Hello, sorry for the long wait! Writer's block hit me hard with this story, though I think I have most of the pre shippuden story mapped out now. At least a rough idea anyway. As for Shippuden, it is very doubtful that I will follow cannon closely if at all, pre-Shippuden cannon will be followed about as closely as it can be with the changes I've already made. The reason Shippuden won't follow cannon as closely is mostly because I have not seen all of Shippuden and because what I know of it doesn't always make since with what happened in the original series. One change that I sort of, briefly, touch on in this chapter is the strength of the Jinchuriki. They will be considerably more powerful in this fic than in cannon, since they were stated to have been used to deter war. The akatsuki will still be there but their success with capturing the tailed beasts will be a lot more hit or miss.
That being said if there are arcs, especially filler arcs, you want to see leave a comment and I will try and add that arc. Now without further ado please enjoy chapter seven!
The weeks that followed Team Eight's first day were filled with training and chores, also known as D rank missions. The training was a combination of teamwork drills and exercises to improve on each team member's weakest areas.
For Shino this was close combat, he was proficient at the academy style but since that style itself is mostly used to train muscle groups before to prepare for an actual combat style it wasn't much help. He began learning the Northern Praying Mantis fighting style, a style that happen to suit his overall theme and worked well with his strengths. Other then that his clan handled teaching him more of their own jutsus.
Hinata needed work on both gen and ninjutsu, as her clan typically doesn't allow its members to learn anything that doesn't use their byakugan so this training had to be kept secret. Kurenai tested the whole teams chakra natures, Hinata had a strong water affinity. Because of this Hinata began to learn the water bullet jutsu, the water clone, and the syrup trap jutsu. For genjutsu Kurenai decided to focus on her ability to detect them and train that up.
Naruto ended up needing the most work; his taijutsu had suffered from sabotage and his ninjutsu was lacking. Though thanks to the wonders of shadow clones his ninjutsu improved quickly. He had a strong affinity for wind and a minor one for water. Kurenai first taught him a new fighting style, Muay Thai. He took to it like a fish to water or a fox to napping. For ninjutsu he learned the wind style great breakthrough, the water bullet jutsu, and the great clone explosion. People around the elemental nations gave a shudder of fear when Naruto mastered the clone explosion, except for a blonde with mouth hands who shed a single tear of joy.
When the three genin were not training they were complaining about D rank missions or doing D rank missions, or both. Well Naruto was complaining, Hinata endured in quiet resignation, and Shino showed little emotion. Anko found their pain funny, and laughed at their complaints when she had lunch with the group. Kurenai also found it funny but had the decency to not laugh too much at their plyt.
Five weeks after the team's formation they could be found finishing up one such D rank, a Tora the cat mission. The D rank that was definitely the worst of the bunch since the cat Tora was either an actual demon or just very determined not to live with Madam Shijimi. The team agreed it was probably both, even Shino agreed!
The team had just captured the cat and were on their way to deliver him back to the Hokage's office. As they were walking Shino decided to ask something he had been thinking about since the team's first day. "Naruto, if I may ask, is your unusually high chakra capacity a side effect of your father being sealed within you?"
"Uh, oh partially, I think. Uzumaki have always had larger reserves than normal. I think mom's journal mentioned that the average genin had larger reserves then a non uzumaki chunin and Uzumaki jounin often rivaled Kages from other villages. According to dad my coils had to grow more rapidly because the seal constantly leaks his chakra into my coils." Naruto said with a thoughtful look on his face as he carried a calm Tora, genjutsu is a wonderful thing.
"I see, so were in terms of level would you put your reserves?" Shino asked, he wanted to know mostly to have a proper estimation of were each of his teammates were and how to best utilize himself and them in a fight. He was no Shikamaru but he was a skilled tactician.
Naruto looked thoughtful for a moment. "According to dad and the old man my reserves are roughly the same as two Kages', give or take. That's why I can make so many Shadow Clones." He said with a shrug, not noticing three sets of eyes popping out.
"...I see." Shino said evenly. Inside he was quite less even, the various ways that could be applied in combat meant Naruto was basically a wild card. An unseen smirk graced Shino's face as he realized that he could spend hours to day making various basic contact plans for his team.
"My my, you know what they say about men with large chakra coils!" Came the voice of Anko, who seemed to spend a lot of time with Team Eight. "I bet the images are driving our shy little bunny crazy." You could hear the teasing smirk.
"Anko, behave. I don't want Hin-" Kurenai began but was interrupted by Hinata falling to the ground, she had fainted. "Nevermind, but please refrain from purposely making my genin faint." Kurenai was pretty sure Anko wasn't listening since she was on the ground laughing. Both Kurenai and Shino gave a tired sigh as Naruto checked on Hinata, waking her up and promptly causing her to faint once again. Tora the cat peacefully slept on Hinata's stomach having a genjutsu created dream of living in a peaceful home with an old lady who would gently pet his head.
It took sometime before Team Eight managed to collect themselves enough to finish the journey to the Hokage's Tower. Once there they delivered the sleeping cat to Madam Shijimi, who was stopped by Hinata before she could crush the cat in a hug. "C-cat's have d-delicate backs, he might b-be m-more a-apreciative of a s-soft head rub while y-you hold him." The shy girl managed, years caring for a bunny having taught her how to hold small animals.
Madam Shijimi noticing the rapid nodding of Tora tried it out and found that though it didn't feel quite as love filled as a hug Tora did purr so that's a win! "Look at this my daringly Tora is purring! Hiruzen make sure to give the little rabbit child a good bonus." With that she left, cooing at Tora, followed by her guards.
'Why did she call me a rabbit? And why did Anko call be bunny?' Thought Hinata, not realizing that her sister had attached rabbit ears to her coats hood. So lost in thought was she that she missed the Hokage congratulating them for possibly removing the Tora missions.
Her thought were interrupted by Naruto demanding better missions, 'Naruto is so bold, if I was more like that maybe people would call me a lion or tiger or Mecha bunny!' Hinata thought to herself.
Once again her thoughts were interrupted but this time it was by an old man who smelled of alcohol. "This is the team going to guard me? The creepy one looks decent but the blonde and the rabbit don't look like much." The old drunk said. Hinata deflated.
"Hey! You take that back I am a real ninja and Hinata gots a kick like a super rabbit!" Naruto yelled before turning to look at Hinata with and smiling, "Don't let that drunk get you down, an angry rabbit is scary and you are at least as awesome as ten angry rabbits."
Instead of blushing and fainting Hinata was confused, that sounded like a complement and he sounds genuine but ten rabbits? Hinata's confusion was shared by the entire room and within his seal Kurama was face palming.
Throwing his arm over her shoulder Naruto pulls her to his side and continues,"Yeah, I'm a fox and you are a rabbit! We'll show everyone how awesome we can be!" He really only has two volumes: ghost quiet and yelling. Tazuna stares at the duo in confusion and despair. 'The last of Waves money went to hiring this team and half of it is whatever this is!' He thought.
Kurenai was going to reassure the client that they could get the job done but once again Naruto threw her off her rhythm. Even Shino was showing emotion, though the fact it was laughter was more disturbing than anything.
Hinata's brain finally registered what Naruto said, having briefly shut down when he pulled her to his side. With an unusual amount of bravery she spoke, "Yeah, we'll teach people not to underestimate us!"
