Chapter 84 – Becoming Stronger I

"Talk"

'Think'

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei.

A/N: Thank you AnimeMangaDude and crali reynoso for your supports and thank you MattKennedy for your reviews =D

Konoha

"Congratulations Team Kakashi" said Shisui with a smile "The Head of Takigakure and the newly-appointed Tsuchikage were happy with your performance"

Naruto, Noriko and Tenzō stood proudly in front of Shisui (Naruto was grinning happily). It was the morning after their return from Takigakure.

"Unfortunately-" Shisui added sombrely "-given the recent events, Team Kakashi is temporarily disbanded"

"What?!" "Why?!" "May we know the reason behind this decision, Hokage-sama?"

"I'll leave it to your sensei to explain" said Shisui with a nod to Kakashi.

Kakashi nodded his head and said to his team "Meet me at Training Ground 44"

Training Ground 44

"First, I'm reminding you again, our team is only disbanded temporarily" said Kakashi as he looked at the face of his students.

"Yesterday, the Hokage and I had a talk about our missions. Mainly, we discussed about Akatsuki and your status as jinchūriki. In comparison with the other jinchūriki, your skills and ability to control the Kyūbi's power are somewhat…lacking" added Kakashi bluntly.

"Shizune-san returned the morning before us. She reported that Han and Rōshi are needed in Iwa for at least six months before they can leave Iwa to assist both of you" Kakashi looked at Naruto and Noriko "Hence, for the next six months, Team Kakashi will split into three teams of two; Naruto will be under Jiraiya-sama, Noriko with Itachi and Tenzō, you'll be with me"

"During that six months, we'll only take A-rank missions or higher" Kakashi said seriously "This is to improve our skills within short amount of time, especially for Naruto and Noriko, since the first step to take control of the Kyūbi is to fight with the Kyūbi"

"Once that's done, we'll make our move against Akatsuki. Like Han said, there's no point to sit around like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. However, to tackle Akatsuki now will be a suicide thus the need for training" finished Kakashi.

Looking at the stricken face of his students, Kakashi added cheerfully "Don't worry. You guys won't be doing just missions the whole six months. There'll be breaks in between them where you can evaluate your performance and train some more"

"You and Noriko formed a team?" asked Sasuke.

"Yes" Itachi replied placidly.

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why?"

"Why just two of you in one team? Why her?"

Itachi turned to Sasuke "You are not jealous, aren't you?"

"… … …no"

Itachi smiled at Sasuke's sullen face "You are indeed, a foolish otōto"

"Sensei, do you know anything about Team Kakashi?" Sasuke asked Hamaki.

"What do you mean?"

"… … …Itachi formed a team with Noriko, and I wonder why" Sasuke replied while looking at the ground.

Hamaki smiled "You know your friends' burden?"

"Yes"

"And the threat they are facing?"

"…Akatsuki, right?"

"And what happened to Iwa?"

"Yes"

"Information about Akatsuki is very scarce. Nevertheless, we cannot wait for them to come at our doorstep to take action, neither could Konoha wastes manpower on a wild goose chase…you get what I'm saying?" asked Hamaki.

"… … …I think so" said Sasuke slowly "So…they are hunting Akatsuki?"

"No. They are nowhere near as strong as members from Akatsuki. But they may be in six months. Who knows? Maybe you could too if you can stop being jealous"

"Really?"

"I said maybe. The Hokage made the final decision"

"Thank you, sensei!" shouted Sasuke as he took his leave.

First day training

Shizuka was cooking dinner when she heard the front door opened and Naruto's voice "I'm home" weakly. Moments later, Naruto appeared in the kitchen,

"Welcome home" said Shizuka, turning her head when she noticed Naruto's hands; they looked pale.

"Show me your hand" she ordered as she switched off the stove.

Shizuka examined Naruto's hand, noting the chakra burnt. She ran her chakra and found numerous miniscule cut "Chakra training? Your affinity is wind?" asked Shizuka.

"Yeah…wait…how do you know that Shizuka-obasan?" asked Naruto.

Shizuka smiled "Each elemental chakra gave a sign; wind is normally associated with cutting. Your hands here showed signs of tiny cuttings, nothing harmful…yet"

"Huh?"

"The more powerful a jutsu is, the bigger the drawback…the effects on you" added Shizuka after seeing a blank look on Naruto's face "For example, you performed a wind jutsu on your opponents and cut them (Naruto nodded); however, your skin that touches the jutsu will also be cut…although smaller"

"What?!"

"That's why some shinobi used a medium…a tool like knife or umm…a fan like one Suna kunoichi I've seen. I'm sorry Naruto, I don't mean to put a damper on you learning new jutsu-" Shizuka's sentence was cut off by Naruto's hug.

"It's okay Shizuka-obasan. You don't have to apologize. I know you said that because you want me to be careful" said Naruto.

Shizuka smiled and ruffled Naruto's hair.

"…'m home" Noriko's weak voice was heard from the door

Naruto grinned and ran towards the door "Wel- wha-?"

Curious, Shizuka went to the door and saw a bruised and battered Noriko. One eye was swollen while the other was half opened.

"What happened?" asked Shizuka while Naruto gaped at Noriko

"… 'tachi … … … Gai-sensei …" mumbled Noriko.

"Let me get you clean up first then we'll talk" said Shizuka.

Noriko looked slightly better during dinner as she told Naruto, Shisui and Shizuka about her training "Itachi said I have to be stronger so he asked Gai-sensei to train me while he took over Gai-sensei's team for one week before we can take a mission"

"Train you?" asked Naruto.

"Basically, I have to respond to Gai-sensei's attack which feels like being hit by a cannonball" answered Noriko.

"Why?"

"He said that a serious Gai-sensei is on par with any S-rank shinobi, so if I can fight with Gai-sensei, I can at the very least, survive fighting an S-rank shinobi-" Noriko shrugged as she continued "-which I doubt I could achieve in one week"

"Even if you are sparring, why you looked so bad?" asked Shizuka.

"I miscalculated and Gai-sensei accidentally punched me on my face…he wanted to stop after that but I refused. I saw that Itachi had a point and oh well…at least I've learnt my lesson. Never ever ever underestimate an opponent, no matter how ridiculous his or her appearance is" grinned Noriko.

"He's really that strong?" asked Naruto with a hint of doubt, to which Noriko nodded her head vigourously.

"I'm glad that that lesson is imprinted on you" Shisui chipped in "Anyway, with Naruto developing new jutsu, and your training, I'm going to have a tough decision in six months"

"Why?" asked Naruto and Noriko simultaneously.

"Because your friends are also work hard at improving themselves, especially Sasuke and Kiba. They asked permission to form a Hunter team with Hamaki-sensei and Hyūga Neji since Sakura is training at the hospital full-time. They don't want to be left behind like during Orochimaru's mission" explained Shisui.

"That sounds like Sasuke. Huh…I guess I can't slack off" mused Naruto.

"I can't wait to see how all of you have grown" said Shisui with a smile.

"Here, Tenzō, your dinner" said Sai (They were next-door neighbours).

"Thanks" mumbled Tenzō.

"What's the training?" asked Shin.

"Climbing a cliff with one hand then running up and down till I almost passed out" mumbled Tenzō.

"Oh, in ANBU, we called that Kakashi's Training from Hell: Phase I" said Shin with a grin.

"There's more?" asked Tenzō weakly.

"Yup" answered Shin cheerfully "I vomited a lot during Phase II and blacked out few times during Phase III (Tenzō gulped) but at the end of it, your body, chakra, awareness and response were increased significantly. Hang in there" Shin patted Tenzō's shoulder.

Tenzō sighed as he ate his dinner.

End Chapter 84