Chapter 85 – Becoming Stronger II

"Talk"

'Think'

Flashback

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei.

Second day training

"What are you doing?" asked Jiraiya when he saw Naruto and his two clones.

"Training"

"I know that" Jiraiya gave Naruto a smack at the back of his head "Why an extra clone? Yesterday you only needed one to focus on the elemental chakra"

"Last night, Shizuka-obasan said that I could injure myself with wind element and one way to protect myself is to cover my hand with chakra. So I'm trying to focus on creating a thin layer of chakra on my hand while-"

"Your clones focus on rasengan and wind element" cut in Jiraiya "Not bad brat"

"Hey!"

Jiraiya chuckled before saying "Anyway, today's training is only half-day. We've got a mission tomorrow. Don't want to be too tired"

"So soon?"

"There's a rumour of missing nin being recruited that I need to check out"

"Akatsuki?"

"Maybe, maybe not. We'll scout first then we'll see how"

"Hait!"

"Good Noriko. Your training with Tsunade-sama clearly gave you an advantage in evading most of my attacks. Channelling your summoning animal was definitely a surprise" said Gai while giving panting Noriko a thumb-up with scratch mark visible on his sleeve.

"Now…I'm going to open my first gate…ready, Noriko?"

'Say what now?!' shouted Noriko in her head as Gai blurred in front of her and she jumped away sheerly on her instincts.

Gai appeared in front of her and Noriko raised her chakra-covered-arms as defence from Gai's attack; nevertheless, she flew backwards for a few metres before her back hit a tree.

As she began to slide down, Noriko channelled chakra on her feet and jumped onto a nearest branch to collect herself and lookout for Gai.

"Good, your response is better now-" said Gai as he appeared next to her and gave a kick "-but not fast enough".

Noriko quickly positioned herself so she could landed on her feet. Her left arm began throbbing and she gritted her teeth through the pain, trying to remember Itachi's words.

"The title of S-rank is normally given to a shinobi who has spent years honing his skills, thus his experience naturally sharpened his instinct. This week is all about your response, I want to sharpen your instinct…so no dōjutsu! I want your body to learn as much as possible; I've already picked next week's mission and your survival depends on how much you have developed"

Noriko took a deep breath and calmed herself; whatever that first gate is clearly has made Gai-sensei faster and stronger as her left arm was still throbbing pain.

She looked at her surrounding carefully and closed her eyes as well as coating herself with chakra; she was ready.

She heard a movement on her left to which she moved a couple of steps backwards, followed by a move to the right as Gai continued to attack.

…

…

…

"Good. That was an unorthodox move and I definitely wouldn't recommend you to do that in a real fight and you know why" said Gai.

Noriko nodded. Initially, she had evaded Gai's attack very well until she tripped over a protruding root, causing her to lose her footing and she became vulnerable to Gai's attacks.

"Noriko, activate your dōjutsu. I want to see how you fight with your dōjutsu" ordered Gai.

"But-"

"Don't worry. I have informed Itachi" assured Gai.

"Okay" said Noriko as she activated her byakugan and sharingan.

…

…

…

"I can see why Itachi forbade you from using your dōjutsu. It is true, your fight was much better with them activated, but you depend on them too much that you neglected your physical training. An S-rank shinobi must be aware of his weakness and overcome it!"

"Hait, Gai-sensei!"

"Let's resume our training with more youth power!"

Noriko's eyes twitched…'I hate you, Itachi!' (Nah, not really. She was just being emo)

A week later

"So…how's training with Gai?" Itachi asked.

Noriko's reply was to give Itachi a mean glare.

"It can't be that bad" said Itachi with a smile.

Another mean glare.

"He is the best shinobi in Taijutsu. Anyway, tomorrow we are going to Tonika-mura. Apparently there's a group of bandits make a camp nearby, and the number is increasing although they have yet do anything to Tonika-mura. Our mission is to investigate and eliminate them"

"That doesn't sounds like an A-rank mission"

"You are right. Since it's not A-rank, you've got to do it alone. I'll just tag-along"

"What?!"

"Yes, why do you think I asked Gai to train you? This mission will show me how much or how little you have improved"

The mean glare returned.

"Too slow, Tenzō! Sai, draw faster!" said Kakashi as he threw a jutsu at Sai (who has the permission to join) and Tenzō.

Currently, Kakashi was attacking both Sai and Tenzō with ninjutsu and ordered them to do the same. Ninjutsu only.

"This is especially important for you, Tenzō. You fight mainly using ninjutsu so your execution has to be faster" said Kakashi seriously "Later, I want you to practice performing all the jutsu's hand seals until you can do it in your sleep"

"Hait, sensei!… … …sensei, when are we going to take a mission?" asked Tenzō.

Kakashi looked at Tenzō's hopeful face; Noriko had just left the village for a mission while Naruto had gone almost a week ago. Kakashi knew that Tenzō does not want to be left behind, again.

"I'm looking for a suitable mission for two people" said Kakashi. Well, there was one, but Itachi has gotten it first.

"If Shin-niisan joins us, we can be a formal team" said Sai.

"Your team wouldn't mind?" asked Tenzō.

"Kurenai-sensei is on an escort mission with Hinata, Ino and Tenten. Kunoichi only. Since I'm training, Shino joined Team Asuma on a mission" explained Sai.

"Shin…he's in ANBU right?" asked Kakashi.

"Yes, but he's on a break because his team members are hospitalized" answered Sai.

"I see…thank you for the offer but this is something I have to discuss with Hokage" said Kakashi.

"It has been approved" said Shin who appeared in front of them "Sorry senpai. I'm bored. So I told Sai to suggest it to you. Then I realized it'll be faster if I ask Hokage myself" Shin grinned.

"What's the mission?"

"An heiress disappeared with her guards and village's treasure"

"Kurenai-sensei, there are two group of bandits 800 metres in front of us, left and right" reported Hinata. They were currently escorting eight daughters of Daimyō of Cha no Kuni back home after a short holiday in Tori no Kuni.

"Any shinobi?" asked Kurenai.

"No visible hitai-ate" said Hinata.

"Let me and Hinata handle them, sensei" said Ino. Ever since their meeting in Yakiniku Q, Ino has asked Hinata to help her with her taijutsu. Now, she can't wait to test her skill.

"You sure?" asked Kurenai.

"Yes" Ino nodded her head "You can cast genjutsu around them (pointing towards the Daimyō's daughters) in case one of the bandits gave us a slip, or Tenten can just kick their a**es" Ino grinned at Tenten.

"H*** yes!" said Tenten with great spirit.

Kurenai nodded "That's a sound plan. Go"

"I've found our target…and some bad news" said Neji.

"Spit it out, Neji" said Kiba followed by a "Woof".

"He's not alone. He's surrounded by a number of people; male, female, kids and babies. Judging from their chakra, about eight of them are shinobi, ranging from chūnin to jōnin"

"That's unusual…missing nin normally works alone" said Hamaki.

"Perhaps we can explain" said a familiar voice.

End Chapter 85

Cha no Kuni – Land of Tea

Tonika-mura – Tonika Village

Tori no Kuni – Land of Birds