Lucky-sama: Hey guys and gals! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I know I did!
Tensai-san: We didn't get to update before Christmas so we rushed this one in right after!
Lucky-sama: That's right! And we're feeling paticularly nice so we're doing a New Years Event!
Tensai-san: The first reviewer get's a fanfiction specially written by us with a pairing of their choice! If we get five reviews we're gonna have a special chapter!
Lucky-sama: We don't own Naruto...blah...blah...blah, you know the drill!
Tensai-san: Enjoy the new chapter!
"Ow, that stings," Reiten winced as he slowly lowered himself into the hot water. Draco's fireball didn't scorch him, but it did leave quite a few minor burns on his torso. The wind, that had whipped up had taken the brunt force of the fire.
"Tell me about it," Naruto groaned as he rubbed his aching arms.
"Troublesome," Shikmaru was nursing a nice long scratch on his arm after Neko had found him napping instead of doing the exercise.
Several bubbles made their way to the surface as Koga poked his head out of the water. He glanced around briefly before diving under again.
"What is Koga trying to do? Drown himself?" Naruto raised an eyebrow at his antics.
"Dunno, he's been doing that since...before I came in here," Shikamaru replied.
"Where's Gaara?" Reiten's eyes flickered around, trying to spot the sand user.
"Here," Gaara replied, sitting a little aways above the hotspring, clad in his shorts and t-shirt.
"Care to join us?" Reiten raised his eyebrows and waved at him.
"No, this is as close as I will get to water, I'm....allergic to it..." Gaara lied, badly he knew. But the others simply stared at him oddly and continued letting the hot water soothe their wounds.
At dinner...
"We're to start training in each of your own special taijutsu's styles," Itachi spoke emotionlessly, "Naruto, you will start learning Bubishi, Reiten, you will be working on Dragon style Kung Fu, Koga will be working on Bartitsu, Gaara, you'll be doing Kalarippayatt and Shikamaru , you get to learn Jeet Kun Do (JKD)
With a wave, all of them vanished into the trees, most likely going to find their respective sensei's. Koga and Naruto flashed back and grabbed some food, hoping to fill up their stomachs some more before Itachi gave them a glare that even the demons would fear did they take off again.
"Bubishi is simply a mix of the FuJian White Crane Style and Monk Fist Boxing," Gamabunta took a puff of his pipe. "The Crane style is not made for brute strength but more of evasion, and attacks to vunerable areas. Masters of the Crane style are very flexible, balnaced and are very strong in the legs. On the other hand the Monk Fist Boxing covers that, it simply focuses on physical strength, knuckle and forearm developement."
"When are we gonna get started?" Naruto grinned excitedly.
"First of all, see that twisted branch on that tree?" Gamabunta pointed upwards. Above their heads (remember, Gamabunta shrunk) a large oak tree had a branch protruding outwards in their general direction. The branch was gnarled and knotted, it was also quite thick and long.
"Yes, what about it?" Naruto looked at him weirdly.
"Climb up to it and walk across it," Gamabunta stated simply. Naruto looked at him oddly and walked all the way up to the branch and took his first step onto the branch. "Oh and DON'T USE CHAKRA TO STICK TO THE BRANCH!" Gamabunta yelled up last minute.
Cursing, Naruto began walking unsteadily across it. Each step was a challenge, each step felt like an eterninty. The gnarls, twists, knots, cracks and every little bump on the surface seem to be an enormous wall Naruto couldn't get over. Until it finally happened...
Thud! He slipped off the branch and landed in a tangled heap on the floor. "Ow..." he groaned, staring up into Gamabunta's face.
"Tough luck kid, but until you can get across it without slipping off or using chakra, you're not going any further," Gamabunta shot over his shoulder as he hopped away.
"Argh stupid branch!" Naruto waved his fist at the branch, only to have a different one fall on him.
"Darn it!" Naruto got up again and tried again.
15 minutes later...and 33 falls later....
"Kami must hate me..." Naruto groaned, rubbing his sore backside, "He cursed me for eternity!" (1)
"This so sucks," he grumbled, scaling the tree once more and praying that he did not fall. Not that praying worked for him....
Lucky-sama: Alright! For the one that guesses where I got (1) from gets to be featured in the headings and footings like the one we're currently in!
Tensai-san: Here's a hint, you have to replace one of the words to make sense....
Lucky-sama: Alright! Au revoir and sayanora! See you in 2009! (PS: I might be changing the title of Destined Collision)