Start Chapter 16
I made it out of the ANBU alive and now I'm starting a new chapter in my life. I'm going to be teacher! Who would've thought I would be trusted with the Third's Grandson at that? Its funny how things work out in the end, but now's not the time for me to slack! I need to whip these kids into shape, so one day they can stand alone as proud ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village.
At Training Ground around 5 AM
Naruto sits on a stump waiting for his Genin to arrive. They come in one-by-one looking dreary and tired as hell, "Well you guys look like you need a wakeup call." He makes a hand seal and splashes them with water from the nearby river and they all cry in annoyance, "First rule: Always be ready and aware." They grumble at that, "Second rule: No complaining." Shutting up they wait for the blonde Jounin to continue, "Thank you, now the next one is the most important so listen close." The trio of Genin looks ready to learn, "I will not tolerate traitors. If you even dare leave this village or hurt your teammates. I will personally make sure you don't see the next day, is that understood?"
"Yes sir, Naruto-sensei!" They cry in unison and Naruto smiles lightly at them before pointing to a small cliff.
The Jounin hands them a rope. "Your first lesson will be a physical challenge. I want you all to climb up that cliff while roped to one another. You may not go around the hill either you must climb up it. At no time, unless I say so, can you take off the ropes. Now have at it." The trio heads over to the cliff and they attach to one another before trying to work out a way up the cliff together. Naruto sits back and watches for a little while and he hears a puff of smoke appear next to him.
"You're starting off pretty tough with them aren't you?" Iruka says as the cloud dissipates, "I was expecting you to start with the individual then move onto teamwork, why the deviation?"
Naruto shrugs, "I want them to learn that the team comes before their interests and to work things out together. If they can't work together to solve basic problems then how will they be able to tackle the more advanced ones?" Pausing the Jounin chuckles dryly, "Besides I like watching them fall off the cliff."
Iruka says, "It seems being the ANBU turned you into a bit of an asshole."
Getting up and dusting himself off the blonde says, "Maybe, or maybe it showed me to find something to laugh about in life." The brown-haired man smiles and takes his exit from the area as the team makes it up the cliff finally, "Great job guys! Now come back down the same way!" They groan and Naruto looks at them sternly before they come back down slowly. Body flickering over to them the Jounin says, "Good job, now we're going to do some conditioning, but with a twist." Pulling out a wooden kunai, "I will throw this at you any time I see you slacking. It won't break the skin, but it will hurt pretty badly, so unless you want to have a bunch of bumps I suggest you keep working."
Konohamaru looks at his instructor, "When are we going to learn the cool stuff?"
Naruto shakes his head feeling nostalgic at that, "When you've mastered the basics and can function as team without even thinking. Once you've guys have done that I will show you the cool stuff." They nod, "Now get running!" Scrambling in fear the three Genin break right into a running pace. Naruto stands there with his arms crossed monitoring the group of young ninja as they go about their conditioning, "Udon and Moegi you better pick up the pace!" Hearing their teacher's voice calling their names they push harder. Moegi trips and falls on root Konohamaru keeps running and so does Udon, "Stop!" Naruto phases in front of them, "Your teammate is hurt and you left her behind!" He hits them over the head with his hands, "Go help her!" They hesitate, but quickly move to help the female member of the team, "Now if that happened during a mission and you were being chased by enemy ninja she would be dead. I'm not trying to scare you, but it is what's going to happen. You have to be constantly aware of not only your surroundings, but also your team. Understood?" They all nod and Naruto says quietly, "Now that was a good first day guys, I'm glad you got up the cliff on the first day, but we still have a long way to go before we start running missions. Go home, get a good meal, and rest up. You'll need it for tomorrow." In a swirl of leaves Naruto heads out leaving his team feeling tired and sore.
That Night in Naruto's Apartment
The blonde Jounin enjoys a nice meal of chicken and brown rice for dinner. He thinks back on today and sighs, "Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on them. They're not me, so they probably aren't used to being treated like soldiers." Shaking that thought out of his head Naruto says, "No, they're considered adults now so they need to learn to act like it. I'm not being hard I'm being realistic. If they think being a ninja is fun then they have a lot to learn." Looking at his old ninja-to Naruto sees a lesson plan coming together.
The Next Day at the Training Ground
Naruto sharpens his ninja-to as his three students come in together, "Guys take a seat I have something to tell you." The trio looks confused, but they sit before their teacher waiting, "You see this blade?" They nod at the same time, "This has killed over fifty people while in my hands."
The three Genin gasp in horror, "What the hell are you telling us this for?" Konohamaru says angrily standing up.
Shaking his head the Jounin says sharply, "Because I was ordered to." Konohamaru looks confused and slowly sits down, "As a ninja you will have to kill people and people will want to kill you. However, you have to take a step back and see why they need to be killed." Sighing and sheathing the blade in its scabbard the blonde Jounin continues, "If you kill just to kill then you're no better than an animal, but if you kill someone who has murdered ten children then you can justify taking a life." Looking over his scared team, "You will be ordered to do things you don't morally agree with, but that is the harsh reality of being a ninja. Once this training session is over I want you to go home and think if you really want to be a ninja. Don't ask your family, ask yourself, take a long look in the mirror and decide if this is really for you." Sighing Naruto changes the subject, "Now we're going to work on a combat situation. You guys need to hold me off for an hour until back up arrives. Use any means necessary to keep me at bay, when I say go start running. I'll give you a twenty minute head start." The group of Genin looks one another over before bracing themselves, "Go!"
Taking off in a sprint the group of young ninja begin to quickly formulate a plan together, "I'm going to dig some deep holes real quick with an earth jutsu I know. Udon start laying some of those ninja-wire traps you're good at. Moegi set up a quick log snare we'll do them at different points and try to lure him towards them. Meet back here in no more than fifteen minutes." Konohamaru and the group go to work at their tasks and quickly finish their traps, "Alright guys let's get ready to run. Open your senses and when you detect something say 'flash' and we'll run to the first trap."
Naruto smiles from behind a bush nearby at his student's resourcefulness and teamwork. But almost a year or so in the ANBU plus all of his other experience has taught him better than to fall for simple traps. However, that doesn't mean he can let his guard down. Letting them know he's there by rustling a bush he hears Moegi yell, "Flash!" The Genin scatter and he begins to give chase to the group.
As they make their way through the woods Naruto avoids their traps nimbly, but decides to fall for the hole at the end, "Well good job guys! You got me." In a swirl of leaves he appears behind them, "However, you should have kept running. A hole will only slow a good ninja down for a few seconds. Great job otherwise!" The trio smiles at their teacher's compliments, "Now let's do run through some exercises that will help you in more than a few ways." Looking them over before continuing, "You're going to learn to climb trees, without using your hands." Walking towards a tree the blonde Jounin begins to scale up the trunk and eventually makes his way to the very top, "Now I'm sure you're wondering how I did that right?" The three Genin nod, "Alright you need to channel just enough chakra into your feet and use it to bond with the tree bark. The easiest way is to take a step onto the tree and gradually adjust the amount of chakra flowing into your feet." His students each walk up to separate trees before trying it out for themselves. Naruto decides to perch up in a tree branch to get a better view so he can monitor their progress. The blonde Jounin watches them closely to see if they need any help noticing Konohamaru looking frustrated he heads over to the boy to help him out with his issue.
"Damn it!" The brown-haired boy says to himself, "This is so stupid!" Kicking the tree the Sarutobi huffs in anger.
"What's the matter Konohamaru?" Naruto asks surprising the young Genin.
"Uh, well I can't figure out how to bond my chakra to the tree. I'm getting the whole channeling it to my feet, but having it stick onto the tree isn't working." The brown-haired Genin looks frustrated and Naruto smiles.
Realizing the problem the blonde says, "Try imagining your chakra going into the tree and sticking to it and then see how that works for you." Konohamaru tries that method and has a lot more success sticking to the bark, "Great job kid! Now just keep practicing for a while." Looking over at his other two students the blonde sees them starting to make their way up their trees. Heading back to his perch Naruto pulls out a book on teaching and starts to read. Once he sees that his Genin are exhausted he decides to call it a day, "Alright guys it's time to head back! Go ahead home now!" His students sigh in relief before leaving the training ground and heading to their homes, "Better get some training in myself." Putting away his book and jumping down Naruto starts some training.
Later that Night
Naruto sits down on a log exhausted from a tough training session. Stripping off his sweat soaked shirt and jumping into the pond under the waterfall he feels a shock to his system as the freezing water engulfs him. Jumping up to the surface he gasps for air, "God that feels amazing!" Making his way over to where he can stand the blonde feels a presence nearby and draws a kunai from his pants, "Who's that?"
"I see your senses haven't dimmed a bit." Recognizing the voice as Jiraiya's Naruto relaxes, "You've even become a teacher from what I hear."
Getting out of the water Naruto dries off, "Yeah, I thought I'd help whip some kids into shape. What brings you here?"
The Sannin perches upon a log before pulling out a tobacco pipe and lighting it, "Well Tsunade is getting older and she's looking for a replacement within the next few years. I was going to recommend you as a potential candidate."
Naruto nods silently before thinking, "Well I can say right now I'd like to do a couple of things first. One of which is get this team to Chuunin, the other is possibly start thinking about starting a family. Of course I'd have to find a girlfriend first, but that may be difficult how I tend to piss off women." They share a laugh at that remembering his escapades during their training trip, "Other than that there's not much left on my to-do list before becoming Hokage."
Jiraiya nods, "Well you have three to five years before you're going to be needed, so you better starting working on those things." Taking a drag from his pipe the Sannin smiles looking at the moon, "I guess being Hokage runs in the family."
Naruto nods knowing exactly what he's talking about, "Well I'll say this kid isn't going to be Hokage unless they're right for the job. This is a military village, not a monarchy."
Finishing up his pipe the Sannin says, "Well do those things within the next five years or you'll be Hokage without a family and someone else will teach these kids you have." Naruto sighs as the Toad Sage leaves him to his thoughts.
"Hokage huh? I guess I better get started on the rest of my life." Gathering his things the blonde gets going home.
At Naruto's Apartment the Next Morning
Sitting at his desk Naruto remembers some of the girls he met throughout his training trip with Jiraiya. One of them pops out in particular; the one he had the best time with, even though there wasn't any action, "I wonder how she's doing?" Thinking back to that girl from the mist village he smiles remembering the great time he had with her, "Of course unless we quit being a ninja we'd never work out." Sighing to himself the blonde wonders if he could make a trip to the Mist Village. He also wonders if she'd even remember who he is, "It's a long shot, but it's worth it." Shrugging his shoulders Naruto decides to write a letter to her first to see if she's even worth pursuing. Grabbing a piece of paper and a pen he begins to write a letter before sealing it and calling upon a toad to take it to her, "Make sure it gets to this girl." Showing it a picture and giving it some candy the amphibian makes its way with the message.
A Week Later at Naruto's Apartment
Naruto sits on his couch after a hard training session and a puff of smoke appears on the table before him. A small toad carrying a scroll comes out of it and the blonde Jounin grabs the message before giving it some candy. Opening the scroll he reads:
Dear Naruto,
I'm surprised and glad to hear from you after so long. Since we last met I've made it to Jounin and I have a Genin team, but haven't met a guy like you. I'm pretty busy with them, but I can make time to see you. If you want we can meet in the middle at the border of Fire and Water Country. I'll be waiting there in one week's time.
With Love, Misutogāru
At the Hokage's Office an Hour Later
Naruto stands before Tsunade and asks, "I want permission to leave the village for a couple of weeks. I'll also need someone to cover my team for me."
The female Hokage raises an eyebrow, "What for?"
Looking at the ground the blonde sighs, "I want to see if I can reconnect with a girl I met in the Hidden Mist Village a few years back."
Tsunade smiles softly at the boy, "Alright I'll get Ebisu to cover your team, but once you're done come right back. Understood?" Naruto nods excitedly before going to leave, "Hey Naruto, treat her right. Jiraiya told me about this one and she seems like a good girl." In a swirl of leaves the blonde exits to find his old flame.
A Week Later at the Fire Border
Naruto paces while waiting at the border of Fire and Water country. He looks up from his musings to see the red-head from his past coming up to him and he smiles. Once they stand face to face she winds up her hand and smacks him hard, "That's for never writing!" He rubs his cheek and she softly kisses the other one, "That's for finally answering my prayers." Naruto smiles lightly at her and they begin to talk for a little while as if they had never been apart.
He feels like something is just right as they talk to each other and walk towards a nearby creek in the woods, "Remember this place?" The blonde Jounin asks and waits a few seconds.
She rolls her eyes before smiling and saying, "Yeah this is that place where you tried to get me to go skinny dipping." Watching Naruto undress into just his boxers she says, "Oh no, I'm not." Pulling her into the water with him the blonde feels the cool water rush around them and they resurface, "You know, most people don't just drag people into the water when they're fully clothed." Taking off her top and pants she smiles devilishly, "And this is as close you're going to get to what you want."
Naruto chuckles dryly, "I didn't expect you to bang me on the first date back." They share a laugh and swim together in the cool creek not realizing the passing of time. However, Naruto and Misutogāru don't seem to care as they re-fall in love…
Author's Note: The next chapter will be the last one. I know the last parts were kind of rushed, but honestly I feel like I've kind of run out of ideas for this story. Maybe I'll revisit it and try to come up with a better version, but for now this is what I got.
End Chapter 16