I know, it's been kinda a while. D=
Anyway, I have a snow day, so I'm in a GREAT mood. =D
But yeah, it's been a longer time since I updated mostly because I don't feel like writing these parts...I want to get to the parts that come MUCH later, cuz I like planned it out and I really just want to get to the later parts without any of the actual exposition stuff...But yeah, I've also been working out details, and trying to make them all consistent, so it's also taken some time because I keep on coming up with new parts and adding those in and making it all work was taking some time. I'm thinking WAY ahead though, like at least 5-6 chapters. With any luck. If I make the chapters a little longer...
-start chapter four-
Sakura opened her eyes one morning, to find eyes staring back at her. It was scary, and she was tempted to scream, but found she couldn't: she simply lacked the ability to do so. Her mouth was open and she was exerting all possible efforts to make a sound, but none would come. The eyes staring at her were cold, but glazed over. The intruder stepped back, revealing none other than a middle-aged man, evidently drunk, and almost certainly a civilian.
Why should this be scaring the alleged fierce kunoichi, apprentice of the Godaime Hokage herself?
It wouldn't be revealed, as Sakura noticed that her own chakra nervous system was being intercepted by another's. Realizing what must be going on, she quickly released herself from the genjutsu and found her voice once more.
Heavily breathing and still somewhat shocked, she tried to locate the perpetrator.
"Uhh…right outside the door? This must be either a really stupid ninja or the person Tsunade-shishou is sending to be my genjutsu teacher…" Sakura thought, with a slightly less annoyed demeanor after considering the latter.
Quickly making herself presentable, which included a hasty change of clothes to ones suitable fro training, and some regular hygienic morning habits, Sakura hurried to the door, revealing none other than Kurenai, who, if you knew her well enough, seemed like she would much rather be doing something else.
"Sorry for the wait…Would you like to come in?" Sakura asked, her natural instincts as a hostess coming into play.
"Uh, no, you'll be coming with me. I'm going to teach you genjutsu," Kurenai not-so-subtly declined Sakura's offer, and immediately explained the situation. Kurenai led Sakura to a small training ground when she began to talk again.
"Well, based on the 'test' I gave you, you are capable of detecting and dispelling genjutsu; however, this is quite a lot more that you would have to learn to be considered a genjutsu-user. First, the basics of casting genjutsu: knowing the process and principles of creating and injecting a genjutsu into another shinobi," Kurenai began, "While there is a great deal of chakra control required, which I'm sure you have, there is also the aspect of understanding and a certain degree of creativity involved…"
"SHIIIIIIT…Creativity? I'm certainly NOT creative! If I had a pet cat, I would name it 'Cat'!" Sakura thought, immediately deeming herself inept at learning genjutsu for the factor of her lack of creativity.
"…And while creativity is important, it can be developed, after you have mastered the basics. The general idea is that the more creative genjutsu is, the more effective it is. In other words, the creativity of a genjutsu is what sets a good genjutsu apart from an exceptional one," Kurenai concluded, setting Sakura at ease.
Kurenai waited to let the information sink in, as she thought about how to go about teaching. What should she do first: find out Sakura's range and then explain about the process based on that, or explain the technical details for genjutsu, then find out Sakura's personal attributes…
"Well, who's to say that she can't learn the technical details herself? If I remember correctly, she was an excellent student in terms of learning stuff by-the-book, which is basically what the technical aspect of genjutsu is…Then she can practice applying those concepts the next time we train…" Kurenai thought, satisfied with her resolution.
"Alright, Haruno, I'm going to give you a couple of scrolls, and you will be responsible for knowing all the information in them by the next time we train. I will give you a week from now to do that," Kurenai began, reaching into her bag for the correct scrolls, "and today we will be deciding how you will be transmitting genjutsu. It is a rather personal process, and while most experts are capable of casting genjutsu with seals alone, it is often helpful for beginners to have a different method of transfer. I'm assuming you remember your first Chuunin exams? Those feathers, they were what tramsmit the genjutsu. They are also the reason why the genjutsu was a long-range one. Genjutsu based on seals are generally close-range. Using something like leaves, petals, or feathers are all methods of making the genjutsu long-ranged."
Kurenai handed Sakura five scrolls of different sizes, ranging from being dauntingly thick to being delicately thin. Sakura put them in her bag, and thought about what Kurenai had just told her.
"Well…What about transmitting a genjutsu through voice? I mean, you could adjust the volume to change the ranges, and it could be triggered by a word of pitch or something, right? And the sound waves would intercept the chakra nervous system, through the opponent's ears…right?" Sakura thought, logically and somewhat uncertainly. She had known a little of genjutsu's basic technicalities, but not nearly in enough depth to be sure of this theory.
"I suppose, yeah, it would work, theoretically. I personally wouldn't have nay first-hand experience on that particular method of transmitting chakra, but I'm sure that it could be done…Assuming that you could control your chakra to be released with the sound waves," Kurenai replied to Sakura's uncertaintly, although rather suspicious of her idea.
"That concept is partly what Otogakure is based on…The ability to use sound to create jutsu…Is she just taking that concept to use for her own personal method, or is something going on here?" Kurenai thought, pondering on Sakura's possible ulterior motives.
Sakura interrupted Kurenai's thoughts by explaining her speculations about her own personal method of transmitting chakra to intercept the chakra nervous system of an enemy, to which Kurenai listened to, trying to forget about her suspicions, only to have them bought up again every now and then…
"Enter!" Tsunade commanded to the unknown ninja knocking on her door at about two in the afternoon.
Enter Kurenai, coming to share her newfound knowledge of the Hokage's apprentice.
"Kurenai…To what do I owe your visit? Did you begin training Sakura?" Tsunade asked, wondering if her student was perhaps too much for Kurenai to handle.
"Well, I did what I could for today. She's to learn the technical details of genjutsu in depth first, so I just tried to learn a little about her…personal abilities and preferences in order to come up with a specific training method and style for her…And that is kind of the reason that I have come to you…" Kurenai began, delving into her earlier suspicions with Tsunade, knowing that the Godaime should know of what may or may not be happening in the pink-haired kunoichi's mind.
"She seemed to have an almost strange affinity to…sound. I don't know Sakura that well, but I thought that you should know that she has chosen the use of sound to transmit genjutsu. It seemed suspicious, and while I believe she will probably not betray the village, it was quite unnerving," Kurenai tried to explain the peculiar feeling that she experienced while talking to Sakura earlier, "It just…seemed like she had some kind of ulterior motive. Whether or not it had anything to do with Otogakure or not is beyond me, but I do not know her well enough to decide…"
"…Interesting. While I also have almost no doubt that Sakura will remain loyal to Konohagakure, I appreciate that you are relaying this information to me. I will keep an eye on her, and I would like you to report to me if you find anything else suspicious about her behavior," Tsunade conferred, trying to keep her student from sounding like a sketchy traitor-to-be, "Meanwhile, I appreciate that you are teaching her genjutsu. I'm sure that it will help her in becoming a well-rounded kunoichi. Specialization can be very dangerous…"
And with that final parting note, Kurenai left Tsunade, opting to use the door rather than ninjutsu this time.
-end chapter four-
Spellcheck fails:
Genjutsu: generous
Kunoichi: kunming
Ahh, hope you liked it. I know that I said it's NejiSaku, but it's mostly Sakura-centric. The NejiSaku stuff comes later, and even then, it's kinda a side thing. But yeah, it's kinda a longer chapter, so have fun with that. Also, those things about genjutsu are only my personal ideas. I dunno if it really works like that, etc. ALSO...I won't make Sakura stupid, so she's NOT going to leave leaf. She does have a different ulterior motive though, but you'll find that out later. Leave a review~! =D