his head before punching the blond's shoulder, "You still denser than a rock aren't ya?! Haven't you figured out that Hinata-"
"Likes me?" Naruto finished with a mildly bored look, causing Kiba and Kurenai to go wide-eyed at him, as Shino rose a single curious brow.
Grabbing his head in disbelief Kiba took a step back, "You know?!"
"Yeah, well, as said I learned about women on my trip as well, made a lot of sense a shit ton more clear about why Hinata is acting this way…" Naruto sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Kiba smacked his forehead and nudged the blond's arm with his elbow, "Then stop poor Hinata's suffering! Ask her out already!"
"I'll pass." Naruto simply remarked.
"Huh… What do you mean you'll pass?! What's wrong with dating Hinata?!" Kiba roared out, suddenly attempting to strange the blond for being a bastard.
Pushing Kiba off him, Naruto snorted, "Nothing is wrong with Hinata! Okay? I just don't feel the same way as she does, it's that simple."
"You'll have to let her know at some point then, having her being hopeful is not fair to her," Kurenai mentioned, joining the conversation.
Sighing Naruto leaned back to look up at the blue skies with clouds and birds passing above him, "I know, but I don't want to be rude about it, so I need to figure out the right way to approach it."
"Just don't wait too long, she's already been feeling like this for years…" Kurenai sighed, causing Naruto to frown with a slow nod.
"I will eventually, but for now I'll have to leave. I still got a handful of people to visit before sundown." Naruto remarked, earning him a couple of nods in return.
Sighing loudly to himself, Naruto had a mental conversation with himself about how he would break the news to Hinata. She was a good friend, and she didn't deserve the pain that would come her way, but keeping her in the dark was way too cruel of an act to do to her.
"Who am I kidding, the moment I talk to her she'll faint… But it would be so nice to have someone like Kurenai deliver the message for me either…" Naruto mumbled in defeat, running a hand through his spiky sun-kissed locks.
"Oh well, I'll just take it as it-
He was suddenly interrupted as a loud battle cry came from his left, a blur racing through the woods along with it. Narrowing his eyes Naruto felt himself smirking as he closed his eyes completely, spreading his feet out while crouching down, he focused on the sound bringing the palm of his hand up.
"SPRINGTIME OF YOUTH'S DYNAMIC ENTRY!" Was the green blur's cry, while it came flying through into the clearing at high speeds, leg stretched out as it connected with Naruto's palm, sending a huge shockwave from the impact everywhere, cracking the ground and splintering the bark of the trees around them.
Smirking a little wider as he kept his ground, Naruto felt himself getting pushed a few feet back in the dirt, his toes and part of his feet slightly digging into the ground before he opened his sharp blue eyes. "Hmm, you say something, Lee?"
Using the blond's palm to backflip down onto the ground, the bushy-browed teen gave a large grin of amazement as he watched his blond friend and rival almost effortlessly block his attack in a matter of seconds.
"As expected of my recently returned rival! Your flames of youth burn brighter than ever before! Your youth burning so brightly you cast a large shadow over the sun with your endless youth spirit!" Lee roared out with flames in his eyes as he pumped his fist to the sky.
Rubbing his ears comically, Naruto chuckled dryly, "Could you keep it down, I think I have hearing damage…"
"Of course my rival! But first, we must have a youthful spar to make up for the last four unyouthful years without a chance to do so! Fight me!" Lee yelled, getting into a taijutsu stance letting out yet another battle cry, the flames in his eyes intensifying by the second.
Looking tiredly at the other boy, Naruto's shoulders slumped down as he lamely replied. "No."
The lame answer made Lee lose his stance before he face-planted into the ground, but not a second later he was standing up waving his arms around in the air dramatically, "What do you mean no?!" Lee yelled out in outrage.
"Listen, Lee, I would love to spar with you but I have a spar later on tonight where the Hokage has to attend, so she can determine whether or not I'm living up to my sensei's praising of how strong I've become," Naruto said as an excuse, but truthfully he was just avoiding the endless fight he'd find himself in if he said yes to the energetic green-clad boy.
As Lee was about to answer with yet another youthful reply, another green blur crashed into the ground next to them, "KAKASHI! My eternal- I could have sworn I heard Kakashhi's hipness around here…"
Unable to keep his calm, Naruto started snickering at the sight, "You say something too, bushy brows sensei?"
Adopting a thinking position, Guy rubbed the top of his looking this young man over and over around a million times. "Blond hair… Blue eyes… Whisker marks… Who are you, young man?"
"Quite unyouthful of you to forget one of Kakashi's students, Guy-sensei," Naruto replied with a facepalm.
Slapping the bottom of his fist into the palm of his hand, a lightbulb seemed to light up in Guy's head, "Oho! If it isn't, Na-ru-to! It seems like you've finally returned from your youthful journey with our even more youthful Jiraiya-sama!"
"Welcome back, Naruto." The stoic and slightly monotone greeting coming from the latest arrival.
Taking a step to the right, Naruto gave a small smile as he looked at the stoic Hyuga prodigy making his presence known while walking up beside his sensei, "Neji, it's good to see you."
"Likewise, Naruto, I hope your training was fruitful." Neji nodded back, crossing his arms across his chest.
Naruto gave a short chuckle as he touched his haori, "Seems like everyone around here got a wardrobe change, aside from Lee and Guy-sensei." Naruto replied cheekily.
A small smirk formed on Neji's lips as he closed his eyes and nodded slowly, "Indeed, but some things are meant to stay as they are."
"Yeah I guess you are right, hell would be freezing over if they decided to change those jumpsuits…" Naruto laughed out loud, palming his forehead.
Guy and Lee sulked side by side as they mumbled about unyouthful comments.
Shaking his head at his team's antics, Neji changed his focus back to Naruto, "You look well, the new clothes is a nice sight for sore eyes."
"Heh, I get that a lot. And as much as I hate to admit it, the orange was getting out of control." Naruto sweatdropped, as Neji just chuckled with a small nod in agreement.
Lee seemed to get out of his sulking mood at that time, and asked curiously, "So, Naruto, now that you are back what are your plans?"
"I have tons of goals as it seems, some are a bit too delicate for me to just openly discuss them, but, I still plan on getting through to Sasuke one way or another. I just don't plan on being a naive idiot about it anymore." Was the blond's sad answer.
Nodding his head in acceptance, Lee looked down frowning at the mention of Sasuke. "He is still from Konoha, so for old times sake we owe him to try."
Looking up at the skies, noticing how it's starting to get dark Naruto winced lightly. He had been talking so much with his friends that it was getting dark by now. "Sorry to cut this meeting so short, but I have a spar to attend to. Orders by the Hokage, I'm afraid."
"That's quite alright! Remember to show your springtime of youth! Let your flames burn brighter than ever before, and use them to claim a sweet victory!" Guy roared out, flames in his eyes as the ground cracked beneath him from his intensity.
Nodding with a large sweatdrop, Naruto waved his hands and bid his farewells to the trio before he shunshined away from the area.
Landing gracefully on his feet in a slightly crouched down position, Naruto stands up straight while moving some hair out of his face. Dusk had claimed the lands around him, and his company for the evening had already arrived. His sensei stood and calmly chatted with his pink-haired teammate, while his mentor over the past four years was up to the same old same old. Annoying Tsunade enough for her to punch him across the clearing.
"You're late gaki." Was the sudden call of Tsunade, and Naruto rubbed his head sheepishly while looking toward the busty Hokage.
Giving a quiet shrug, he got a seemingly brilliant idea. "Sorry about that, I got lost on the road of life." As those words left his mouth, Kakashi almost fainted with pride as Tsunade's hair shadowed her eyes.
"If you ever say that again, I'll punch you to Iwa and start a new war with you as the messenger…"
"Hm, you said something?" Naruto chuckled, making Kakashi cry tears of joy as Tsunade raged beyond belief.
"Okay, that's it!" She roared out, trying to swing a fist toward the smug blond before she was grabbed around the stomach by Jiraiya.
Jiraya clutched around Tsunade's stomach as the blonde Hokage kicked and punched out into the air, "Hime! We got a spar to watch, please refrain yourself from trying to kill him until after!"
After Tsunade seemed to calm down, Naruto and Sakura were placed side by side in front of Kakashi with around fifty feet between them.
"Show me what you learned Naruto, Sakura, it's been too long since the last spar," Kakashi said quietly with a small smirk gracing his mask-covered lips.
Tsunade clapped her hands from the sidelines, standing beside Jiraiya as she spoke, "Alright listen up! This match will go like a fight in the Chunin exams' finals. Winners will be determined by either knockout or interference by myself or Jiraiya. Begin!" She called and the two Sannin shunshinned away behind some trees and bushes in the distance.
"Get ready for a show Hime, I present you the new and reformed Naruto Uzumaki, get ready for getting blown away!" Jiraiya exclaimed proudly, making Tsunade sweatdrop.
"He's standing still…"
Jiraiya smirked lightly and leaned against a tree, "Winners aren't determined by who makes the first move. They are determined by who is the last one standing."
The mask-clad Jounin watched quietly as he lifted his headband to show his implanted Sharingan to his two students "Going to stand there all day?" Kakashi remarked calmly, and Naruto shrugged while looking toward his pink-haired teammate.
'Sharingan right from the start, Kakashi-sensei isn't playing today.' Naruto remarked to himself before opening his mouth slightly "You want the honors?" He asked with a small smile, making Sakura smirk with a nod.
Rushing forward at speeds that Naruto noticed was faster than four years ago, Sakura pulled back her fist as she threw her first punch downward, which Kakashi backflipped up into a tree to avoid.
"SHANNARO!" She screamed at the top of her lungs as her fist connected with the ground, it all but exploded into large chunks of dirt and rocks, a large cloud made out of dust, dirt, and splinters rising after impact.
Kakashi gulped loudly, as he watched wide-eyed down at Sakura who was smirking widely at her performance before she leaped up after her sensei, knocking over trees and splintering their trunks as he desperately tried to get a punch in.
'I know Sakura has improved greatly and I'm proud of that, but if I have to be fairly honest… You are the one I'm most curious about Naruto… So show me what you got!' Kakashi thought to himself with narrowed eyes as he flipped over Sakura, using her back as a springboard to fly toward his blond student.
"Naruto watch out! He's coming for you!" Sakura yelled out, swirling around on her feet as she sprinted after her sensei as fast as her legs could carry her.
Kakashi spun around mid-air as he flew past Naruto, landing on his feet effortlessly while flipping a kunai into his hand he held the tip against the blond's back. "I remember you saying you weren't cocky and overconfident, was that all just a lie?"
"No, I'm a man of my word." Naruto chuckled as he popped into a cloud of smoke, making Kakashi's eyes widen in realization. It had been a clone all along.
Kakashi quickly leaped away, landing in a crouched down position with his kunai held up in front of him as he scanned in the area around him. 'He made a clone, but when?' Kakashi mused to himself, but then suddenly remembered the moment of distraction where his field of vision was blocked by the result of Sakura's destructive fist.
'He acts fast now, and definitely more strategized… He used my moment of distraction to hide and used Sakura as a distraction to do so… Rather cold but efficient, but smart. Speaking of Sakura...' Kakashi continued within his thoughts, sidestepping as Sakura appeared beside him, kicking toward the former ANBU Captain's head.
Quickly ducking Kakashi raced through hand seals at a speed only he could, and slammed his palms onto the ground, "Sorry about this." He comically eye-smiled, while a mud wall sprung out of the ground, throwing her high up into the air.
Launching himself off the ground after his pink-haired student, Kakashi held his kunai up with a glint in his eyes, 'This should draw him out… Naruto would never let his comrades down.'
As he neared his female student, Kakashi's Sharingan caught movement to his left in the form of flying projectiles. Quickly turning around mid-air, he deflected the incoming spinning Shuriken with his kunai, leaving Sakura enough time to land on a branch, and leap up against after her sensei for payback.
"I got you now, sensei!" She yelled, slamming her fist into his chest with such force an imprint could be seen in his back before he burst into smoke, revealing a log shattering to splinters in his place.
"Substitution!" She remarked, landing on the ground looking hectically around to find her sensei.
'Shannaro… He managed to separate us, so that was Kakashi-sensei's play all along!' Sakura realized, giving into a sprint to find and help her blond teammate out.
About five minutes away, Kakashi flew past the dark forests at high speeds following a colorful blur speeding across the ground, 'You revealed your position with those shuriken, I knew you wouldn't just stand by and abandon her.'
As Naruto finally slowed down in front of a large lake, he gave into a halt at the shore and turned around as Kakashi landed right in front of him, kunai drawn up as he took his battle stance.
"You know, you might have thought you were the one outsmarting me by forcing my hand to help Sakura, but you played into my trap all along," Naruto remarked, crouching down into his own stance.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes at that. Had he already seen through his plan before he executed it? "What do you mean Naruto? It's like you expected me to pull that in order to lure you out…"
"I did, ever since the fight started your normal eye might have been on Sakura, but that Sharingan was primarily focused on me. Until Sakura took care of the distraction I needed at least." Naruto smirked widely.
Chuckling lightly Kakashi grabbed his kunai tighter, "How could you possibly have known Sakura had learned that technique from Tsunade? You just got back."
"Simple, she tried to punch me when I got back."
Sweatdropping at his answer, Kakashi shook his head with a proud smile beneath his mask. Naruto had gotten smarter and more strategizing over the past four years. This was indeed going to be interesting, perhaps even fun.
"Still, how is this a trap?"
Naruto responded by that by grinning wickedly, his hands flying through hand seals at a pace that could almost match Kakashi's. "You seem to forget one important fact sensei! You should never follow the enemy to where he has a home-field advantage!"
With his eyes widening in realization, Kakashi quickly ran through a series of hand seals on his own as he stared at the blond with great intensity. 'So, he's a water user…'
Finishing his seals by ending it with the dragon seal, Naruto called out, "Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu! (Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!)" As he called out his move, a large pillar of water flew out of the lake behind him, spinning around as it took the shape of a dragon flying at high speeds at Kakashi.
"Doton: Tajū Doryūheki! (Earth Release: Multi Mud Walls!)" Kakashi cried out, slamming his hands so hard on the ground he could as a high amount of earth barriers shot out of the ground in front of him a mere moment before they were all but one was mercilessly torn down by Naruto's attack.
Kakashi panted hard as he stood behind the first wall he created, the wall nothing but rubbish now as he was drenched with water. "Close call, but now it's my turn!" He called out quietly, flipping over the remaining rubbish of his earlier technique, rushing across the forest floor as he got ready for a close up fight.
Naruto seeing this smirked quietly and rushed toward his sensei to meet him in the middle, their fist clashing together as they spun around each other, engaging in a heavy taijutsu battle where they exchanged blows at a speed shocking Tsunade greatly. Naruto was matching Kakashi perfectly at the moment, not even looking tired. Perhaps Jiraiya was right…
After a few minutes of endless punches and kicks getting exchanged, Naruto swirled over Kakashi, placing his arm in a lock as he yelled out, "Do it now!" And a pink blur flew up from the ground beneath them.
Quickly letting himself fall onto his knees, Kakashi leaned back with his arm still in a lock as he watched Sakura's bone-shattering fist fly over his head. Sliding onto his side, wincing as his arm starts to hurt from the twisting, he in a hurry places a kick in Sakura's gut to send her flying at high speeds into a tree.
As Sakura was dealt with for the moment, Kakashi used his leg to try and sweet the blond off his legs, but having seen it coming to him, Naruto let's go of Kakashi's arms and backflips a few feet away.
Sakura who had recently recovered took her stance beside Naruto, panting heavily while wondering how in the world the blond couldn't be tired at all. "His Sharingan is trouble, he anticipates my moves before I even make them, how should we go about this?"
"I could have ended it moments ago, but I'm not here to win I'm here to show my progress. Ending the fight in unnecessary haste wouldn't do me any good." Naruto chuckled sheepishly, making Sakura gawk at him while Kakashi's eyes narrowed dangerously as he read the blond's lips with his Sharingan.
'He claims to have been able to end this, but when and how would he have had such an opportunity? He also hasn't used his sword yet, and I'm curiously enough to admit that I want to see his use of it.' Kakashi thought to himself as he tried to keep his calm, his analyzing eye swirling around with anticipation.
"What do you mean you could have ended it?! I haven't seen an opening whatsoever!" Sakura yelled out, a throbbing tickmark on her forehead from her temper.
Naruto scoffed lightly with a loud ringing in his ears, "If you know how to, you can create one, and I've had many opportunities so far, but as stated I need to show enough for Baa-chan to forgive me on being late."
Sakura wasn't delighted but nodded nonetheless with a tired sigh, "Fine, but extending so much we could lose, wouldn't look great either…"
"Oh, I agree, no worries, hence why I plan to end it soon…" Naruto smirked devilishly.
Frowning at his words, Sakura said, "We are supposed to work together, it's a team fight."
"I know! I'm not that dumb, and I do need our teamwork for something…" Naruto chuckled, leaning over while whispering into Sakura's ear, covering his lips from Kakashi's prying eye with his hand.
Sakura smirked lightly at his plan, though wondering slightly if it would work, "I can definitely do that, but to catch him off guard would require you to move quite fast…" She whispered back, shielding her mouth from work too.
"Oh, I definitely can…" Naruto grinned as he suddenly pushed Sakura out of the way, leaping back a moment later as Kakashi flew through between them.
"In a fight, there is usually not this much talking!" He called out after landing on his feet, pulling a handful of kunai out of thin air before throwing them at the duo.
Sakura was quick to move in, slamming her fist into the ground to pull a huge boulder-sized chunk of rocks and dirt out of the ground to shield them from the incoming kunai.
Racing around the boulder at speeds that made Sakura's eyes widen slightly, Naruto raced toward Kakashi with a hand grabbed around the sheath to his sword, 'Alright sensei, you wanted to see it so here it goes!' He smirked to himself, pushing the blade free of the sheath with his thumb against the crossguard.
Watching this move with great interest Kakashi flipped a kunai into his hand and charged at Naruto while watching intense eyes.
As they were about twenty feet apart, Kakashi heard Sakura's familiar phrase from his left. Before he had enough time to react, he gulped with wide eyes as he watched the pinkette throw three whole trees toward them.
Tsunade watched with great interest as the trees blocked the path and view between Kakashi and Naruto, but it was not the trees getting her attention, no, it was the thing flowing from Naruto's sword as he pulled it out of his sheath completely.
"Jiraiya, what is that?"
Jiraiya smirked widely and swung an arm around Tsunade's shoulders, pointing his hand forward as he spoke proudly, "Naruto's first and completely unique style of his creation. Let me introduce you to his kenjutsu, better known as… Mizu no kokyū. (Breath of Water.)"
Naruto's face turned completely concentrated as he pulled his sword high into the air and whispered, "Ichi no kata: Minamo Giri! (First Form: Water Surface Slash!)" As he called out his attack, water flowed freely from his sword as you could hear the metal ringing from the chakra infusing. Using his fast momentum, Naruto brought down his sword in a straight slash cutting effortlessly through the trees in his path in a mere second before he flew past Kakashi's frozen form.
Standing completely still behind Kakashi, not moving a muscle as the water chakra faded from his sword, Naruto started counting down inside his head.
Kakashi who had been too shocked by the view that had appeared after Naruto had entered his vision again, stood idly by and looked himself over, 'Did he miss?' And as those thoughts crossed his mind, the loud sound of fabric getting torn met his ears as a nice clean cut appeared in his mask covering his neck, but the slice hadn't been deep enough to cut through his skin.
"What the hell was he thinking?! Had he not been one hundred percent accurate in that attack, he could have cut Kakashi's head off!" Tsunade raged, but the amazement she had on her face from what she just witnessed, was quickly killing her anger down.
Jiraiya gave her a reassuring smile and came to his student's defense. "Naruto didn't even hit him with his blade as he normally would, it was the water flowing from the sword doing the trick. Look, you can see the mask slightly soaked around the area, he never even came close with the actual blade."
"Still, it was a risky move."
"Exactly! How else was he supposed to show how good he had gotten? Such display of skill and ability, along with strategy and masterclass teamwork with Sakura should count for a lot." Jiraiya yelled out, smiling wider and wider with each word escaping his lips.
Tsunade sighed in defeat, smiling lightly after, "It indeed does, so what rank?"
"Huh?"
Tsunade snorted and smirked, "It would be shameful for our ranks and village to keep him a genin after that show, he defeated Kakashi without even sweating the slightest. Neither of the parts might have gone all out, but I still stand strong behind my words. It would be a shameful decision to leave him a genin."
"Well, this is my honest opinion…" Jiraiya started, as the two looked back at the remains of team seven.
As Kakashi's brain fully figured out what had happened, he lightly touched the place at his neck as turns around to look at Naruto casually sheathing his sword with a grin, "I suppose that means you won… Kushina-sama would've been very proud of the swordsman you've become…"
Naruto's eyes widened at that, as he started to tear up slightly, "Thank you… sensei." He muttered, wiping a stray tear away as Sakura joined them.
"Naruto what the hell was that?! I have never seen anything like it…" She roared out, torn in between being mad at him for nearly chopping their sensei's head off, and being amazed at the sudden kenjutsu showcase.
"Of course you haven't,.Naruto apparently created it himself," Tsunade said as she and Jiraiya walked up to them.
Sakura's eyes widened further as she looked at the blond while slowly turning your head as he sheepishly answered, "That's right! Took a few years to work it out completely without the former flaws, but it was definitely worth it!"
Before the pinkette had time to answer, Tsunade cut in with a cough to her hand, "Alright, well… Jiraiya and I have been discussing and congratulation Naruto. With your display of skill in not only kenjutsu but also taijutsu, ninjutsu, and strategy along with your show of teamwork, you'll no longer serve the village as a genin. You'll now serve the village with your new rank of Jounin, congratulations gaki, continue to make your village proud."
"J-Jounin?" Sakura stuttered and promptly fainted, while Kakashi gave a proud eye-smile as he put his headband back in place.
Naruto himself stood with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. "Y-You serious?"
"Yes of course. By all means, you should have been chunin after your show at the last Chunin exams you participated in, along with your show of skill in the invasion. Take this promotion as a thank you and apology as well, you shouldn't have stayed genin for so long." Tsunade explained, smirking widely at the blond's beyond shocked and surprised expression as he comically opened and shut his mouth without being able to mouth a single word.
Naruto finally found himself able to speak again, and bowed lightly while scratching his head, "Thank you Baa- I mean, Hokage-sama… I won't let you down."
"Tch, saying Baa-chan suits you better gaki," Tsunade mumbled with a small blush, making Kakashi chuckle at his Hokage until she sent him a death glare.
Jiraiya shook his head and appeared beside his student with an arm swung across his shoulders, "Well, I believe this calls for celebration!"
Thank you so much for reading! I hope the chapter was okay, and the fight was satisfying. Please come with feedback!
Question of the chapter: Should Naruto wield more than just water in his kenjutsu style? Looking forward to hearing from you.
