I was finally allowed to upload my stories, but I sort of lost interest in this story for awhile. I was finishing its sequel, so it took me awhile to type this one up.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 4: Training and Studying
"Okay, let's start with the basics!" They were in the woods behind Konoha. Arashi had decided he was going to skip out on work for awhile. I hope I'm not caught… Nami will kill me…
"W-what basics?"
"I'm going to teach you."
"F-for what?"
"I'm going to teach you how to become a ninja." Hmm… She still isn't use to talking…She had stuttered as well when she met Uzumaki Nami, Arashi's wife, but that had been three days ago.
"Y-you already enrolled me in the academy."
"I know, but those are just the fundamentals. This is the actual training." Arashi replied. It was true; she had been enrolled in the academy, even though she was none too pleased about it.
"M-my father taught me a little ninjutsu. B-but he died when I was three." Riku said.
Arashi was surprised. "At such a young age?! He must have been in a hurry to make sure you could protect yourself!" He thought out loud. But frowned and asked. "What kind?"
"D-droppleganger, substitution, and some genjutsu." Riku replied. The droppleganger and substitution were elementary techniques, but genjutsu? It was more of the advanced techniques. What was this man teaching his daughter? "M-my mother taught me some t-taijutsu and some n-ningu."
"Did your father teach you any chakara control?"
"I-I don't understand the question…"
"Like walking on water and climbing trees without hands."
"M-my mother taught me some."
"Let's see." Arashi said. "Here, take this and mark how high you can go." He handed her a kunai knife.
She began concentrating on her feet and walked up the side of the tree until she reached a rather high up branch where she slipped. Marking her spot on the tree, she leaped down, landing with the grace of a cat.
"Good!" Arashi said. She's definitely a genjutsu type. Most of the Soyokaze clan were. "Try to reach the top. I don't expect you to be able to complete this assignment in one day."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(8 hrs later…)
"Wow. You made it to the top faster than I expected!" Arashi exclaimed, looking up from his spot at the base of the tree. She landed next to him, panting slightly. She's a fast learner. Very few can master climbing to the top of a tree in less than a day. Of course her parents were teaching her beforehand, so I guess it's not so surprising. "We'll try water walking tomarrow!"
"Yes, sir!" To his, and her surprise, she spoke without stuttering. "Hey, I think I'm getting a hang of talking now."
"Please, call me 'Arashi'." Arashi responed with a smile.
"Yes, si- Arashi-san." Riku said.
"Riku-chan? Have you seen Arashi? He's skipping work again." A voice asked. A woman with violet hair and navy blue eyes appeared right beside them. She noticed Arashi and glared. "Arashi! You can't be skipping work! The paperwork won't get itself done, you know!"
"I know, I know. I'll head back." Arashi replied with a sigh. He headed off in the direction of town.
Riku watched as Arashi disappeared among the trees. "Nami-san? Where does Arashi-san work?"
Nami was surprised with the command she had over her words. "At the center of Konoha. That's where his office building is. Let's go take a tour of the town. It'll give me an excuse to check up on him and make sure he is at work. He consented far too easily."
"You need an excuse to visit him?"
"Apparently so. Some of the council members think that he has far too many distractions at work, so they try to keep me from going in by him." Nami said with a snort. "I don't see how they think I will distract him." Nami shrugged. "Probably because of the baby. I was hoping that Arashi wouldn't be thrown into such a dangerous position before our child was born."
"Child?"
"I'm pregnant right now, but I only have 51 chance of survival, due to my heart condition." Nami explained. By looking at Nami, no one would be able to tell that she had a weak heart. She was strong, vibrant and a medical genius.
"Ah, here we are." She said as they reached the red, dome-like office building. There was a symbol that read "fire" just above the doors. "Arashi works here as the leader of the village. I was surprised when they chose Arashi for Hokage. I thought that they would choose someone like Orochimaru, but with the recent trouble they've had with him, I'm glad that the third hadn't picked that crazy bastard." Riku stared at the office building.
"What's the name going to be?" Riku asked.
"Name? Of our child? I don't know yet. Arashi suggested naming our child 'Naruto', but he's just thinking about Ramen again."
" 'Names are important. They give good characteristics to people and determine their strengths.' That's what my mother would always say."
"'Riku' means 'land', right? What's you last name?"
"I don't have a last name." Riku replied.
"You can have ours. From this day forth, you will be 'Uzumaki Riku'. I always wanted a daughter, so you're like a dream come true, after all, I may not live long enough to see my own child."
"Don't say that! If you truly believe that it's not going to happen, then it won't happen!" Riku said with a frown. "And are you sure? You will make lots of enemies doing this?
Nami looked a little shocked but smile. "Thank you, Riku-chan, I'll keep that in mind. She grinned. "I will live at least long enough to see my child. And yes, I'm sure." "
"That's the spirit!" Riku said, Nami's confidence made her smile.
"Not likely…" Someone behind them said. They both turned around to look at the newcomer. He wore a metal plated bandana with a rock symbol on it. He had faded blonde hair and green eyes. He drew a kunai. "Your husband killed my brother in the war! Now it's payback!" He charged towards Nami. He was fast! Nami was not expecting to face such an opponent, not while pregnant at least. And even more to her surprise, Riku jumped into the way, grabbing the kunai so it stabbed through her hand. Blood splattered across the ground, some landing on Riku's right boot. She's almost as fast as Arashi! Where did my husband find this girl? The man released the kunai after struggling to pull the kunai back with no avail.
"Damn…!" He hissed. He started moving forward, but froze.
"If you have a problem with me, don't take it out on my wife." A voice said from behind them. Riku glanced back briefly to see Arashi standing with an arm around Nami's shoulders. "What is a ninja from Hiding-in-Rocks doing here?" The man began to run, but Arashi caught up to him quickly, wrapping an arm around his neck to pin him down.
"That's my man!♥" Nami cheered. Arashi blushed slightly at the praise.
"Hokage-sama!" Some one called. A man in a green vest ran over to greet Arashi. "Hokage-sama! There have been reports of a Hiding-in-Rocks renegade---Oh!" He noticed the captured man.
"That's coming a bit late!" Nami growled. "Why didn't you mention that sooner?"
"Ur…Hokage-sama, had not been in his office building when the report was made, so I went looking for him." The man said.
"See! This is why you should remain in the office!" Nami snapped, glaring at her husband. "One mistake and it could spell the end to Hiding-in-Leaves!"
"Ah! Riku-chan, that's a terrible wound. We should get it treated as soon as possible!"
"Don't change the subject!" Nami turned to the girl. The kunai still implanted firmly in her hand. Riku pulled it out. "Riku-chan! Please be careful pulling a weapon out the wrong way could mean more medical problems!" Nami placed her hand over Riku's lightly and it started to glow green as she healed Riku's hand. When the wound was closed, Nami turned to argue more with her husband, but he had disappeared. "Damn him!"
Riku smiled "He went into the office with that Rocky guy and the other man." She said.
"Oh, fine…Let's get some lunch!" Nami said.
"Sure."
Nami showed her around a little bit longer. "This is the Ramen shop! Arashi was always eating her before I met him."
"Is ramen any good?"
"Of course! Let's get some!"
"Okay!"