A/N: I'm finally back! Sorry people, I got too stuck up with all the work load from school to write and update. And I know too, that it's been so very long since I updated anything… well, here's a new chapter up! Oh… just one more thing… I kind of forgot the sequence of events and how they occurred in the Order of Phoenix book… and I'm way too lazy to go re-read up that book. So, from now onwards, I will just add in whatever I recalled, though some parts may be significantly missing in action… anyway, to the chapter!
Pardon me for the Grammar errors…
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Harry Potter! The only things I own are Hisara Shiyuki and her Bloodline Limit, now adding a few more misc characters…
Technique 9: The start of something new
A few weeks had passed since the day when the second team of ninjas arrived at Hogwarts and also, not to forget, the Umbridge incident, where the ministry teacher can almost be mistaken for a real live mummy after getting the blunt of the ninjas' pranks. School life continued for the wizards and also ninjas currently studying in the wizardry school.
The six young Jounins had already began to get used to studying in the wizardry school. They can now managed the most common types of spells and gain knowledge about the different types of spells and their effects, and also, not to forget, can be able to recognize some of the creatures and plants in the wizardry world without much problems. The Jounins consistently moved around the school during their free time, trying to get themselves totally familiarized with the school compound and structure, so that they would know where and how to reach a certain place without difficulties and also, to make sure that they can fully make use of the areas to aid them if something really big happens to come up.
During these few weeks, the wizards too, have gained something for themselves. Despite the fact that the Ninja Combat classes conducted by Kakashi and Gai were still… as much as they can get, the wizards discovered that they could now managed to run at least five laps around the Quiddich pitch before they start to get tired or pant. Their physical condition had certainly improved, and they can now struck out well-aimed punches at the target boards without any problems.
The only subject that is still giving everyone problems would be the Defense Against the Dark Arts, taught by the one and only Dolores Umbridge from the ministry of magic. Instead of learning any useful spells or defenses from the professor that can be used practically, they were only flipping through books, reading the theories about the different dangerous creatures, plants and spells, but never anything that actually teaches them how they can counter the dangers if they ever happen to run into one.
This very day, the lot of students was just coming out from the classroom, having finally gotten over their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, with great relief. The group of three wizards and six Jounins were walking together back to the Gryffindor tower to get themselves ready for the Ninja Combat lesson later on. After they have changed into their own muggle clothing, they gathered in the common room, and then went down to the Great Hall together for lunch.
All the way, Harry's mind kept wandering to the fact that they had not learned anything useful at all from the one subject that he had actually liked the best. Umbridge was certainly trying her best to not teach them any spells or skills at all, and it was really starting to irritate him. What is the need to attend a Defense skill class when all that the professor was doing was to make them practically swallow in the entire contents of the information in the textbook?! Harry really does not see the point.
It was not long before they reached the Great Hall, just when they were about to enter, someone walked pass them, turning only to stare at them. It was Draco Malfoy; he looked from one to the other, his gaze lingering on the group of Jounins before he tilted his head in a slight nod as he then went into the Hall. Recently, the group discovered that the Malfoy had actually changed quite a lot. He did not tease Harry nor Ron or even Hermione. And it was not only that, he even showed respect towards the Jounins and ceased in any attempts of making mischief against the wizard trio. It came as a big surprise to them when the arrogant blond Slytherin suddenly started talking to them, the group of nine nearly dropped their jaws when he waved at them during one of the classes when he walked passed them.
Slowly, the group came to accepting the Slytherin blond silently as one of their group, even though he still mixed with his Slytherin house mates, they can really feel the change in the Malfoy. Even though Ron was still glaring daggers at the Slytherin blond whenever he saw him, but besides that, nothing much was done. Hermione merely stare at him strangely, she could not comprehend how or why he would actually even try to be nice towards them.
Slowly, through this period of time, Harry had learn to respect the Slytherin blond, the both of them had hardly ever start any quarrels nowadays, unless the situation was really to the unacceptable point. Naruto, however, had surprisingly found himself starting to get used to and even like the Malfoy descendant as time goes by. Especially because of the fact that the Slytherin blond did not irritate them that much already. The other Jounins too, were starting to drop their bad first impressions of him.
Quite some weeks had already passed since school started, and the entire lot of fifth year students found themselves getting desperate to learn something in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. And all the problems are caused by the ministry deployed Umbridge, who stubbornly refused to even teach them how to properly defend themselves and instead, throw tones of paperwork and essay towards them in all the classes. Whether the professor herself knew this was unknown but, it was not only the fifth year students that were running out of patient and getting annoyed by her. It was actually all the students attending the class ranging from the first year to the seventh year. Not to mention that the six Jounins, especially Naruto were getting impatient over having to do paperwork from the start of the school till now.
"How are we suppose to be able to defend ourselves against all these creatures if we don't even know how to react?!" the blond ninja exclaimed, throwing his hands up into the air in exasperation as he disregard everyone other comment around him.
This time, however, all of the other ninjas had agreed with him, giving him their approvals. Back when they were in the Konoha village, still attending the ninja academy, aspiring and training themselves to become a full-fledged ninja, even though they too, were taught, the basics and theories, they had to still, practice and train hard in order to be able to pass the final test to graduate from the academy and start under a Jounin teacher as a starter Gennin. To the ninjas, actual practice and training means everything, without actual practices and trainings, they would not even be standing here right now. The practices and trainings are the very preparation to make a ninja, and not only ninjas but also any fighter, able to face up against the enemies.
" That's true…" Neji add in, crossing his arms across his chest as he looked over in their direction, "You can't learn how to fight simply by studying. Even if you can remember everything, when the real time comes, you will not be able to apply the theory into it. How the opponent reacts is way different in the books, not to forget that different people have very different way and style of fighting that is each unique to themselves" he closed his eyes, sighing.
"The only way to learn how to defense yourself is to practice, to get engaged in real and actual situations where you can learn how and what to do. That is how you get stronger, and that is how you can learn, from realistic situations" Shiyuki added on.
Harry nodded in agreement. Indeed, you will not be able to learn how to defense yourself just with the theory that you studied from the books, the only way is to get engaged in a real situation and learn from the experience. Hermione nodded her head, she was thinking about it too, and since Umbridge just do not want to even let them use their wands to practice the spells, they could still practice the spells by themselves. Ron nodded his head vigorously, he could not agree more on this topic, totally disgusted with Umbridge and irritated to the core with the thought of having to face the books day and night.
It was then that the three wizards suddenly snapped their heads up and turned to look at each other. It struck a nerve, and the three wizards all had the same idea of what to do to cover up this big problem. Nodding at each other, they all said out their thoughts at the exact time, "A club!" they exclaimed.
"Huh?" all the ninjas said out at the same time, then looked at each other in confusion before they all turn back to face the wizards, "Club?" they asked.
"Yeah" Harry replied, with a small smile on his face, "We can set up a club where we can learn the appropriate skills and spells by ourselves! Since Umbridge don't seem to want to teach us anything" the bespectacled boy said, getting more excited by their idea.
"That Umbridge certainly did not teach us anything!" Hermione said, putting her hands on her hips, "We can't afford to waste time here and not learn anything when things are not going well outside, with so much threats of the Dark Lord" the bushy haired witch said.
"That's right!" Ron pipped in, then seemed to ponder over something for a moment, then raised a question, "By the way... even if we are going to create this club, who's going to teach the things there? What are we going to learn there?" he asked.
The ninjas had drops of sweat on their heads at that question, and both Harry and Hermione stare at the red haired wizard blankly. It was not until at least some minutes had already passed did the group finally snap out of their stunned state.
'What a question!' the ninjas thought as they continue to stare at the three wizards with halved eyes.
Harry slapped his hand to his forehead in realization. How could they forget about the most important element that is required in order for them to be able to even start the club in the first place. Hermione looked around at everyone in the room, wondering over the matter herself, before she state her opinion.
"Actually..." she started as everyone else turned their attention over to the bushy haired girl, "I have already thought about this problem" she continued as she let her eyes stopped at Harry, "Harry, you could lead the club, with me and Ron, in the spells" then she turned to face the ninjas, "I would really wish for you guys to join us in this, that way we could learn more and also, at the same time, have more time to practice" she stated.
Harry had on a look of astonishment, as he stare at Hermione, then, slowly turned his head to look at Ron, who was also in a condition not very much better than he is. As for the ninjas, they looked at each other, deep in thought.
"Hermione..." Harry said, "Are you sure I'm up for it?" he asked, not really sure in his own abilities himself.
"Of course, Harry" the busy haired witch said simply, "Remember all the times when we get into all those strange and weird incidents, and how you always managed to be able to solve and tide over?" she asked, "Don't worry, you have Ron and me, we'll help you through" she smiled.
The bespectacled boy blinked his eyes at her, then turned to face Ron. The red haired wizard gave him a thumbs-up and a grin, this gesture already voice out his opinion and stand. Smiling back at both his best friends, he felt a feeling of relief came over him.
"Well...?" Hermione asked the ninjas as they turned back from their discussion and face the three wizards.
Nodding at each other, Naruto represented them in speaking.
"Okay!" he replied, "We'll help!" he grinned.
"Though..." Shiyuki started, "Even if we can help, it might be better if we actually approach Kakashi sensei and Gai sensei to help. Even though we are Jounins too but, having a teacher here is more appropriate" she said.
"I agree" Neji said, "Besides, we are all taught by them, they would be more appropriate to teach" he closed his eyes.
"But prepare for hell..." Naruto said warningly, "Whether it's them or us, be sure that you guys will not have an easy time" he grinned evily, then burst out laughing, "Heh, but that's what trainings are for!" the blond haired ninja raised a hand in a thumbs-up gesture at the wizards.
The three wizards let out a relieved sigh, Naruto sure had the three of them worrying over what he had said for some time. They then nodded back at the energetic blond ninja with a small smile plastered on their faces in agreement as the said ninja gave them a toothy grin.
"Naruto kun!" someone suddenly exclaimed, shocking the ninjas and nearly causing the three wizards to jump a foot into the air. The wizards blinked in confusion as the group of ninjas all stared at each other with halved eyes before they turned their heads towards the direction and origin of the source of the outburst, 'LEE!' they all exclaimed inwardly as they stare at the source of the outburst who is clad in green.
The main character of the moment however, was staring in Naruto's direction dreamily, both his hands clasped together before him just under his chin as he leaned his body forwards. The most disturbing part of the scene... was the superbly sparkling starry eyes of his. Upon seeing the state of the Taijutsu ninja's eyes, the three wizards almost instantly hit the back of the chair they were currently sitting on, leaning as far back into the chair as they can in shock. As for the other ninjas, they were practically staring at the state that Lee is in, unable to comprehend as to why he had out of nothing, acted this way. Numerous drops of sweat gathered on their heads as they continue to stare at the ninja in green. Naruto had on a dreaded look, as he began to start backing away from the area, things does not seem to be going well for Naruto when Lee suddenly sped towards him, grabbing his hands in such a sudden and swift motion that the blond ninja was nearly shocked out of his own skin.
"Naruto kun!" Lee exclaimed again, with his sparkling and starry eyes looking at Naruto, as the blond haired ninja replied him with a quick "Hai?" in a rather shrill voice because of his state of shock.
"I'm so touched! You finally realized it too!" he said excitedly.
"Huh?" Naruto snapped out of his shocked state and looked at Lee with a raised eyebrow. While the other ninjas too, looked at Lee weirdly and the wizards blinked their eyes in confusion.
"I'm so glad that you finally realize too, that training is the only way for us!" Lee said as he gave the blond haired ninja a toothy grin that sparkled at the edge of his teeth.
All the other ninjas felt sweats dripping down their heads, this much outburst just because of that?! Naruto stared at the ninja clad in green, hard.
"Since the both of us liked training this much, let's go train right now!" he exclaimed, enthusiastically hopping towards the door that leads out of the Gryffindor common room, dragging Naruto with him.
"Hey... hey!" the blond haired ninja shouted, "Let me go! Where are you taking me!" he shouted the question at Lee.
"We're going training!" Lee replied, still having the toothy grin plastered on his face as the Taijutsu ninja gave his other companions an all too familiar 'nice-guy pose' ans continue to drag Naruto with him.
Everyone else, the ninjas and the wizards could only watch with dropped jaws and twitching eyebrows as the blond ninja tried to struggle his way out of Lee's gasp but in vain.
"Now?! Who in their right minds would want to go training now? It's almost midnight!" Naruto shouted as he still, continue to struggle, despite the fact that his efforts were in vain.
"Let me go!" tears started to stream down his cheeks as his eyes turned into two thin lines as he face his other companions, "Why me?" he asked, though he was not particularly asking anyone for an answer, "Why me!" he asked again, "Why me?!" this time, he was almost screaming as Lee began to drag him through the door.
"Nande dattebayo!!!!" (A/N: This phrase just means 'why me' again in Japanese. I added this just because I find this much more fitting than English words... at least for this portion.) The blond ninja's scream echoed throughout the entire Gryffindor tower and down the hallway leading out of the Gryffindor tower as he finally disappear from sight together with Lee.
The echo continue to last for the next ten minutes. The other ninjas present looked defeated as they sighed heavily, some buried their face in their hands, some slapped their foreheads as they flopped down on the couch just behind them. The wizards blinked furiously, not quite able to believe that Naruto's sound had managed to echo through the entire Gryffindor tower and hallway for a good ten minutes. When the echo finally stopped, the ninjas sighed again, this time in relief, while the wizards turned to them.
"What was that all about?" Hermione asked.
"Well..." Tenten started, "I think it's something that Naruto had said that triggered off Lee" she shrugged her shoulders.
"They are so troublesome..." Shikamaru said, yawning, as he stretched himself.
"What does it mean?" Ron asked, again, clearly still confused.
"From what I know and have heard..." this time, the purple haired kunoichi replied, "It seemed, that Lee has the ultimate undying passion for training" she said.
"Lee is someone who achieved all that he has now through sheer hard work" Neji said, his arms still crossed over his chest, "He believes that by working hard in return you can be what you want to be, even if you don't have the talent or gift. That's why always trains very hard, pushing himself to the limit in order to keep improving himself" a slight smile graced his lips as he was reminded of his ex-teammate who had been through so much with him.
"Even so..." Tenten suddenly said, catching everyone's attention, "I still have a very strong feeling that, the reason why Lee's such a training maniac is because of Gai sensei! " she shook a finger by her face.
Sweats formed on everyone's head as their thoughts immediately wandered over to the Taijutsu master Jounin who had practically made everyone's Ninja Combat class hell by starting with more and more rounds around the Quiddich pitch. Harry, shuddered at the though, 'I can't believe that there are people besides Professor Maito who would do such thing...'
"Well... it's not like we can do anything now..." Shiyuki shrugged, as the other ninjas nodded in agreement.
"It's getting late... rest early" the purple haired kunoichi said as she then waved a good night and headed up the stairs to the girls dorm, followed by Tenten.
The other two male ninjas followed their example and too, went up to their dorm, leaving the three wizards in the Gryffindor common room. There is just some more things that they want to discuss and sort out before they too, call it a day.
"Now that we have all the people we need, we can finally start the club!" Harry said excitedly, then suddenly realized something, "Wait a minute. Even if we said we wanted to start the club and all... where are we going to practice in? And is it only us who are going to use this club?" he asked.
They looked at each other for some time before Hermione finally got some ideas.
"We could ask the professors for space room. It's not against the rules to want to practice by ourselves... right? And as for the members..." she said thoughtfully, "I think we should just try to tell the others and see if they are interested in joining us" she finished.
"That's a good idea!" Ron said, "I bet that there are lots of people out there who are like us!" he pipped in.
"I suppose it would not hurt to try..." Harry said, already feeling the enthusiasm in him, then he suddenly thought of something, "We could ask Dumbledore!" he said, as the two looked at him with a weird look, "I'm rather sure that he will support us in this. And he would surely know of a place where we can use without any interruption or interference!" the bespectacled wizard said.
"Alright!" the three said together, looking at each other and grinning, "It's settled then!" they chorused.
"Now let's go get some sleep. And we'll decide on how to start the plan tomorrow!" Harry suggested which his two best friends agreed readily.
Just when they were about to climb up the stairs, the door to the Gryffindor tower opened, as a very ragged and battered looking someone came through, dragging his feet as he hunched his back forwards, his hands dangling in front, his head dropped low, making them unable to see his face. But the most distinguishing part that instantly gave the identity of the figure away is not on his face, but his hair, a bright blond color.
"Naruto?!" the three wizards gaped out as the seemingly turned zombie figure slowly continue to drag himself towards them.
The moment he heard his name being called, he lifted his head up in what seemed to be reluctance, and saw the three wizards looking at him in concern. The wizards however, nearly jumped into the air when they saw his face, which is already in a pale shade of blue, and the zombie look on his face had just added onto the shock.
"Oh… it's you guys…" he said, very, very, slowly, dragging out each word as he let his head drop down once again as he continue to drag himself to where the stairs are.
The three wizards felt sweats starting to form on their heads as they watch the wasted form of the blond ninja drag himself across the common room to the stairs and after a few tries, finally managed to haul himself up a few flight of the stairs and then, the blond sagged on the rails, sticking his tongue out, his eyes in a blank line.
"Naruto… are you alright?" Harry was the first to speak, as the blond lifted his head up at him and looked at him with blank lines as his eyes.
"No…" he replied as he once again dropped his head.
The three wizards laughed softly at each other awkwardly at the reply.
""Where did you and Lee go?" Hermione asked, out of curiosity.
"Quiddich pitch…" Naruto mumbled, burying his head in his arms on the rail.
"Quiddich pitch? At this time of the night? What did you all go there for?" Ron asked, scratching his head.
At that question, the blond haired ninja jumped up all of a sudden in a burst of energy.
"To train, what else!" he said through gritted teeth as he raised a shaking fist up before him, "That stupid thick eyebrow! He made me run two hundred rounds around the pitch! And immediately after the two hundred rounds, its five hundred push ups!" he gritted out as he raised his hands up, palm facing up, his fingers twitching as if in a cramp.
The three wizards could do nothing but stare at him, unable to process what they have just heard. Training? At this kind of a time? Two hundred rounds around the Quiddich pitch? Five hundred push ups? These sentences were practically screaming and enlarging themselves in their minds. These are things that they could never do, not to mention no one they knew could even come close to achieving those even if they had tried.
"That idiot!" the blond hissed out suddenly, jerking the three wizards' attention back to himself as he clench and unclench his fist, as a vein popped on his head.
Fate has it that at that exact moment, the mentioned ninja came right through the door, coming to a stop in front of the few crowding around the stairs.
"What's wrong?" he asked with his typical smile on his face.
All four present instantly snapped their heads over to where the voice came from. The wizards blinked furiously as they stare at the form of the figure whom they had been talking about, rather stunned by his state, as he looked just the opposite from what Naruto looked like when he came in through the door. The blond haired ninja however, had on a horrified look as he then started to climb up the stairs. The wizards could not help themselves but stare at him. Despite doing something so vigorous, the ninja clad in green still look as fresh and energetic as always! The ninja in question, looked at the stunned faces of their wizard friends, and then shifted his gaze over to Naruto who was still on the way up the stairs.
"Naruto kun!" the energetic as always ninja exclaimed right after his eyes landed on his figure, just as the ninja being addressed nearly jumped at the exclamation, "That was some fun training we just had! I was about to plan out more but you were already gone…" he said, "Let's go train again tomorrow!" Lee then showed his 'nice-guy' pose once again.
The three wizards however were already dumbfounded, not knowing what they can do or say on the spot. Naruto's face, however, turned rather black as lines of dread fall down his head, he continued up the stairs, though, he was backing up instead of climbing up.
"Le… Lee, are you for real?!" he managed to ask as the mentioned one smiled a bigger toothy grin, nodding his head, "Sorry but I don't think I can accompany you on your training tomorrow or any other days after that anymore. Bye!" he gasped out in one whole breath and instantly turned and dash up the stairs to his bed.
"Wait! Naruto kun! Wait for me!' Lee yelled as he too, sprinted up the stairs to chase him.
It took another five minutes for the wizards to gather themselves up. When they did, they too, went up the stairs to their dorms, saying good night and exiting into their dorms. Upon entering, Harry and Ron was greeted with a sight of Naruto hiding under his bed sheet and Lee pulling at the bed sheet, which was clutched in a death grip by the blond beneath it, successfully preventing the other ninja from pulling it off.
"Come on, Naruto kun!" Lee said as he continue pulling on the bed sheet, "Let's continue training tomorrow!" he pulled harder at the bed sheet.
"… No!" Naruto protested from under the bed sheet, "I am so not and never going to train with you again!" he managed to get out before Lee finally succeeded in pulling the bed sheet off him.
"Ahh!!!" the blond ninja about screamed as Lee threw the bed sheet off him.
However, whatever they intended to do after that was all forgotten when they sense a very dark presence jus standing behind them. The wizards merely stood watching as the two ninjas who were just struggling with the bed sheet slowly turned over to meet the dark gaze of one of their ninja comrade. The dark presence they sensed belonged to Neji, who was staying in the same dormitory as they were. All the other wizards were already sound asleep, as was Shikamaru, who could already be called a sleeping log by now, totally immuned to any form of sound or noise around him. All four males, two ninjas and two wizards shuddered at the dark look on Neji's face. His white eyes glared blazingly at Naruto and Lee with the most ultimate death glare than both Harry and Ron had never even seen before.
"Enough is enough!" he hissed out venomously as they two jumped a foot into the air.
With a few swish of his hand, he blocked some of the vital points on both ninja's body, rendering them useless as both then, slide to the ground in a heap, completely wasted. The Hyuuga then dusted his hands before he went back to his bed. The wizards were very much stunned, as they still remain rooted in the same position. The wasted forms of the ninjas then struggled to get back on their feet, failing rather miserably though.
"… I didn't expect him to really use Jyuuken on us!" Lee said.
"Well… what do you expect from someone who absolutely hates people disturbing his rest? Not to mention, he's a rather light sleeper too…" Naruto sighed in relief as he finally managed to get himself back on his bed just beside him.
"Oh right… I nearly forget that…" Lee gasped as he too, finally got back on his bed just beside Naruto's one.
Without anymore noise, the two ninjas too, soon fell asleep. While Harry and Ron managed to get back into themselves as they hurriedly moved to their beds. It's already well passed midnight! If they don't sleep now, they will not be able to get up tomorrow on time. With a quick good night to each other, both wizards flopped onto their beds. But Harry could not help but thought of Neji's death glare.
'Remind me to don't ever get on his nerves…' he told himself as he was reminded of how horrifying it was, 'And I have to go find Dumbledore tomorrow about the club too' with that last thought, he too like all the others, drifted off to dreamland.
A/N: That's all for this chapter! It's a rather short and crappy one though… well… the next one would be better… at least I hope it does. Thanks once again for staying with me! I'll do my best to get the next one up as soon as I can finish it! See ya