Author: R. Anthony Roth
Pairing(s): Naruhina & potentially others
Language: Canadian English
"Speech"
'Thought'
"Kyuubi/Inner Sakura speech"
'Kyuubi/Inner Sakura thought'
(Clarification, fun fact or author's musing)
Anything bolded indicates emotion or extraneous content
A/N: Hey everybody! This chapter was kinda awkward to do, so hard to do a training session without sounding cheesy and unoriginal, that and school were the reasons this came so late. However as summer is coming up I should have plenty of free time to devote to this fanfic, look forward to it (believe it)! Ohh and also I need a beta-reader, so if ur registered and u feel like giving it a shot, give me a holler.
--Another Nameless Yet Convenient Clearing--
"Well looks like we are here! TIME FOR TRAINING!!" bellowed Gai
"Yosh sensei! I shall match, nay… OUTDO YOUR ENTHUSIASM!" responded Lee with equal fervour
"Ahh it brings light into my heart to see the spirit of youth, reminds me of my younger days!" said Gai with a teary far-away look in his eye
"You're younger days sensei!? The power of youth still burns in you too! Together we shall embrace the same fiery spirit! said Lee, he too beginning to tear
"Lee…."
"Gai-sensei…"
"LEE"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
Just as they began crying about the power of youth in each others arms, Tsunami walked into the clearing with a basket carrying herbs.
"I err… hope I'm not interrupting anything…" began Tsunami quite cautiously
"Ah no, we were just mesmerised by the brilliant flame of youth! Care to join us?" gushed Gai
"…No no, its fine, besides I think I see the brilliant flame of youth burning a kilometre over in that direction, so I guess I'll go check that one out…" Tsunami responded hurriedly as she began her escape
"Ahh youth, but Lee we must not get distracted! You see for most genin chakra control exercise are a good method for building reserves and fortifying jutsu usage, however this is not suitable for you." continued Gai
"Hai sensei, my inability to mold chakra renders such practice useless, and near impossible" responded Lee, depression beginning to tinge his voice
"Yes, a ninja who cannot use chakra is like a dulled blade!" noted Gai
"Hai…" agreed Lee, further saddened by his recurring recognition as a failure.
"However! You may not be able to mold chakra, but you most certainly can still use it! You see, chakra is a necessary element of all the vital systems of the human body, in fact it controls these very systems" The Hyuuga family techniques use chakra to attack the vitals, healing jutsu use chakra to restore cells by tapping into the vital chakra network, everyone has that same system. Even you who cannot mold chakra still has the same fundamental network, and that is why there is still a way for you to access your chakra." lectured Gai
"Really!?"
"Hai, part of this chakra system is a series of gates that control the chakra output of the body's cells, without them the vital systems would risk burning out through overexertion. It is possible to access the body's chakra by releasing this gates, endowing one with enhanced physical abilities."
"Amazing sensei!" noted Lee as he pulled out his trusty notepad
"But, power comes at a price, the gates are meant as limiters, hence releasing them can cause extensive damage to the body. Remember, this technique isn't tapping into chakra the way using a jutsu does, this instead is directly accessing vital chakra, without which the body cannot function. In light of your natural handicap, and out of respect for you wish to overcome your boundaries I will teach you how to master this feat… under a single caveat."
"Hai-sensei I am willing!"
"You must promise to use this power only to protect people, use it for those you care about, use it to defend what you believe is right. If taken lightly, this power can not only destroy the shinobi who uses it, but also risk the lives of those around them, hence it is to be reserved for only the direst circumstances!"
"Yosh sensei, you have my word as a shinobi of hard work!"
"Good, that is enough for me. So now we should begin, you see unlike jutsu, opening the Eight Gates (Hachimon) doesn't require seals or channelling power. Rather, it is simply a matter of internal discipline and focus, the true mastery of mind over body. The first step is to empty your mind of all distraction, a necessary part of drawing the focus necessary for opening the 1st gate (Gate of Opening)."
"Hai sensei, how must I do that?"
"Close your eyes and imagine a lone candle, think of that candle until nothing else exists in your mind, dim the flame of the candle until it slowly dies. When all is nothing you will know if you have achieved true emptiness."
With those instructions in mind, Lee began meditating in the quiet clearing while Gai went off to check on his other students. First he decided to visit Hinata, it was obvious that she had major confidence issues with regards to anything related to her bloodline. Naruto on the other hand he wasn't really concerned about, he would likely keep on trying to climb trees until his shoes wore away.
--Hinata's Nameless Convenient Clearing--
'Its no use! My chakra can't even penetrate the log fully, I guess I really am hopeless! I wonder how Naruto-kun is doing…" thought Hinata as she attempted to hit the chakra orb once again
Just as she was lost between her thoughts of Naruto and her own failure as a ninja, even moreso as a Hyuuga heir, Gai arrived in a whirl of leaves and a flash of teeth
"Hinata-san! How goes your training, have the chimes of youth begun to ring out?"
"Ano… I can see the target, but I just can't seem to reach it…" whispered Hinata "I guess I'm just not strong enough"
"Perhaps, a stronger burst would penetrate, but it would also likely shatter the chakra container. Control and finesses are your strong points, use them!" offered Gai, before leaving as quickly as he had arrived.
Hinata stopped and took some time to consider the problem, how to penetrate the log without expending more power. As she considered Gai's advice concerning control, it hit her, if a nail isn't penetrating a surface you probably need a sharper nail, and sharper means a smaller point, exerting the same pressure in a more effective way. If she could mould the same amount of chakra into a smaller and denser point she could probably penetrate the log, in addition unlike an increase in power, the change of shape would reduce the chance of breaking the container. So with a new goal in mind, Hinata began experimenting with increasing her control. Though it wasn't easy, it certainly seemed less futile than her previous attempts.
'Perhaps I can overcome what I lack in strength with better technique' thought Hinata optimistically, a first for a person who had spent most of her life doubting herself.
--Gah, how many clearings are there in this forest!?--
'Dammit! I just can't get this, every time I start to get somewhere the stupid tree starts splintering.' Naruto thought to himself, 'I guess its that overdoing it that Gai-sensei warned me about, but honestly I'm not putting that much chakra into it…'
Meanwhile as Naruto lay there straining his brain for a way to successfully complete his task, Gai noted his progress without intervening.
'Finesse may not be his strong point, but he is going to need it if he ever wants to perform any complex jutsu' noted Gai mentally, 'Considering the nature of his inhabitant, his task might just be the toughest of the three, yet it is something he must overcome himself if he wishes to truly progress as a ninja.'
After some more thought Naruto restarted his tree climbing attempts, and although each attempt brought some improvement, he couldn't help but be frustrated.
'Why can't I control my chakra, no matter how little I try to channel it always comes out so abruptly, its gotta be that rotten Kyubbi, always ruining things for me!' thought an extremely consternated Naruto, 'Well self pity hasn't ever gotten me anywhere before, though I can't think of anything myself… Wait a sec! I can go ask Hinata-chan, shes pretty good with chakra, maybe she know something!'
--Back at Hinata's Clearing--
'Yes! Almost there...'
After her previous revelation Hinata had steadily sharpened her chakra until she was able to penetrate the log. Elongating the pulse enough to reach the vial was still a work in progress, but she could tell that success wasn't as far away as it usually seemed to be.
'This is really tiring… but I can't falter! Naruto-kun has probably already climbed the tallest tree, so I cannot give up.' Thought Hinata
"Hiya Hinata-chan! Could ya show me how to climb a tree?" said a cheery voice from behind Hinata
After falling forward in a head on face-plant, she recovered enough to respond to the sudden appearance of her dear Naruto-kun.
"Ano… didn't Gai-sensei already explain? I c-c-could do so again if you want…"
"Naw, its just that the tree keeps cracking underneath my feet, and I thought that since you are really smart you could help me figure out how to improve."
'Naruto-kun thinks I'm smart…' Hinata thought elatedly as she blushed profusely
"Err Hinata you look pretty red, if you are too tired from your training I can just go figure it out myself"
"Ahh… no wait! I'm fine Naruto-kun, I think the reason why you are being repelled is that you aren't matching the chakra of the tree itself"
"Err, how exactly can I do that? I can't see chakra like you can Hinata-chan"
"Its not seeing so much as feeling, if you can feel the pulse of the vital chakra of the tree you can match that pulse with your own. Just try putting your hand on the tree, and focus on feeling that pulse."
Despite a bit of confusion, Naruto did as Hinata had suggested, putting his hand on the nearest trunk, he prodded with his chakra until he felt a faint feeling. Like the ebb and flow of the tides, there was a distinct pattern to the flow of chakra through the tree, and gradually he began to synch his own chakra flow to that of the tree.
"Oi Hinata-chan,I think I'm doing it, my hands feel like they are glued to the tree!"
"I knew you could do it Naruto-kun" beamed Hinata happily, "However you need to do that same thing except with your feet."
"Kuso, that's gonna be a pain."
"Ano… it might be a bit painful but you could try it barefoot, it will help you feel the flow of chakra more easily."
"Honto Arigato Hinata-chan! I'll try just that now, see ya later and good luck with your own training!" were Naruto's parting words as he returned to his own isolation.
'Good luck Naruto-kun! I'm sure you will succeed' thought Hinata before continuing with her own obstacle.
--A Few Hours Later--
As the sun was beginning to set, Gai retrieved his students from their respective training areas. After they had all gathered he asked each of them to evaluate their own individual progress. After all, the surest way to lose a fight is to not understand your own capabilities, and measuring oneself objectively is a tough but valuable skill.
"Lee I'd like you to begin first, then Naruto, and lastly Hinata"
"Hai sensei, I could not find the emptiness you described but I shall continue putting the diligence of youth into the task." Replied Lee
"Good, but for now rest yourself, the fires of youth should drive you, but they must always be tempered by patience" Gai cautioned
"Ahh sensei! Such wisdom-" effused Lee before being interrupted
"Err moving on then…" Naruto interjected in an attempt to save himself and Hinata from another display of 'youthful passion'.
"Ahh Naruto, Did you conquer the tree with your display of youthful vigour?" queried Gai
"Well it took a while, but I did it! Though if it weren't for Hinata-chan I doubt I would have even made it halfway up" replied Naruto
"I-t-t w-w-was nothing Naruto-kun" Hinata quietly whispered while blushing profusely
"So beautiful to see such passionate teamwork, and how did your own activities fare?" Gai prompted
"Gai-sensei I did manage to get the vial to chime, however I'm not good enough to do it successfully on every try" replied Hinata
"Good, remember that what is most important is to make progress, mastery is a gradual thing. I'm proud of all three of you, and for now we should all get some rest." Gai advised "The bridge is nearing completion, and I have a feeling that those rogue shinobi we encountered will return for a second try soon."
A/N: The big battle(s) is/are coming up, so look forward to next chapter even if this one was a bit slow.