Hey! Thanks for the reviews and views. Here's the new chapter. And I've noticed that I haven't done the disclaimer for a couple of chapters. Anyway, I do not own Naruto. I wish that could be clear to everyone...stupid copyright laws.

Chapter 8

A week later, Team 9 waited impatiently at a Training Ground for Guy, who was uncharacteristically running late. Naruto was warming up by doing pushups, and TenTen was throwing shuriken at a tree. The shuriken's path would curve as it approached the tree, a trick she had been trying to perfect. Neji was slowly moving between Gentle Fist sequences, breathing evenly.

TenTen harrumphed irately as one shuriken went wide left. "Dammit, when is sensei going to get here? We got here at six, and it's been half an hour or more!" Naruto flipped to a standing position and mockingly bowed toward TenTen, hands together.

"Patience, young Grasshopper. Great things come to people who wait," he said sagely with a light sarcastic tone. TenTen glared at him and launched a shuriken at him. Naruto caught between his fingers and waggled another at TenTen. "Now, now, now. The student cannot yet defeat the master."

"You little-!" She lunged at him, hands curled into fists. The two got into a huge scuffle, and Neji shook his exasperatedly. The scuffle lasted until TenTen was on the blonde's back and pulling his hair. "Ha! Got you!"

"Ow! Dammit, you girl! Quit pulling out my hair!"

"I'll show you girl!" TenTen tried to hold him with one hand and draw back the other, but Naruto flipped her onto the ground. They rolled into a tree, pulling and kicking at each other. "Wraa! Naruto, you bit me!" shouted TenTen, yanking an arm back. Naruto stuck his tongue out at her.

"Whatcha gonna do about?"

"This!" She walloped him on the side of the head and tried to choke him.

"Ack! Lemme go!"

"Cry mercy!"

"Never!"

"Alright!" She squeezed harder. Naruto painstakingly bent over, reaching for something on his legs. His hands slowly lifted up his pant legs and detached his weights. They fell to the ground with a heavy boom. "Heh-heh! Wait-what are you doing?" Her hold loosened enough for Naruto to grin at her.

"This!" He took off, taking TenTen with him. Both were blurs as Naruto raced around the Grounds. TenTen tried to scream, but the air tore it from her. "You having fun?" Neji stopped in his sequences and watched the two bolt by him, the slipstream nearly knocking him off his feet. Naruto screeched to a halt, a dizzy TenTen on his back. She looked slightly green as she slid off.

"Erf, I'm gonna be sick," she said, ducking into some bushes. Retching noises could be heard moments later. Neji glared at Naruto.

"Uzumaki-san, I think you may have gone too far."

"What? Nah, just gave her a ride she'll never forget," replied Naruto, grinning. "Would you like one, teme?"

"I'd rather not. I like to keep my breakfast in my stomach," said Neji dryly. He returned to his Gentle Fist sequences, leaving a grinning Naruto to himself. The bushes parted, and TenTen stumbled out, face pale. She walked a few more steps before sitting down heavily.

"I think I just lost my breakfast," she muttered, voice faint. Naruto grinned at her.

"Have fun?"

"HAVE FUN!? You just made me puke! I should-!"

"Hey, team! Leaf's Handsome Green Beast is here!" The three looked up to see Guy fall from the sky and land in front of them. "Miss me?"

"Sensei! Finally, you're here!" said TenTen, standing up, nausea gone. "What took you so long?"

Guy grinned and pulled two scrolls from his pack. "I got presents for you and Naruto. New jutsu!" He looked at Neji. "Sorry. Didn't get you anything. Figured you wouldn't learn it anyway." Neji nodded his head agreeably. The Jonin looked back at the other two. TenTen had sparkles in her eyes and Naruto's hand was inching forward toward the scroll in Guy's hand.

Guy snatched it away, Naruto lowering his hand sadly. The Jonin grinned. "You'll get the presents after your exercise." A moan escaped TenTen.

"Aw, c'mon sensei! Can't we have a break every once in a while? We've gone on several missions this week and trained every morning!"

Guy grinned. "You had a break last week, and you chose to cut it short. Are you regretting your choice?" TenTen grumbled but didn't reply. Of course she didn't regret it; even though she complained, this kind of training wasn't the kind people walked away from. That and this team couldn't stay away from each other for long. "That's what I thought. Now, one hundred laps around the village! Go!"

Neji and TenTen took off immediately, Naruto hurrying after them while clipping his weights back to his legs. "Hey, wait up!" After three hours the laps took, the team also did their calisthenics: two hundred pushups, pull-ups, and sit-ups. TenTen was panting by the end, Neji breathing heavily but keeping his composure. Only Naruto wasn't breathing hard.

TenTen scowled at him. "Why aren't you tired?"

"I'm used to this training, and just my practices with Iron Fist help my stamina. This helps me keep my strength up too," he replied, stretching. He looked at TenTen, a grin on his face. "Don't be jealous now."

"Pfft, as if. I've heard of the things you do, and I am not jealous."

"Good. You couldn't handle it."

"What'd you say!?"

"I said-,"

"I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID!"

"Then why'd you ask?"

"Shut up!"

"TenTen, I honestly don't where you wordplay inspiration comes from. It's so completely your own."

"You little-!" Neji placed an arm in between the two, acting as the rare pacifist. He usually let them bicker until they tired of it. He looked at TenTen, who had a blush mixed with an irritated face, and Naruto, who was sticking his tongue out at TenTen.

"Uzumaki-san, maybe if you would realize you're not a child, this team could function better," he stated, face stony. He turned away from the two, Naruto pouting. TenTen stuck out her tongue. "I can see you, TenTen." TenTen looked away guiltily. Naruto, however, got an impish look.

"Oh, so it's TenTen now? Not TenTen-san? Aw isn't that-,"

"BLONDIE, SHUT THE HELL UP!" She clubbed him with a hammer she had unsealed in an instant, and the blonde skidded into a tree. Neji frowned at him, puzzled. He glanced back at TenTen, who was flushed. She glared at Neji, who decided to let his question remained unspoken. She turned back to Naruto, who had sat up and was gingerly touching a knot on his head. "That's what you get for that."

"Lord, no need to try to murder me. And where the hell did you get the hammer!?"

TenTen grinned. "A specialty weapons shop." Actually, she had gotten it as a gift from her dad. So far, she hadn't used it but had kept it close. Now she had a definite use for it. Naruto shook his head, the knot slowly going down on its own.

"I guess you used seals to pull it out so fast?" It was the only way, frankly.

"Yeah," she replied slowly, "how'd you know?"

Naruto grinned and unsealed two kunai into his hand. "'Cause I can do it too." TenTen blinked as her jaw hit the floor, and Neji nodded. "What? Didn't know?" TenTen shook her head. "Well, now you do."

"But I never noticed!"

"Really? I was working on seals on the last C-rank. Not that you were paying attention. You were giggling about something with Yakumo."

"Hey! Don't blame me! I just-just, well, I needed another girl to talk to!" Naruto cocked an eyebrow at her.

"No offense, but I think even teme noticed the seals, right?" said Naruto, looking at Neji, who nodded. "You're the only one out of the loop here, even sensei-," Abruptly, the blonde stopped and frowned. "Where is sensei anyway?" A light breeze filtered through the clearing as they all blinked confusedly.

"Yeah," said TenTen, twisting herself to look around, "where is Guy-sensei? He gave us the exercises and then poof-he's gone." She turned to Neji. "Think you could find him?"

"Easily." Neji activated his dojutsu, and after a few moments frowned. "Guy-sensei isn't far, but his chakra is almost everywhere, as if it's a part of the wind…but it is like remnants of his chakra." Neji frown deepened as he puzzled over it, but Naruto shrugged.

"We can ask him when we find him. Now where is he, teme?" Neji momentarily considered leading them astray, or at least Naruto, but decided against it. He pointed to the northwest. "Good teme." A murderous glare between his shoulder blades, Naruto hurried in front of them to find Guy.

They found him, as Neji had pointed, northwest of their position, and when they arrived, a hollow boom resounded in the air. "Team! Glad you've arrived!" shouted Guy, waving a sooty hand energetically. He was covered patchily with ash, making his jumpsuit look camouflage. Guy stood in the center of a depression barren of grass, and TenTen frowned.

"Erm, sensei? What exactly were you doing?" Guy looked at the ground, at them, at the ground, and then back again. He tucked his arms behind him before speaking.

"Well, I was making sure I could do the jutsu I brought you. Never hurts to know!" answered Guy, grinning sheepishly. TenTen sweatdropped as Naruto shook his head amusedly.

"What do you mean you couldn't do the jutsu!?" demanded TenTen.

"Well, I didn't say that-,"

"You might as well!"

"Well, it's been a while-,"

"You're a Jonin! An effing elite of ninja!"

"I still forget, but there's good news: I can still do them!" announced Guy happily. TenTen snorted angrily but decided to drop the subject. She still wanted to learn the jutsu, even though her sensei might not know if it could kill her or not.

Guy created two clones, both of which kept his ruined clothes, and handed one a scroll. "TenTen, you're with the one with the scroll." The clone holding the scroll gave her a thumbs-up, and the two parted from the group. "Neji, you're with the other." Neji nodded, and he and the clone disappeared into the forest.

The real Guy turned to an excited Naruto, who was tapping a foot impatiently. "When are you gonna teach me the jutsu, sensei? Now?" he asked hopefully, though he wouldn't be surprised if it waited after Iron Fist. And he was right.

"No, not yet. It's going to wait for a bit. Now, time for Iron Fist!" 'Great.' After two hours of painful training involving several kicks to gut for Naruto, Guy called the practice to the end, or at least the Iron Fist part. Naruto was gasping, trying to regain his breath. He glowered at Guy. The last kick had been particularly painful.

"Guy-sensei, sometimes I wonder if I'm your student or your archenemy," said Naruto sarcastically, rolling his right shoulder, a recipient of a punch. Guy grinned at him.

"If you were my enemy, you wouldn't be getting up," he stated brightly. He pulled out a scroll from his back holster, and the blonde's eyes brightened. "Now we're going to start the jutsu training." He tossed it to Naruto, who caught and unfurled it in a single motion. He began to read, and the more he read, the more his eyebrows came together.

He looked up questioningly at Guy and pointed toward the scroll. "Great Breakthrough? A wind jutsu? What is this going to do, refresh my enemies?"

"Read more, Naruto," said Guy. Naruto frowned but continued to read.

"Power varies on the chakra utilized in the handsigns," read Naruto aloud, "The power can vary from a breeze to a typhoon-like wind." He frowned again. "I don't recall there being a strong wind earlier while you were practicing, sensei."

Guy laughed nervously. "Well, maybe you didn't notice it."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Can you show me the jutsu? You can use it, can't you?" His sensei froze and regarded him suspiciously.

"I could…but why can't you do it yourself? I mean, the scroll spells it out right there," replied Guy slowly.

"Yeah, but I need to see how it works, sensei. I'm a visual learner, and you showing me the jutsu could really-,"

"Oh alright!" said Guy hotly, snatching the scroll from Naruto. He pored over the signs needed, muttering to himself, and then dropped the scroll. "Alright, here goes. Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" He went through five signs and focused his chakra into the last sign. Naruto leaned back against a tree, seeing if his guess was to be right. A few moments later, a light breeze swayed the leaves on the trees. Naruto grinned; it had been.

Guy hung his head. "Darn. Thought I had it there." He glanced at Naruto. "Hope you're happy."

"I am. It's kinda funny that a Jonin can't get a decent wind out of it though," said Naruto.

Guy glared at him. "Wind isn't my affinity, not even close." Naruto tilted his head, obviously not knowing about affinities. Guy explained, "Affinities are factors in ninja that allow them to perform certain elemental jutsu easier. Affinities are different for everyone. Mine's earth, completely different from wind. Not to mention I'm horrible at ninjutsu."

"How do you find your affinity?" asked Naruto curiously.

"There are certain papers that'll react to your chakra, but I didn't bring any. I'll try to remember, but you find it in any competent ninja goods store. Ask for chakra paper." Guy sighed. "Anyway, practice the handsigns first." Guy sprung a question on the blonde. "Try to guess why."

Naruto blinked but after a second answered, "A more powerful jutsu that requires more handsigns is not necessarily superior to a lesser one with less handsigns. Time is key." He blinked again. "Right?" Guy nodded, smiling. Naruto grinned and caught the scroll as Guy tossed it. He unfurled it and slowly began to make the signs: Tiger, Ox, Dog, Rabbit, and Snake. After twenty minutes, Naruto was satisfied with his speed and stood.

"Ready?" asked Guy. Naruto nodded. "Alright, when you get to the last sign, concentrate any amount of chakra into the jutsu and the air. I would-,"

Naruto finished the sentence, "-Start off with not that much." Naruto grinned at him. "Oh, well." He flipped through the signs within seconds and focused a huge amount of chakra into the air around him. "Here it goes! Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

TenTen turned toward the clone as the two arrived at a tiny clearing. She grinned as the clone took out the scroll. "So we're gonna start now?" The clone playfully tossed it to her, and TenTen readied herself to catch it, but the scroll was snatched out of the air. She glared at the clone, which held the scroll again. "Hey! Give me that!"

"You have to hit me first," said clone, taunting her by holding the scroll close to her. TenTen hissed and threw several kunai toward the clone, which jumped to the side of a tree. "You have to do better than that, TenTen." She responded with shuriken flying straight for him. This kind of pattern went on for the two hours or so, every weapon always coming a hair-breadth from hitting him. She snorted angrily as another shuriken went wide.

'Might as well try the curve,' she thought, placing her fingers correctly on the shuriken. Her eyes followed the form of the clone as he hopped tree to tree. She distinguished a pattern, and then launched the shuriken. 'Hope this works!' The shuriken continued on its course, and for a second TenTen felt confident it would hit. However, the clone changed its path just enough for the shuriken to miss. TenTen stamped a foot and swore.

A sudden gale of wind tore through the clearing, taking several branches with it. The wind seemed to grab the shuriken and hurl it straight at the stunned clone, which caught it with its chest. It dispelled, the smoke being ripped away by the wind. TenTen herself could barely stand. 'Where the hell did this wind come from?'

The original Guy felt the rush of memories arrive from the unfortunate clone, but ignored as he gazed at Naruto in amazement. The blonde was gasping, the jutsu surprisingly leaving him tired, but the results of his jutsu were very clear. Several nearby trees had been uprooted, and trees further out had lost branches. Leaves were strewn everywhere except in a small perfect circle around Naruto. 'That jutsu was at least a high C, if not a B-rank,' thought Guy. He then noticed the memories, and smiled. 'Pure luck, but I'll let it pass.' He created another clone, feeling his chakra drop dangerously, and it faded into the brush.

Naruto rose uncertainly, his legs wobbly. "Damn, that jutsu took a lot from me. It was like it needed more the longer it went on." He paused as he surveyed the damage around him. "Uh, did I do that?" Guy nodded. "Erm, can I take a guess at what my affinity is? Just for kicks?"

"Sure," replied Guy, having already guessed.

"Wind."

TenTen blinked as the wind subsided. Several trees had been stripped of leaves and/or its branches, and the clone was nowhere in sight. She hadn't seen it dispel. "Sensei, where'd you go?" No one answered. "C'mon, if I hit you and you're being a sissy, I'm gonna laugh!" Still, nothing. "Sensei, the longer you hide, the less time I have to practice that jutsu!" Something bumped into her foot, and she looked down. It was the scroll. She grinned as she picked it up. "Oh, yeah! Look at th-!"

The scroll disappeared out of her hand, and she looked around wildly. "Hey!" A clone materialized in front of her, holding the scroll and grinning. "Give that back! I got it fair and square!" she demanded, pointing her finger uncomfortably close to his face. The clone moved as if to jump back into the trees again, and she unsealed her staff. "No, you don't!" She thwacked the clone on the leg and wrenched back the scroll. "Mine!"

The clone yelped in pain but luckily didn't dispel. "Ow! Alright, you win! I was joking!" TenTen glared at him as she resealed the staff. "What?"

"Don't joke about that!" she said, sitting down and opening the scroll. She read the name of the jutsu. "Lightning Release: Static Current." She looked at the clone. "Erm, sensei, aren't Lightning jutsus a bit temperamental, not to mention almost all of them are B-ranks or higher?"

"This jutsu is different, believe me," reassured the clone. She shrugged and read. 'Power depends on amount of chakra used in jutsu. Potential rank: C-A.' Her eyebrows lifted in interest as she studied the signs needed, numbering five.

The clone stood patiently as TenTen read. It thought, 'This jutsu is the twin to Breakthrough. Both are perfect to give to beginners in jutsu as they require no elemental training.'

After thirty minutes or so, TenTen stood, her hands making the signs slowly. "You ready?" asked the clone, receiving a nod as an answer. She closed her eyes and imagined the handsigns, her hands following her.

At the final one, her eyes whipped open, and she shouted, "Lightning Style: Static Current!" The distinct smell of ozone filled the air, and the clone felt a shiver of misgiving. A crackling noise came from TenTen, and she parted her hands, electricity arcing between her fingers. She gazed at it in awe, before grinning at the clone and pointing a finger at a tree.

The lightning jumped from her finger to the tree, exploding the top half and leaving it smoking. "How was-," she started, but collapsing before she could finish. She caught herself with her hands before she hit the ground, but her arms gave out as well. She moaned as she laid face-down.

The clone hurried and kneeled beside her, worrying that she had exhausted herself. 'Good God, Naruto and now TenTen. I've been handed two ninjutsu tanks.' The clone sweatdropped. 'They really do need a different sensei, but I'll do my best.' TenTen stirred, and the clone bent his head to listen to her.

"Ow, that hurt," she groaned, trying to push herself up, but falling, "Gah, can barely move."

"How much chakra did you put in it?"

"I don't know," she glanced at the still-smoking tree, "Apparently a lot. I don't use ninjutsu that much, so," she winced, "I can only guess at how much I put in a jutsu."

"Well, what's your guess?"

TenTen considered the question for moment. "Maybe three-quarters or so. I kinda wanted to see how powerful I could charge it to." The clone shook his head; she and Naruto were just alike sometimes.

"Think you can do anything else besides sit?" asked the clone.

"I don't know. Maybe I could read more of the scroll, experiment-hey, that gives me an idea." She unsealed her staff and examined it. "I think this'll work, or at least I hope it will," she muttered, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Can't remember if this fiberglass or aluminum…" She stood, supporting her body with her staff.

"What are you-,"

"You'll see, sensei," interrupted TenTen, resealing the staff. She quickly made the necessary signs for Static Current, and crackling was heard as her hands part. Lightning ran across her palms but the clone could sense this was lot less powerful than the last one. She unsealed the staff again and gripped it, wanting to see the results.

The lightning jumping across her palms disappeared, and the staff sparked at both ends. Ringlets of electricity twirled from end to end, illuminating the area around TenTen. The clone took a step back; TenTen was likely to experiment by whacking him again. She, however, twirled the staff at an ever-increasing speed, throwing sparks and light at odd angles. Eventually, the staff was but a blur, and the clone could only watch in awe. 'She can power the jutsu this long?' TenTen move gracefully as she moved between staff stances. She ended the marvel by directing the electricity toward the stump, obliterating it.

Neji watched the spectacle from afar with his dojutsu. 'Amazing, I have to say. One could even say-,' he ducked under a kick from the clone he was sparring with '-beautiful.'

"Do pay attention, Neji!" yelled the clone, landing a solid punch on Neji's chest.

TenTen panted as she stared at the pile of ash that was the stump. She leaned against her staff, and sighed in relief. "Good thing this was metal. I probably would've spent all of my chakra to light up a fiberglass one." She stumbled back a few steps against a tree, and slid down to the ground. "Oh, now I'm tired."

"Maybe you should've taken it easier. That first jutsu and now this can really take a toll on beginners!" TenTen shrugged noncommittally, her eyelids fluttering. "Hey, TenTen! Don't go to sleep!"

She gave a tired grin. "Too late, sensei." She slumped to the ground, sleeping deeply. The clone scratched his head, wondering at what to do. He could dispel and immediately inform the original, but that would leave TenTen alone. It sounded like a good idea, if the original acted quickly enough. The last time he was too busy with Naruto to notice. The clone shrugged; they, Guy, could move faster than the wind. Why worry? The clone dispelled, sending the memories to Guy.

Guy, who was watching Naruto as the blonde read over the uses of the jutsu, jerked as the memories rushed in. He frowned. "Hey, Naruto, er, take care. Something's up with TenTen," he said, glancing at the blonde. Naruto looked up, brows furrowed.

"As in?"

"Er, well, the jutsu kinda took a lot out from her, and she's out-cold for the time being. So well, I kinda gotta-,"

"Alright, alright, sensei. You don't have to tell me the whole backstory or anything," said Naruto, waving a hand. He looked back down at the scroll in his lap. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me; worry about TenTen." Guy nodded and vanished from the clearing. Naruto kept reading. "Hmm…can be used in tandem with projectiles or fire…fire? Something with affinities maybe? Have to ask sensei…" Naruto kept muttering, eyes poring over the information.

Guy dashed over to TenTen, worrying slightly. 'I doubt anyone would come out this far, and TenTen's a trained shinobi. Trained under me.' A bit of pride affected the statement, and he smiled. 'Can't blame the clone though.' He burst into the clearing where TenTen lay, and his eyebrows rose in surprise.

Neji kneeled beside her, the veins around his eyes visible. "Her chakra became dangerously low, and I wanted to check on her," he explained without turning. "Her chakra is returning, though she may be unable to train for the remainder of the day." He blinked several times, the veins on his face disappearing. He turned to Guy. "She needs to be at home resting." The Jonin nodded.

"Could you take her? I need to stay with Naruto and meet Lee for training," asked Guy, jerking a thumb in the general direction of Naruto. Neji paused for second, arching an eyebrow at his sensei, but nodded. "Thanks. Do you know where her house is?"

"No, but her parents own Jinta Weapons, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good, I'll take her there." Neji picked up TenTen bridal-style and walked off. Guy blinked as the two faded. 'Huh..eh, strange.' He returned to Naruto, who was still reading.

"Hey, sensei, how was TenTen?" he asked without looking up.

"She's okay, but she needs rest. Neji's taking her home and-,"

Naruto looked up this time, an odd expression on his face. "Wait, you said Neji, right?" Guy nodded. Naruto grinned mischievously. He created a clone. "Sensei, I gotta go to the bathroom, so, uh, this clone'll ask you a question. Bye!" Naruto skipped out of the clearing, teasing clearly on his mind. The Jonin moved to halt him, but the clone stepped in front of him.

"Naruto, if you think you can stop me, you are sorely mistaken," threatened Guy.

The clone snorted. "I know that full well. But I do have a question for you: what's with fire and wind? In the scroll it says…"

The real Naruto rustled along in the brush none too quietly, trying to find Neji and TenTen. He growled as he tripped over a rock, and Naruto jumped up to the tree branches. 'Stupid rocks.' He jumped from tree to tree, scanning the ground below him. 'They gotta be around here somewhere…ah-ha!' Neji had made his way to a rough dirt road, TenTen still in his arms. 'Aw, so cute…and so ready to be teased.' He jumped down in front of Neji, startling him. "Hey, teme!"

"Uzumaki-san, what are you doing here? Guy-sensei said he was to stay with you," said Neji, annoyed.

"Well, you know, skipping out. Now-oh-what do we have here?" said Naruto, pretending to just notice TenTen. "Aw, aren't you sweet, teme? Just the regular knight in shining armor. But I gotta ask, where's the horse? I mean that would complete the picture."

"Uzumaki-san, be quiet."

"TenTen is just the perfect damsel-well, not to me, but to you- I mean you're so cute together-,"

"Uzumaki-san, silence or you will regret it."

"So I gotta ask, when's the wedding? Have the presses been informed? Have her parents-,"

"SHUT UP, BAKA!" roared TenTen, slugging Naruto into a tree.

"Told you so, Uzumaki-san."

"Shut your mouth, teme," said Naruto faintly.

TenTen looked at Neji, who still held her, and blushed. "Eh, Neji, I-I think I-I'll be alright." The Hyuuga nodded , and she slid from his arms. "Thanks for that, but I kinda faked sleeping while you were holding me-,"

"Ohhh-TenTen, you naughty girl," teased Naruto, extracting himself from a cluster of broken branches.

"SHUT IT!"

"Aw, you're no fun sometimes."

"So," said TenTen, returning her attention to Neji, "I guess I'm sorry?"

"No need to be. I did not mind."

"Really?" said TenTen, eyes sparkling.

"Of course, you are my teammate, after all." She slumped at this, but riled up at the sound of Naruto's laughter.

"Rejected!"

"I swear to God, Naruto, I tell Neji here who your crush is if you don't stop!" warned TenTen. Neji frowned, not entirely understanding. What difference could it make if he knew Naruto's crush or not? Neji didn't even want to know, to start. Naruto quit laughing, and though neither of them could see him, Neji could imagine the bewildered look Naruto probably had.

"Y-You wouldn't dare, TenTen. I-I'd do something worse," countered Naruto weakly, his disembodied voice floating from the tops of the trees. A triumphant look flicked across TenTen's face, and she grinned.

"You don't know that, blondie. What worse could you do?"

There was quiet as Naruto seemed to consider it. "Well…don't doubt my abilities. I will think of something! Soon!" There was a rustling noise, and Naruto's voice faded. The two stood there for a second, Neji activating his dojutsu to actually check.

"He's gone," stated Neji, TenTen nodding. He looked over at her. What he had said about her being a teammate was true; she was very dear teammate to him. He couldn't go as far as to say he had romantic feelings for her, but he conceded to himself that the possibility of them developing later was most definitely there. She met his eyes, now devoid of the dojutsu, and smiled tiredly.

"Thanks for that, Neji. Really. But I have a favor…to ask…you," she swayed, and was caught by Neji before she fell.

"TenTen, I hope this is not another ploy to get me to carry you," said Neji dryly. TenTen didn't answer, but cracked an eye open and smiled at him. She closed it, and her head fell to the side. "TenTen, do not kid with me." He frowned as she didn't answer. "TenTen," he repeated sternly. A light snore replied. He was surprised; she truly was asleep. He guessed she had been mad enough at Naruto to keep awake. Neji shook his head, the corners of his mouth curling into an amused smile. He picked her up bridal-style again, and steadily made his way to her parents' shop.

Naruto rushed back toward the clearing he had left his clone. 'It's been a while. What are they-no wait, there it is.' The memories received told him of the relationship between fire and wind; wind essentially bolstered any fire technique. Guy had given a longwinded explanation, but that been the gist of it anyway. 'Be cool if I could learn a fire technique. Could have a clone on the side and then BOOM-big fireball.'

He thought along these lines as he emerged into the clearing. Lee had already arrived and was sparring with Guy. "Hello, Naruto-san!" he greeted, tumbling past the blonde and into a tree. He rebounded instantly and tore toward Guy. "I am sorry. I am very busy here!"

"Obviously," said Naruto, taking a stand off to the side to watch. 'Touza shouldn't be long now.' Naruto watched the pair fight for a few minutes, at times the fight moving too fast for him to follow. It was better than the first time, however; both Guy and Lee had been nothing but blurs to his fresh eyes, even at their slowest. The blonde winced as Lee landed a punch on Guy's leg, but cringed as Guy sent the boy flying with a kick with the same leg.

"You opened yourself up for that one, Lee! If an opponent can ignore pain, you'll be defeated easily!" remonstrated Guy, "That's two hundred laps around the village!"

"Hai, Guy-sensei!" Naruto shook his head. 'As if any sane person could ignore one of Lee's punches. It's like getting hit by a train.' The two sparred for a couple more minutes, and then Guy turned to Naruto.

"Care to join us, Naruto?"

"Sure, have to anyway," replied Naruto, shrugging off his jacket. He hung it on a tree branch that held his pack, and he grinned as he took position in front of the two. "So who am I going against?" Lee and Guy both grinned.

Lee explained, "Actually, Naruto-san, Guy-sensei and I have decided to have an every-man-for-himself-type competition. We were hoping you would join."

Naruto crossed his arms, considering it. He would be hopelessly outmatched, by number and skill, but then Lee and Guy could just fight each other and Naruto take on the weakened winner. That might work, if the two were average shinobi. No, these two were superhuman stamina tanks that could even outlast Naruto on his best day. But then, why not fight? "Sure, might as well."

Guy gave him a thumbs-up. "That's the spirit! Begin!" With little warning, both Guy and Lee vanished from Naruto's sight. 'Uh-oh.' A meaty sound alerted him to a clash between the two, and he focused on the spot he had heard the sound. Nothing. 'There's no way I can keep up with them unless I take off my-,' The blonde's thoughts were interrupted by Lee, who reappeared to his right and threw a shattering punch at his head.

Naruto bent backward, narrowly dodging. He lashed out with a kick, but Lee was long gone. He caught sight of a taller green blur tearing toward him, and he braced for impact. Guy slowed to a visible speed as he neared, and Naruto was able to defend himself adequately for the time Guy flurried him with punches. Lee soon occupied Guy, leaving him open to Naruto. The blonde tried to land a hit, but the Jonin simply vanished again. 'Gah! My eyes need to get faster!'

A whistling sound caused Naruto roll to the side, Lee's kick grazing his shoulder. As Lee departed to focus on Guy, the blonde concentrated on him. 'You may not be special, but predict, darnnit! Predict and see his movements!' Slowly, painstakingly, Lee became clear. Not every movement was, but all the ones that mattered to Naruto were. 'There!' Putting a burst of speed, at which he was probably low- or mid-Chunin now, the blonde closed the distance between them, and launch a strike at Lee's gut.

Lee, caught off-guard and clearly not thinking Naruto could keep up with him, coughed as Naruto made contact with his target. The blonde tried to follow it up with a heaving kick, but Lee hopped away. He bolted to the side, hoping to confound the blonde, but Naruto easily intercepted him and began a furious trading of blows with him. "You are getting better, Naruto-san," complimented Lee, eliciting a grin from Naruto, "but this is not my full strength."

Lee suddenly vanished. 'Not again!' Naruto looked around wildly, and received a powerful kick to the chest. He grunted painfully as he slammed into a tree. 'Definitely something broken,' he thought, laying there. Guy appeared in front of him.

"You okay?" he asked worriedly. Naruto nodded; speaking hurt right now. A painful crack was heard, both of them flinching, and Naruto let out a slow breath.

"I'll be fine in a half-hour or so. In the meantime…" he looked up. The tree he had slammed into had the branch from which his jacket and pack hung. The blonde retrieved them, Guy returning to sparring. He unzipped the pack and pulled out his brush, ink, and scroll. Next on the list: barriers, and it was very possible he would run into problems later on.

The book advised to start on explosive seals after storage, saying their matrices or whatever were inversely related, but Naruto decided to skip it. He didn't want to learn explosive tags anymore after the C-rank, and even though it meant he might forfeit the title of fuinjutsu master due to not knowing explosives. The blonde didn't really care for that title as much as Hokage.

He pored over the book, taking note of the patterns between each one. He flipped the page. After fifteen minutes of reading, Naruto took the brush and dipped it into the ink. He drew the exterior of a barrier seal slowly. The book had said, as it did for every seal, that this could go horribly awry if not encased properly. He was about to close the circle when-

"BOOGIE-WOOGIE-WOOGIE!"

"Godda-!" Naruto's hand jerked, and a streak ruined the entire process. The blonde glared at the direction of the noise, guessing it was Touza. The boy was not there, however. "Hey, Touza, where the heck did you go?" demanded Naruto, getting up. Guy and Lee stopped in their fight to look at the blonde curiously.

"Are you alright, Naruto-san?" inquired Lee.

"Yeah. Just that Touza scared me-again."

"Who?" The blonde remembered that Lee had never known the name of the boy who watched almost every spar.

"The boy that comes and watches the fights?"

"Oh, that is right. Did you not hear him approach?"

"No. If there's one thing that's annoying about Touza, it's that he moves like a ghost."

Lee nodded, blinking. Naruto turned his back to them, eyes searching the upper branches. 'Where the hell did the little guy go?' A loud "BOO!" and a high, girlish scream caused him to turn. Touza stood there laughing and pointing to a horrified Lee and Guy. The poor Jonin was in Lee's arms, clutching to him. Lee looked uncomfortably at his sensei.

"Ah, sensei? There is only one person I would like to carry in my arms, and unfortunately that one person is not you." He dropped Guy unceremoniously, the man falling face-first into the ground. Lee brushed himself off and looked to Touza, who was snickering. "My guess is that you are Touza-san?" The other nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

Naruto creeped sneakily behind the boy and tapped him on the shoulder. Touza, instead of jumping, lazily tilted his head back. "Yes, Naruto-san?" The blonde facepalmed; it was hopeless.

Guy stood from where Lee had dropped him, wearing a bright expression. "Hello, Touza! How are you?" He had apparently forgotten or didn't care that the boy had frightened him.

"Fine, Guy-san. Thanks," he answered, going to sit under the tree under which Naruto's study materials lay. He plopped down and tucked his knees under his chin. Lee watched him inquisitively.

"I have always seen him but it never occurred to me to ask his name," he said thoughtfully, as if it had disturbed him. Naruto clapped a hand on his shoulder and shook him.

"Hey, what's the matter?"

"Nothing, but it is just that I did not care…it worries me."

"Everyone's gonna overlook someone at some time. Don't sweat it, Lee," said Naruto, "Now you ready to go at it again?"

Lee turned to look at him and grinned. "Yes, I am!"

"Don't forget Leaf's Handsome Green Beast!"

Two grueling hours later, Naruto fell down heaving beside Touza. The boy looked at him concernedly for a second before returning his attention back to the blurred forms of the other two. Naruto groaned as he rolled over. "One hell of a workout, I tell ya…" He slowly sat up, all of his body protesting loudly. He watched the spar for a moment before addressing Touza, "That training help any?"

The other nodded. "Yeah. I could beat some of the others in practice fights. That was fun."

Naruto grinned. "Now just focus on your schoolwork and you won't be the Dead Last."

"Aw, I hate math and history and science and all the others things that Kitame-sensei blabs on about. It's so boring," groaned Touza, laying his forehead against his knees. "If you could help me…"

"That…would be a mistake. Even though I did study, I still did terrible on the written part of the Genin Exam. I'd probably teach it to you wrong."

"Aw."

"The only thing I could help you on is taijutsu. That's it."

"But you can't do that, right? You've got that weird stuff you study and all that."

"Well," said Naruto guiltily, "yeah. I could work something out though-," A sudden idea came to him, so sudden that he snapped his mouth shut and blinked several times.

"Eh, Naruto-san? What's wrong?"

Naruto, not answering, created a clone. He glanced at it. "Hey, Touza?"

"Yeah?"

"Go with this clone and train with it. It should be just like me."

"Really?"

"I hope so. We'll find out." He looked at the clone again, which saluted and walked into the forest, Touza tagging along. The blonde honestly had no clue if this would work, but he knew that a clone had the same knowledge as he did, so why couldn't they teach like he did?

Naruto, now with nothing occupying him, pulled the fuinjutsu material to him and studied. After a few minutes of review, he picked up the brush and wet its tip with ink. He meticulously drew the seal, at times looking over his shoulder to make sure Touza was sneaking up on him, and after thirty minutes had a basic barrier seal.

The book stated that it would protect from a shinobi of Genin strength, most projectiles, and low-powered jutsu. Naruto eagerly wanted to test it, but he held off. He would probably have to redraw the seal many times before he did test it. He studied the book, head bent close. The sky slowly changed to orange as the sun set.

A rush of memories interrupted the blonde's work. They told him that Touza was done for the day, but had made tremendous progress with his stances. The clone had waited until the panting boy had left the clearing before dispelling.

The blonde nodded vaguely. 'Today's been a good day.' He held up the new seal in front of the dying light. 'Now to test this.' He stood and laid the seal in his hand. 'The barrier should be seven feet diameter sphere. It also shouldn't collide with the ground. It shouldn't anyway. Let's see.' He concentrated chakra to the seal, apprehension filling him. A seal hadn't gone wrong on him yet but there was-

BOOM!

-always a first time for everything. Naruto coughed as smoke from the explosion cleared. He looked at his hand. It was burned, but even as he watched they scabbed over and slowly receded. 'Today was almost a good day.'

Candles were lit in in the main room of Neji's house. Kinami sat in the middle of it on her bed. She was sweating and wincing as pain periodically panged through her. A medical ninja was beside her, his hands glowing with healing chakra. An excruciating jolt of pain knifed along her body, and she hunched over, tears barely withheld.

"Are you alright, Kinami-san?" asked the med-nin concernedly, laying a hand on her shoulder. She nodded her head, and stared straight at the wall. Behind the wall slept Neji, comfortably but plagued with worry for his mother. He had noticed when he'd come in that she was pained more than normal. She told to not him to worry, it was a passing phase. She smiled slightly as she remembered something: Neji, as he knelt by her, had smelled of a girl's perfume. 'Maybe he's finally branching out,' she thought before more pain stabbed though her.

The med-nin, noticing her cringe, sighed and sat back, a grave expression evident on his face. "Kinami-san, I hate to say it, but," he looked to the floor, obviously uncomfortable, "the disease had sped up. I give you," the nin fidgeted, "one month. Two months at best. But if it keeps progressing like it is currently…" He left his sentence unfinished.

Kinami nodded, and the med-nin rose and exited. She lay back down, staring up at the ceiling. Faintly, she could make out a conversation between the med-nin and someone else. The other's voice rose, and she identified it as Hiashi. The conversation stopped abruptly and a pair of stomping feet came toward her door.

Hiashi opened the door, looking as if he wanted to slam it to the side but knew better than to wake Neji. The med-nin protested, but was cut off when Hiashi shut the door. The Hyuuga patriarch took a seat against the wall, and put his head in his hands. Kinami sat up arduously, a coughing fit taking over her.

Hiashi gripped his hair tighter with each cough. Kinami's coughing faded, leaving her gasping. She smiled wanly. "Hello, Hiashi-sama. What can I do for you?"

He looked up at her, eyes clouded with misery. "Even in your worst hours," he said, "you still are a loyal Branch member." He rose and disappeared into the kitchen. He returned with a bottle of sake and two cups. "Would you like some sake, Kinami?"

"No, thank you. I save that for special occasions and my stomach can't hold it anyway." Hiashi shrugged, pouring himself a shot. He downed it and poured another one. "Be careful, Hiashi-sama. That sake is strong."

Hiashi gazed at the floor at her words. "Hiahsi-sama…" he repeated absently. He snorted. "I'm not deserving of that title." He took another shot. "I do not know why fate has chosen me as the clan leader. It is a cruel mistress." Another shot. "A leader who cannot even repay his debts; indeed, a wondrous leader in any circumstance," said Hiashi ironically, words slurring.

"Debts, Hiashi-sama?"

"Yes, Kinami. I have a debt to Hizashi, to Hitomi, to you, to Hinata and Hanabi. I cannot name one person in this clan who I am not indebted to. And now-," Another shot of sake, "-yours and Hizashi's debt will never be repaid. I'm working on Hinata's, but the elders," his eyes hardened, "those old bastards want to brand her into the Branch Family. Damn that cursed invention of misery!"

"Please excuse me, Hiashi-sama, but could you watch your words?"

"Please quit calling me Hiashi-sama, Kinami. Just Hiashi, it's just Hiashi. And I don't give a damn what those old farts think! They can go die in a hole or they can submit themselves to my hand." A satisified look entered Hiashi's eyes. "Yes, I would make their deaths slow and very long."

"Hiashi-sama, please be quiet!"

"Quit calling me-," Hiashi's voice rose.

"Hiashi-dobe, be quiet!" The patriarch closed his mouth with a clop, and looked dolefully at Kinami, who blushed red.

"F-forgive me-," she winced as the pain panged again.

Hiashi regarded her, not quite believing what he had just heard. "Hiashi-…dobe?" He grinned. "You used to call me that when we were children." He laughed, the sake sloshing in its bottle. "I remember it so clearly…" He glanced at Kinami, his expression saddening. "I'm so sorry, Kinami."

"For what, Hiashi-sama?"

"For…everything."

"You did nothing," she protested, face tightening at the agony of the disease.

"Exactly."

Well, there you go. Hoped you liked it. And for those wanting more NaruHina fluff, that's gonna wait. Why? Well, Hinata hasn't graduated so Naruto has limited contact with her. I have a few scenes planned out, but they're later on. Toodles.