Edited by Skelethin
Livewire
Chapter 5
"High Voltage"
The light of dawn licked the water gently, allowing it to sparkle faintly and cheerfully as the new day began.
The morning dew thick, the grass looked pleasant and fresh, as if no man ever set foot on it. The hum of the waterfall and faint whistling of the wind blowing through the trees completed the idyllic, lazy image.
"Good morning, my cute students!" Kakashi cheerfully exclaimed, pocketing his Icha Icha as three bedraggled genin made their way to the training ground, followed by a serious faced but far better groomed Haku.
Sasuke was glaring at Kakashi, rubbing his wrist discretely, Sakura was yawning, barely seeing anything and still half sleeping, while Naruto looked to be asleep period.
Kakashi smirked under his mask.
After the past two weeks, it was a wonder they could get up so early at all. He said he'd be expecting them first thing in the morning. He kept his promise. Using cruel and inventive methods to get them there, ranging from Suiton jutsu to timed Raiton seals on their pillows.
Honestly - you couldn't really blame him. Ninja were supposed to be attentive, not sleeping like a logs. Even if he WAS a former ANBU praised for his stealth.
'Gai is full of it.' Kakashi thought forlornly. 'This is supposed to be this 'energetic youth' he is spouting those endless rants about?'
"I trust you had a good rest?"
Sasuke threw him a glare, but the sharingan didn't activate. The boy learned to conserve his energy pretty early on.
Sakura just stared at him blankly. The pink haired girl didn't get angry at him. Or rather, if she ever got angry, Kakashi could pacify her in a heart beat. Jiraya-sama was a VERY prolific author after all and Kakashi had each and every book of the series, along with ultra rare ones that were long out of print as well as limited editions.
Naruto... well, Naruto looked...
Kakashi blinked, looking at the trees.
"Haku... Why is Naruto hanging tied in his own wires?"
Haku smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Kakashi-san. Naruto-sama stayed up late last night and... well. He says it is comfortable."
"Oh." Kakashi nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I see." He turned to Sakura. "Sakura, if you would...?"
The pink haired girl blinked owlishly, yawned and turned to the trees.
The fang was out of the sheath on her back in a fluid move, the grip solid yet loose, Kakashi nodded with appreciation.
'...But why is she drawing the sw-'
The blade blazed with white as Sakura calmly walked up and sawed the branches with two efficient swings.
The elaborate construct of wire, genin and tree fell down with a loud crash and Sakura walked down, covering a large yawn.
"Well I just wanted you to wake him up... But I guess this works too." The jounin said after a moment.
Naruto glared, cursing under his breath.
"Well, since I seem to have your full attention..." Kakashi's eye 'smiled' and he reached into his pouch, withdrawing a thick stack of clear sheets of paper and a scroll. "Sakura." He threw the sleepy-eyed girl the scroll. "This is a scroll of basic techniques and chakra channeling skills for chakra blades. I modified it a little so it is suited for you and White Fang."
Sakura blinked, opening the scroll.
"...Sensei... There is a lot of diagrams here." She muttered curiously.
"Those are for proper chakra distribution. A book with illustrations is easier to read, after all." Kakashi smiled at her.
"...Please don't treat me like a child, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura muttered, eyebrow twitching.
"A child?" Kakashi blinked. "But I was thinking about the Icha Icha vacation volume."
Sakura blinked owlishly.
"The 'holiday extravaganza'?" She asked after a moment. "The one with Suzu and Kotone and that swimsuit..." Sakura trailed of, blushing pure scarlet and giggling. "Oh!"
"Exactly." Kakashi nodded. "The diagrams aren't as good, but bear with it."
"Well, it was a great number. And the 'light novel' approach was great, too. I mean, Mari-san looked so beautiful in that yukata, in the moonlight and that maple leaf pattern was really great touch there, in that garden and-" Sakura giggled, blushing.
"Ah. As expected of my cute student." Kakashi patted Sakura's head. "Being able to remember such details after reading it once. Good job, Sakura! Ninja should have sharp eye for detail!"
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei!" The pink haired kunoichi nodded happily.
Naruto just sighed while Sasuke snorted.
"Anyway, go and study it a little, Sakura. There a couple of exercises I want to show you and it is better that you know the theory behind them before I show you."
Sakura frowned.
"Now?" She asked with surprise. "But I have the running regime set up with Haku-san."
"Not today." The copycat shook his head. "In fact, as far as this part of the training is concerned, you are done with it. Today, the preparationary period is over and we can get to some real training."
Team 7 looked at each other, clearly puzzled.
"Your bodies weren't exactly ready for the training. Not if it was to be done properly." Kakashi explained. "Sakura - you weakness is stamina, strength and overall physical ability. Your regime was thus the most physically intensive." Kakashi pointed at the Uchiha. "Sasuke, your control isn't half bad, but it could use some fine tuning, along with expanding your stamina. Constant chakra exercises while jumping around are ideal for that. Naruto, yours was similar, though more oriented for control." Kakashi smiled wryly. "What, you didn't think I'd have you running around the Waterfall Course for laughs, now did you?"
"...Well, all things considered..." Sasuke muttered, glaring at the jounin.
"Hell YEAH you would have." Naruto didn't have any need for tact.
"Hmm..." Kakashi rubbed his chin thoughtfully, before smiling and nodding cheerfully. "Yes, I guess I would have."
"...I can't believe that guy..." Naruto muttered while Sasuke 'hnned' with annoyance. "Seriously, how can you stand him, Sakura-chan?" Naruto turned to the pink haired kunoichi. "...Oi, Sakura-chan... Sakura-"
"Just leave her be." Sasuke muttered, rolling his eyes.
The girl blinked, looking up from the scroll.
"...You were saying something?" She asked with puzzlement.
Naruto glared at Kakashi.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." The blond muttered through his gritted teeth.
"Oh." Sakura nodded absently, wandering to the nearest stone, engrossed in the scroll.
"Don't go too far away." Kakashi cautioned. "I will need to show you a few things today."
The kunoichi nodded, not bothering to reply as she studied the scroll, mouthing something to herself.
"Well now, Sasuke." Kakashi looked at the Uchiha scion. "There is an exercise that will greatly aid you in mastery of your sharingan."
Sasuke perked up, looking at Kakashi eagerly.
"It is called Yotsuba." Kakashi leafed through the stack of paper, making sure they all came off loosely. "After receiving my sharingan, I had to push it to mastery in a relatively short time. This is something I came up with to push that, with help of an ...well, you could call him an acquaintance I guess." Kakashi gave Sasuke the paper sheets. "This is chakra paper. It is not exactly cheap, so do be careful with it."
Sasuke blinked.
"...chakra paper?"
"It is a special kind of paper that reacts to chakra and affinity. But that's for later. Now all we need is it to react to chakra. The goal of this exercise is something you'd like." Kakashi said cheerfully. "Combat."
His hand made a familiar seal and Sasuke's eyes widened as the clearing was suddenly filled with Kage Bunshin. Only this time, it wasn't the familiar orange flood, but a new, olive-drab one.
"So I will be fighting your Kage Bunshin?" Sasuke scowled. "They are weaker and fall apart in one hit. How is THAT going to help me?"
"Now, now Sasuke." The crowd of identical jounins said with eerie unity that was, quite frankly, unnerving. "It is not that simple."
The clones grabbed the stack from Sasuke's hands, distributing it among themselves.
"You will be fighting, yes. But your goal is to hit a designated spot." Original Kakashi pointed at the various pieces, strips and sheets of paper that the clones were putting on themselves. "The placements will change, the clones will keep them moving, and they will constantly move as well." Kakashi warned. "This isn't as easy as it seems, Sasuke."
"They are still just clones." Sasuke smirked as he activated his sharingan. "Zabuza's weren't s-"
The Uchiha fell forward as a lazy jab hit his back. He twisted, trying to catch his attacker, only to fall on his face as a swift kick to the leg brought him down.
"They are jounin clones." Kakashi said blandly. "Mizu Bunshin are only tenth of original user's speed and strength. Kage Bunshin are much stronger than them."
Sasuke glared, spitting the grass.
"How is that going to help me with sharingan?"
"It will force you beyond your limits, all the while demanding precision." Kakashi said calmly. "The goal of Yotsuba is to push the body and mind into overdrive, to the point you are walking the edge. Sharingan, as I found, responds to that. When you force your senses to work beyond their capability while finding yourself hard pressed to predict and foresee an overwhelming opponent... or a crowd of them - that is the way to coax the sharingan out." Kakashi explained. "The paper is for several reasons. Providing a clear target zone is one. The second is the way of training your control. It will react and change color when hit by enough chakra, but only when your limbs channel it right."
"...This is..." Sasuke's eyes widened. Considering that sharingan ate chakra, movement was tiresome, add the proper channeling of chakra for speed and strength... "But-"
A fast jab to the stomach made him double over.
"No daydreaming during practice, Sasuke, hmm?" One of the clones smiled.
"Don't let your thoughts wander!" Sasuke barely rolled away from a stomp from another only to hiss as a kick met his shoulder.
"Too slow." Another Kage Bunshin said blandly. The genin growled, snapping his kunai out and stabbing at the clone only to wince as a knife hand met his wrist. "Now now. Who said anything about weapons?" The Kage Bunshin tsked. "Unless you want me to use mine, hmm?" Sasuke blanched as the group of Kage Bunshin twirled a kunai each.
'...Maybe jumping wasn't so bad after all?'
"Naruto, your biggest weakness is, to put it frankly, overall chakra control." Kakashi said to the blond. "You made a huge progress, yes. But there is still much room for improvement."
Naruto winced slightly, but nodded.
"Though I guess Haku's presence helps?" The jounin said cheerfully and Naruto grinned slightly, rubbing his neck.
"Heh heh... Noticed that, didn't ya?"
"Indeed. You'd never be able to catch up to Sasuke in such a complicated routine if not for some help." Kakashi sighed. "Now, while I admire the dedication Naruto, be careful. Over training can be disastrous if you overdo it and if you are too tired, your performance will suffer. Understood?"
Naruto shrugged.
"Hey, I won't let that bastard win."
Kakashi sighed.
"This is not a game, Naruto." He said tiredly. "It is not about winning or losing among teammates. It is about working together, about support. Honestly, Sasuke will always be better than you at some aspects-
"No WAY is that bastard bet-"
"-the same way you will be better than him at some." Kakashi finished, not bothering to acknowledge his student's outburst.
"...Really?" Naruto said curiously.
"Chakra capacity, stamina, physical strength, durability... To name just a few." The jounin counted out. "But teams are for a reason Naruto. You are not single units, lone shinobi. You are a team. Team supports each other, team makes use of each and every skill every shinobi assigned to it has." The copycat said seriously. "What one teammate lacks, other has and lends it to the team. Shared strength, Naruto. This is what a team is about."
"...Shared... strength?" The blond blinked owlishly.
"Yes. It is like a rope." Kakashi explained. "Each thread alone can only take so much. Bind them together, weave them in a pattern and you have something that is far stronger than each thread. You, Sasuke, Sakura - each of you have weaknesses. Even the best training won't rid you of all of them - it is impossible. But as long as you know what your weaknesses are and can work together well, they won't matter because you will be able to back each other up and make full use of your abilities."
"Oh." Naruto nodded slowly, before looking up at Kakashi. "But that bastard still isn't better than me!"
Kakashi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
'...In one ear, out the other... Seriously.'
"But... I get ya, Kakashi-sensei. It is like... Like one of my wires, huh?" Naruto looked at his gloves, on his palms as always - not something he was willing to part with now for any reason.
Kakashi blinked.
"It is... eh, you know - one wire isn't so bad. I mean it is fast and stuff..." Naruto's hand snapped to the side and Kakashi saw the silvery flash cut a leaf away from the nearby tree. "But... When you have more of them..." Naruto's palm erupted as five wires were let loose form their usual resting place.
Kakashi cocked an eyebrow as the branch fell, cut in five places.
The copycat smiled.
"Yes, Naruto. Exactly like that." He looked at the cut branch thoughtfully. "By the way..."
The genin looked at him.
"Can you tell me what kind of training you are doing with your teacher?"
Naruto blinked.
"...Huh?"
"With the person who helped you with those." Kakashi pointed at the wires. "I don't want to make you do useless exercise when you could be doing something useful."
"But... Nobody helps me with those." Naruto looked at Kakashi oddly. "Well, Haku does... as a target practice."
Kakashi stared at his student.
"...You want to tell me that... Nobody taught you how to use combat wire?"
"Hell, until our fight with Zabuza, I've never known it could be done like that!" The blond shrugged.
Kakashi blinked once.
"Oh." He said finally.
While the boy could be lying, Kakashi didn't see it. For one, Naruto would never pass up a chance to brag. Besides, Kakashi, as a high level ninja, was an expert at reading people - Naruto was honest, he'd bet his hitai-ate on it.
'But... this doesn't add up.' The jounin frowned. 'This kind of skill... Sure, it isn't exactly as precise as it should be... Not that I know a lot about wire combat to begin with, but...'
It was just bizarre. The boy was far too comfortable with the wires. It wasn't a piece of steel one could simple swing and be done with it - it was a dangerous, precise and exotic weapon. So exotic, it was nowadays almost unseen - and before only Kumo had more than a handful of experts with it. For a clumsy genin to just pick it up and swing around...'
Kakashi frowned.
'...Or could he?'
Sure, the sheer idea was ridiculous, but... But so was an idea of a six year old genin.
Kakashi's calculating gaze turned on Naruto.
'Come to think of it, his swings were wild, more than slightly uncoordinated... It would fit. Could it be? Could he be simply that much of a natural in it...? Preposterous, yes but... Not exactly impossible. Not completely.'
The jounin nodded slowly.
"I see..."
He was going to have to look up some data on it. If Naruto was as self trained as he claimed, then he'd need every bit of help he could give him.
'This changes things a lot. What can I...?' He looked at Naruto speculatively. 'More control, that's for sure. Speed, a must. But that we can work on. Still, wires as good as they are, wasting his ninjutsu potential would be-' Kakashi halted. 'Hmm. This might work.'
"Naruto, there is a jutsu I'd like to teach you."
"A jutsu?" The blond's eyes lit up. "Is it cool?"
With two seals, a violent spark of lightning jumped between Kakashi's outstretched palms.
"You might say that." Kakashi said mildly.
"I see you are finished with the basics."
Sakura frowned, looking at one of the more advanced diagrams.
"Yes. Though I have to admit that this... 'weave' thing escapes me."
"Ah. That." Kakashi nodded. "It comes with channeling. We will cover that later, when your chakra expands. For now, we are going to go with standard enhancement and plain combat skill." Kakashi reached into his vest, withdrawing a small scroll. "Though, in some respects, that is much harder." The copycat remarked and Sakura blinked as the scroll was smeared in blood, growing to twice its previous size, before erupting in smoke, leaving behind a simple scabbard.
"My old ANBU blade." Kakashi explained. "It is a low-grade, but still quite sufficient for our needs as a chakra blade."
"...our needs?" Sakura blinked. "Um... Kakashi-sensei?"
"Oh, well, you can't be expected to improve without some actual practice against a live opponent, now can you?" The jounin said cheerfully.
Sakura blanched, but kept silent.
"Before we come to the exercises themselves, I want to you to keep a few things in mind. Those aren't just exercises. The primer, of sorts, that you have now is derived from ANBU drills." Kakashi looked at her seriously. "This is an actual combat skill, Sakura. Assassination one, in many respects. As such, you can't relax. Every time you do it - it must be done right."
The pink haired girl nodded slowly.
"The things I will teach you... They aren't swordsmanship. Not really. You will get some of that later on, when the basics are in place, but first I will teach you how to use the Fang. Can you see the difference in that?"
Sakura frowned.
"I don't know..."
"You are a ninja, Sakura. While the White Fang is to be your advantage, you must learn how to use any possibility, any edge, any weapon that you have in your arsenal." Kakashi explained patiently. "Never assume there will be an ideal situation to use your strongest advantage. Better yet - never rely on just one 'strongest advantage'."
"Ah." Sakura nodded.
"ANBU sword drills are something you can learn quickly. They are utilitarian to the extreme - no frills, no special techniques. Just pure effectiveness, a limited set of moves distilled to be as efficient as possible." Kakashi tapped the blade. "Time for proper swordsmanship will come later on. For now, you will need to learn how to handle the Fang." He looked at Sakura. "Do you know why I had you keep the Fang on your person at all times and use chakra to anchor it to your back whenever possible?"
"I'm not sure, but I think it was a part of chakra exercise, right?"
"Partially, yes. Good thinking." Kakashi nodded. "Constant contact with the blade makes you used to it - imprints your chakra over it, makes it an extension of you and channeling chakra into it as natural as breathing. Also, it is a good exercise for expanding your chakra reserves." He shook his head. "It is a bit of an overkill, but with the current amount of chakra you have, using the Fang as it should be used would be costly. You still need more stamina, but nothing some diligent practice won't fix."
The jounin drew his sword out of the scabbard.
"Anyway, here are several beginner tips on dealing with a sword..."
Sakura opened her eyes lazily, hearing the familiar crack of lightning.
"...Oi... Naruto..." She muttered tiredly. "Cut it out... please?"
The blond looked up from his sparking wires, blinking.
"Hey, I gotta master it, you know?" Another spark circulated through wires. "And it is so cool!"
"It was cool... an hour or so ago." Sakura looked up at the cloudless night sky. "Just give it a rest."
The blond frowned, looking at Haku.
The kunoichi's face was impassive, but she nodded slightly.
"...Eh, whatever." He snapped the wires back, letting the charge die out.
"Thanks." Sakura closed her eyes, letting the chakra blade relax in her hand. The glow, one that she had been keeping up dimmed slightly.
"Hey, Sakura-chan?" Naruto scratched his head. "This should be glowing like that?"
"Kakashi-sensei said it is getting used to me." Sakura raised her hand, marveling at the glowing blade. It was almost weightless, ethereal in her hand. "To my chakra. It siphons it slightly at all times."
"Won't that make you tired?"
"It is just a small amount. I'm not that exhausted." She sat up gingerly, her stiff hands putting the Fang in the scabbard. "Just sore." The girl sighed, stretching. "Where's Sasuke-kun?"
Naruto smirked pointing to the side.
Sakura turned her head, only to blink owlishly.
Sasuke was half sitting, half lying on the stone nearby, his shirt ripped, the arm bracer things long gone. There were countless scratches and cuts on his arms. His face wasn't just nicked - it looked mauled, the left side of his lip swollen, trailing blood over dried and fresh scrapes.
"Oi, bastard..." Naruto nudged the fallen Uchiha. "You dead yet?"
Sasuke raised his head slightly, letting out a wordless growl, before sighing and letting it fall.
"Oh my." Sakura summed up. "You all right, Sasuke-kun?"
A tired glare was her only answer.
"Heh heh. Kakashi-sensei's clones worked him over."
"Kakashi-san was certainly... strict." Haku nodded.
"Yep. Beat him like a drum." Naruto said cheerfully.
"...shut up..." Sasuke muttered, hefting himself up.
Naruto just chuckled, getting up and stretching.
"Oi, Haku... Up for a round?"
"Aren't you tired, Naruto-sama?" The kunoichi blinked.
"Nah. Kakashi-sensei had me go through that Raiton stuff."
"Oh. Then if you wish to, Naruto-sama." Haku pulled a long, thin scroll and unrolled it gracefully.
"...Didn't I tell you not to call me that?" The blond muttered, flexing his gloved hands.
"Sorry, Naruto-sama." Haku smiled faintly
"...Stubborn woman." The blond scowled, snapping his hand to the side lazily.
Sakura raised an eyebrow at the silvery glint.
"Ohh. Fast." She muttered curiously.
"Yep." Naruto nodded cheerfully.
"...Damn it is criminal." The pin haired girl groused with envy.
Naruto blinked.
"You being so... perky." She glared. "You've been snapping jutsu for hours. Aren't you tired at all, you freak of nature?"
"I'm just awesome!" The blond cackled.
"...Sure you are." Sasuke muttered. "At frying yourself, maybe." He pointed at the sleeves of the blond's jacket, now burned and frayed by repeated use of the Raiton jutsu gone awry.
Naruto glared at the Uchiha.
"At least I'm still standing, bastard!"
Sasuke snorted, letting his back rest on the stone. Damn but he was tired... He'd be hobbling home. Crawling, even.
For a moment, he seriously considered simply letting his eyelids fall, until his stomach growled.
'...Perfect.' The raven haired genin grimaced hearing Sakura's giggle. 'Just perfect.'
Sakura covered her mouth, trying to stifle the giggle, before giving up as she saw the indignant glare. She let herself fall on the grass.
"And what's so funny?" Sasuke growled darkly.
"...It... It... isn't... at all...!" The young kunoichi got out between the giggles before giving up and laughing openly.
With a loud hiss, Haku's scroll erupted with smoke. The kunoichi drew the oversized zanbatou deftly and Sakura watched with envy as the woman moved the sword with ease despite its weight.
"Ready, Naruto-sama?"
"...I told you to... Ah, whatever." The blond snapped his hands to the sides, wires moving out like hungry snakes. "Let's get it on!"
"As you wish." A single...
...step.
The Kubikiri Houchou whined, sparks flying as the edge met the steel cords.
Naruto grinned.
"Heh. This won't work on me!" He said gleefully, tightening his wires around the weapon. "I'm faster now!"
"So I can see." One of Haku's hands let go of the hilt, making a familiar seal and Naruto's eyes widened as the ice needles formed around him.
"...SHIT!"
He hastily let the wires go, jumping back. He winced as one of the needles cut a gash on his arm despite the evasion.
'...DAMN but she's fast! Even not going full out... That speed is no joke.'
He slid away from the zanbatou's edge, snapping the wires back before letting them go up.
'Flow... flow... NOW!'
Haku broke off her attack as she saw the strings snap down, leaving gouges on the ground.
'More power... he adds chakra to it. So much and constantly. It is not even a jutsu, just plain power.' She marveled. 'Kakashi-san is right. His chakra capacity is something else.' Her eyes narrowed. 'But still... so wasteful.'
She added her weight to the blade, spinning around her axis as she allowed the ice to form around the edge.
Naruto cursed as the shards broke off, flying at him far faster than her senbon did.
"...OI OI OI!" He yelped evading the first wave. "...What are you-"
Haku smiled faintly, slashing the blade down.
Naruto's eyes widened.
"...OOOOH SHII-!" he panicked, desperately trying to move, knowing it was too late to evade, to move to-
The wires snapped.
A loud crack erupted form the ends, lighting up with bluish power as the strings... hissed.
'...What... But I...' The lightning arced between the strings. 'How... I... I... I can-!'
Haku stared with astonishment as the wires crossed and erupted with raw power, the ice meeting the lightning array head on and... vaporising.
Sakura's eyes widened. She saw Naruto practicing that jutsu, but this...!
The lightning spiked, vapor exploded around the wires as Naruto charged, electricity kissing and burning the ground, filling the air with the smell of ozone.
The cerulean eyes were focused, sparking as they reflected the lighting and Haku backpedaled furiously as the Raiton's fury descended at her.
'This is... This feeling!' She ducked. 'It is the same! No malice but.. It is the same like there on the bridge! There is no mistaking it!'
"Running?"
Her eyes widened as she saw Naruto's face right in front of hers.
She slashed the Kubikiri Houchou, desperately trying for the distance, only to have the wires tied all around it. The kunoichi hissed, letting go of the hilt, but still managing to receive a nasty shock as the low-level Raiton arced through the weapon.
Haku bit her lip.
'I knew he wanted to spar seriously but...!'
"Oi... that is all?" The wires moved around the blond like living things, as if on their own. The fact that Naruto's hands were barely moving just made the impression stronger. "Is that it? All you have? Come on." Several wires spun around him in a circle, as if protecting him. Naruto didn't seem to pay attention at all, even as the lighting sparked at the ends. "Summon your mirrors... form your senbon... Attack. Come on. COME ON!"
"...Naruto...! This is going too far...!" Sakura stood up. "Enough!"
"... As you wish." Haku bowed her head, forming the seals and the air cooled. "Makyo Hyosho."
Sasuke frowned, hefting himself up.
"...What is that idiot doing...?"
"Naruto, you idiot! You can't...!" Sakura screamed.
The lightning erupted, wires lighting up and Sakura paled as she saw the odd, almost detached look on Naruto's face.
"...This is..." She muttered, lips numb.
The cool blue eyes reflected the flash of lighting as Naruto took a step...
And snapped into a run, charging at the mirrors, wires swinging.
"...This is... Kakashi-sensei's...!"
"No." Her head snapped to Sasuke who was looking at the scene dumbly. "No but... Power... so much power... How in the world...?"
Naruto's eyes narrowed as the mirrors absorbed the shock.
He evaded nimbly, sliding back, not even noticing the chakra he channeled to his legs.
'...Why... why am I...?'
"Naruto-sama... Here I go!"
The Makyo Hyosho spun, drinking in the moonlight greedily.
Naruto spun, trying to divine Haku's position.
'...Fast. So damn fast! Why am I...?'
'Our existence is as mutable and incorporeal as is the morning dew or a flash of lightning...'
Naruto's eyes widened.
Haku charged, ice senbon in her hands.
"Not yet, Naruto-sama but..." She froze as she felt the wires tightening around her hands.
She looked at the blond, who was looking at her but... his eyes were unfocused, as if staring through her. As if he didn't see her at all.
"Nyoronyoden."
Haku blinked.
The wires let her go and Naruto blinked, his eyes regaining focus.
"...Huh?"
Haku rubbed her wrists, looking at her master warily.
"...Naruto-sama?"
"Oh. OH." His eyes widening as he took in the damages, Naruto chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry... I... Uh, Kind of had fun."
"...Naruto you IDIOT!" White Fang's scabbard sent the blond sprawling. "What the HELL were you thinking?! WERE you even thinking at all?!"
"...Sorry Sakura-chan." The genin muttered, rubbing his head absently. "Sorry. I just..."
"Goddamit, you lost it or something? Using that kind of force while sparring... Are you a total moron?!"
"Sorry... Sorry." Naruto said his eyes downcast and Sakura sighed, looking at the pitiful, slumped posture.
'...And how am I to shout at him now?' She thought with irritation. 'It would be like kicking a puppy... Geeez!'
"Watch it next time, you idiot. You scared me half to death!" Sakura grumbled, putting the scabbard on her back, sticking it there with a regulated chakra spike that was as natural as breathing by now and walking away. "See you tomorrow. I need to crash or I'll fall down here or something."
"Dobe. You don't know restraint at all." Sasuke snorted, turning away and hobbling out of the training field.
"Fuck you too, bastard." The blond grumbled, standing up and looking at Haku. "You okay? I didn't...?" He cringed.
"No. No, not even burns." She showed her palms to him, letting the mirrors dissipate. "Still, Naruto-sama...? That thing you said..."
"...I... don't know." Naruto admitted after a long moment of silence. "I... it is the second time." He said softly. "There, on the bridge... But I don't know why. They just..." He shrugged helplessly.
"Nyoronyoden... This is not a jutsu." Haku muttered thoughtfully. "It... I have heard it somewhere before, I think but..." She frowned.
Naruto looked at his gloved hands thoughtfully.
"I... ever since I got those... I see that sometimes in my mind. Every time I..." he grimaced. "ARRGH! I can't GET it... at all!"
Haku raised Kubikiri Houchou, inspecting it for damages. Of course, the blade was as pristine as always. It was made to withstand far more than a Raiton jutsu, after all. Mist smiths who made it made sure of that.
She sealed the blade deftly, pocketing the scroll.
"Hmm. I wonder..." She said thoughtfully. "It is not unfamiliar to me, but... Hmm... Maybe some scholar would know...?"
"A scholar?" Naruto perked up. "Hey, I know somebody who might help!"
Iruka blinked.
"Where did you hear it?" He looked at Naruto with surprise.
"I didn't. I just..." He shrugged. "So, do you know it, Iruka-sensei?"
"...Nyoronyoden... Yes. I have heard that phrase before." Iruka frowned, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Yes, I am sure of it... But where...?" He walked in his house. "Come on in, Naruto. Don't stand in the doorway." He waved absently.
The genin nodded, walking in and Iruka frowned, looking at the young woman who followed the blond.
"You are Haku, right?" He said, looking at her carefully.
"Yes." The kunoichi nodded, holding Iruka's gaze emotionlessly.
"Ah." The teacher nodded slowly. "If you are with Naruto, then you're welcome, Haku-san."
"Thank you, Iruka-san. Naruto-sama told me a lot about you." She smiled.
"Did he, now?" The chuunin quirked an eyebrow.
Naruto shifted uneasily, looking form his brother figure to his... well, friend?
"Well, sit, sit." He waved at his room. "You look hungry." He frowned, before point at the kitchen. "There should be some cup ramen in the cupboard, Naruto."
"Awesome, Iruka-sensei!" The blond all but skipped towards the kitchen.
"I am not your teacher anymore, Naruto." The chuunin sighed, before waving it away. Naruto was Naruto was Naruto.
Iruka waited for a moment, hearing the cupboard opening and turned to Haku.
"So." He looked at the woman carefully. "You are the kunoichi I heard from Sandaime-sama about. The one that Naruto brought from Wave."
Haku nodded simply.
"You followed Kirigakure's nukenin, Momochi Zabuza." Iruka's eyes hardened. "An assassin and apprentice to an assassin."
Haku nodded again.
"Why are you here?" Iruka asked sharply.
"Following Nauro-sama, of course." She said calmly.
"An apprentice to a notorious nukenin, a strong woman of bloodline... An accomplice of a notorious shinobi following a single Konoha genin?" Iruka cocked an eyebrow mockingly. "Why?"
"Because now, I am Naruto-sama's weapon."
Iruka's eyes widened.
"For Naruto-sama's dream... I will follow my master until the day I die." Haku held Iruka's gaze, her eyes open and calm like a frozen lake.
Iruka stared dumbly.
"...You are... serious." He said with disbelief.
Haku's gaze didn't waver for a second as she looked at the chuunin.
"You are really... serious. My gods..." Iruka sat on the nearest chair heavily. "This is... have you any idea...?"
"Is there a problem?" Haku cocked her head to the side and Iruka felt a chill crawling down his spine.
Iruka was a good judge of character - very good. Ibiki frequently dropped hints that the young chuunin should ditch the academy job and move up to work in the interrogation squads. Iruka didn't want to do that - it was far too grisly a job for his peace of mind, but the fact still remained, he was good at picking up subtler things.
While the tone was calm and question innocent, there was something... coldly ruthless in the calm onyx eyes. Something that left him without a doubt that the young kunoichi in front of him wouldn't hesitate in removing anything she deemed a 'problem' to the blond.
'God... My god...' Iruka thought dumbly, looking at the beautiful girl sitting in front of him with calm and unperturbed face. 'Naruto, you idiot... Have you any idea what she is? Have you any idea just what kind of a lit explosive note you have in your hands...?'
He had inquired, of course. Naruto, out of his supervision or not, was somebody he cared for greatly. A surrogate brother he never had - almost family. When he heard about the kunoichi, he was curious and wary. When he heard she was living with the blond... It took Sandaime-sama's urging to avoid Iruka charging to Naruto's house and scream his lungs out at the little idiot. The more he dug, however, the warier he became. An apprentice to a former Mist Seven member, one with such a reputation like Zabuza and such a... fanatical bent? He halfway expected her to kill Naruto and rest of Team 7 in retaliation for her mentor's death. But then ANBU let her go. Let her go, under Naruto's - NARUTO'S! - supervision. And now...'
'What is Sandaime-sama THINKING?! This is a disaster! This whole situation... it is just ridiculous!'
Still, it wasn't like he could do anything. Sandaime-sama made his decision and Naruto was as muleheaded as always. Trying to sway him from his new 'friend' would be utterly useless, Iruka knew.
'And probably dangerous.' He thought wryly, looking at Haku.
"No, Haku-san. As long as Naruto is okay with it, there is no problem." Iruka forced a smile on his face, before getting up and turning to his small library.
"Nyoronyoden... Nyoronyoden... Hmm... Where did I...?" He rubbed his scar, looking at the shelves thoughtfully. "I am sure I read about it... Hmm... Where could it...?"
He stood in front of the shelves for along moment, before snapping his fingers.
"Ah, right!" He reached into the lower shelf, taking out a fatigued, old looking scroll. "If I am not mistaken and memory serves it should be..." He scanned the scroll for a long while, mumbling to himself.
Naruto walked in, two of his Kage Bunshin following with large bowls of ramen.
"Here you go, Haku." He grinned, putting one front of the kunoichi who nodded graciously and smiling.
"Hey, Iruka-sensei, the ramen's getting cold!"
"Yes... yes..." The chuunin muttered, still engrossed in his scroll. "Nyoronyoden... Where c- Yes! I knew it was here." Iruka nodded, obviously pleased, before blinking. "...That can't be right..." He muttered curiously, before looking at Naruto.
"You know... You stumble upon the strangest things." The chuunin said, putting away the scroll.
"So, you know what it is?" Naruto asked excitedly.
"Haku-san is right, Nyoronyoden isn't a jutsu of any kind." Iruka sighed. "In fact, it is so loosely affiliated with ninja at all, I really wonder how in the world have you heard of it."
"So, so? What is it?" Naruto fidgeted in his seat, ramen - amazingly - forgotten.
"It came form an archaic philosophical text, a philosophical motto... Or it was once, rather." Iruka frowned. "It was said it described the chaos and change that always accompanied shinobi life. Or life in general. 'Our existence is as mutable-
" -and incorporeal as is the morning dew or a flash of lightning'..." Naruto muttered, finishing the sentence, eyes glazed.
"Yes." Iruka blinked with surprise. "That's the exact wording. Though how and why would you, of all people, know it..." He shrugged. "I am really curious where could you hear it. It is fairly old."
"...I don't know." Naruto admitted. "I... When I fought with Haku on the bridge... I..." Naruto shook his head. "I dunno, Iruka-sensei."
"Well, I guess you might have heard it from some older nin... It isn't exactly well known, but it is a shinobi philosophy. Not a wide spread one, but..." The chuunin rubbed his scar thoughtfully. "Interesting."
"...Yeah." Naruto muttered, looking into his ramen, eyes unfocused, glazed "Yeah... It is."
Iruka frowned.
"Naruto... are you all right?" He asked finally.
The blond blinked, before shaking his head and looking at Iruka.
"Yeah, sure. Why wouldn't I be?" He asked with puzzlement.
Iruka looked at him skeptically.
"You know you can always talk to me, right?" He said finally.
"Sure, Iruka-sensei. But why are you so serious?"
Iruka sighed.
"Nothing Naruto. Nothing at all. Let's eat, eh?" He grinned. "Before ramen gets all cold and soggy."
Naruto's eyes widened and he gabbed his bowl, tearing into the noodles with wild abandon that was pure Naruto.
'...Well at least that didn't change.' Iruka chuckled, grabbing his own bowl and trying to wash the odd feeling of unease welling inside him with the hot, flavorful broth.
Naruto stared at his palms.
A tug.
Another.
Thumb sliding under the reinforced material, melted with mesh and a plate and...
And his fingers slid the claps back again.
'...this is ridiculous.'
He flexed his palms, letting the gloves fit tighter. Better. Used to folds, used to skin and vice versa. It was something he didn't think about, not really. Not until he noticed that fastening the gloves so that they didn't slide that little distance that cost precision was harder than it looked. That pooling back the wire, or snapping it out as one while opening the rings was... not difficult - but harder when he paid attention to it.
Again. Like in Wave.
He flexed his palms again.
The gloves... fit. There was no other way to describe it. Just... fit. It was like... like he liked ramen, but didn't know he liked it until he tasted it. Like that. He never thought about 'missing' it. It wasn't like... 'it'. Like that painful need. No, it wasn't like that at all. But it was more like finding a shirt in the dark, pulling it on and noticing it was that cool, comfortable shirt that fit because your body made every crease, molded every press that formed even after washing and ironing it out.
Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing.
'My head hurts just thinking about it.'
He let himself slump, sliding down slightly as he went from sitting to laying on the roof, looking straight up at the moon.
'You old traitor...' The genin grasped at the air, his hand encircling the visage... before clenching into fist. 'Bang.'
He chuckled weakly, letting his hand fall.
Clear night sky really was the best.
'Dammit... what am I doing?'
"Naruto-sama...?"
The blond sighed.
"How many times did I... Oh damn whatever." He mumbled, using one of his wires to grab the edge of the roof and jump down.
Haku blinked.
'That was fast.' She thought with surprise. 'Though not having to worry about the fall.. I guess he can do that kind of thing.'
"What is it?"
"It is not my place to pry but..." Haku looked at him carefully. "Are you feeling... well?"
"Yeah I..." Naruto started, before slumping. "Yes. No. I don't know." He admitted finally, rubbing his gloved palm. "Remember there, in the forest?"
Haku nodded slowly. How could she forget?
"It is like... that." His lips twitched, halfway between smile and a scowl. "Things are just... weird."
"You don't sleep well, do you?" she asked softly. "I can... hear you. When you wake."
"Oh. Sorry." Naruto rubbed his temples. "Can't sleep... It is not that. It is more like... Like..." he struggled. "Know how it is when you wake up, having a dream that you want to remember? But the more you grasp at it... the more it escapes? I..." He closed his eyes, leaning on the cool wall. "Shit... I don't know... It is just too weird." He murmured. "Why can't it just be easy?"
Those eyes... they haunted him. Every time he woke up, the dream escaped, the meaning lost - but the honey gold... It haunted even his waking hours. And he couldn't get angry at it. At her. Not when he felt warm just seeing the flash of those eyes in his dreams...
"I don't even know her name..."He muttered,his voice bereft of the usual vibrancy.
"Then you will just have to keep trying, won't you, Naruto-sama?" Haku cocked her head to the side. "Keeping on going forward."
She didn't exactly understand what he meant - but then she was a tool. She would try, for the sake of his dream, to understand as much as she could to help him.
"Yeah." Naruto chuckled.
Haku smiled softly.
"Please, come inside Naruto-sama. Kakashi-san was right - you need to rest more."
"Eh. Not like today was all that tiresome."
"Still, you have used a lot of chakra." Haku cautioned. "And it is better to be prepared for tomorrow, is it not?"
"Huh. I guess so." Naruto sighed, relaxing slightly, tugging at his gloves for a second before gritting his teeth, peeling them off and putting them in his pockets.
"So there." He muttered.
The kunoichi just quirked an eyebrow.
"Nothing." Naruto shrugged. "Come on, let's eat supper."
He was not going to be sleeping with a pair of combat gloves on, goddamit!
Not again, anyway.
TBC...
Glossary:
Yotsuba - lit. 'four leaf clover'.
Nyoronyoden - a fairly obscure japanese term meaning 'existence as we perceive it/life is as mutable and incorporeal as is the morning dew or a flash of lightning.' Fitting for a shinobi Motto - ironic in terms of what and who Naruto is and his situation overall.