Chapter 10
「此処と其処の間は私たちが在ります。」-J R LeDoux
(I told you I'm taking Japanese. ~_^)
It has to be a special technique, Naruto thought to himself, lying on his back watching the fluffy clouds roll by. He was in a training field, a fair distance from the village itself, which was perfect since he needed to be able to think. Naruto wasn't an idiot... he knew he had some trouble concentrating on thinking, and he figured that eliminating distractions was the easiest way to stop it.
He sighed. Hinata was training again today, and while they'd spent time together nearly every evening, it was a little annoying that he couldn't see her during the day. She knew what she was doing... he trusted her... still...
But Naruto had taken the time to himself as an opportunity to create his own technique, like he'd been working on before. Unfortunately he wasn't any closer to his technique. He still wasn't even sure what kind of technique he should try to make.
During their time with Sora, both Naruto and Hinata had learned many techniques. Sora had demanded that they know some basic elemental techniques, as well as summons. Naruto of course knew the Rasengan and the Shadow Clone Technique, and Hinata had learned several useful Genjutsu.
Maybe that's what he should do... a Genjutsu that was tailor made for someone with lots of chakra. Naruto frowned. But there were so many bloodlines that made Genjutsu useless; also there were plenty of bloodlines that made other people incredibly good at Genjutsu. A Genjutsu with lots of chakra almost seemed like a waste of time.
If he had really, really good chakra control, then maybe he could just learn regular Genjutsu. Naruto jolted up. That was it!
There's literally dozens of techniques that I could use if only I had better chakra control! If I spend time training to help my control, instead of a new technique, that'll be a lot more useful than creating a brand new Ninjutsu! Naruto smiled in satisfaction, before scowling again at the trees. But I've done almost all of the chakra control exercises! And I still have terrible control compared to others!
Naruto laid back down, his hands behind his head, and began to watch the clouds pass again. How would he help his chakra control if he'd mastered all the chakra control training exercises he knew and still needed more practice?
Wait! That's it! Instead of making my own technique, I'll create my own training methods! Naruto's mind instantly went into overdrive. For once, it felt like he was thinking too fast.
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Neji watched with interest as Hinata seemed to meditate. They had been practicing the Jyuuken together for about a week, and Hinata had said she wanted to try something. Neji was thoroughly impressed by her progress so far, and was intrigued by what she was doing. He supposed it was something she learned while she was away.
They were standing in one of the many similar training fields, enjoying the mostly sunny day. Or if not enjoying, then taking advantage of.
Hinata focused on her breathing. She had never practiced the principals much before the fight with Hanabi, and had only been able to use Intention a few times. If she was honest, it still made her uneasy to surrender so much of herself to chakra, even if it was her own.
But this was different. Now that she had to do it, it was the only thing she could think of.
She had vastly improved her use of the Jyuuken in the brief time she'd been practicing with Neji, almost as if her body was ready to learn the form now. But more than anything, her practice with Neji had taught her that while she was beginning to finally master the form of her own heritage, Neji was on an entirely different level. For him it was as if the form were a blank canvas, and he was an artist furiously applying layer after layer of chromatic inspiration. It wasn't even a fair comparison. She'd never seen any Hyuuga so good at the form in all her time observing the elite of the clan. As much as he'd never admit it, Hinata firmly felt Neji was a level beyond her father. Though he'd just smirk and activate the seal...
Hinata shook her thoughts clear, focusing again. She couldn't afford for her mind to wander right now. Her mind slowly went over the Jyuuken... how the body moved, how the strikes fell, how your weight shifted... she filled her thoughts with what she felt must be the essence of the form itself and slowly gathered her chakra into a tight ball. Smaller... tighter...
Choose the principal, and make it you. Make it your direction and your thoughts themselves.
Devotion.
She was going to devote herself to the Jyuuken and all of its intricacies. She was going to be flawless in execution and fluid in movement.
Let the chakra unwind and go.
She opened her eyes and launched into her forms with renewed vigor, the strikes flowing seamlessly. Neji raised an eyebrow. To him, she was much more complete in her execution now. It seemed less forced and more natural. Strange. He'd have to inquire about what it was she did.
Hinata frowned, coming to a stop, letting the remaining chakra relax. It hadn't worked. Not really. Her execution was better than usual, but it hadn't really been Intention. It hadn't been right. She hung her head for a moment, a weary sigh escaping. She hadn't been intent enough; hadn't willed strongly enough.
"Impressive," Neji said. "Whatever you did helped your form noticeably." Hinata shook her head.
"No, it didn't work like it was supposed to." She looked at Neji, a bit worn from all the training. "Intention is supposed to surrender part of your control to your chakra. You focus on the intent of your actions, and let the chakra control the motions to accomplish it. Theoretically, since your chakra is simply following your intent, it shouldn't matter what form you use intention with. It's a very advanced form of battle meditation." Neji looked at her questioningly.
"What do you mean by intent?" Hinata walked over and they sat down against a couple of trees, relaxing a bit.
"The Kaze developed Intention in order to use chakra. It was how they utilized themselves. Long ago, they were a much more enlightened group... they were even more enlightened a hundred years ago..." She trailed off pausing as if recalling a memory. "When they were first learning to fight, they began to examine the nature of chakra itself, and found that chakra was composed of Nine Principals of Intent. Nine ideas... all chakra, or at least all human chakra, embodied these nine ideas.
"They are: Protection, Destruction, Control, Containment, Love, Devotion, Sacrifice, Power and Self. Shortly after, the Kaze developed Intention as a way to bend the Nine Principals of Chakra to the intent of the user, but it requires a very strong will." Hinata shook her head. "I was able to do it during the fight with Hanabi because of how intent I was on winning. It was the only thing in my mind." Neji nodded slowly in understanding.
"I see." He seemed to consider something for a moment. "We're done for the day."
Hinata nodded, standing and brushing off. Maybe she'd go see what Naruto was doing...
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Naruto settled himself in the middle of the field, cross-legged. It hadn't taken him very long to decide on a place to start for his training; it was just a matter of looking at what his strengths were and designing something that worked with them.
He had a lot of chakra, and not much control, so he needed something that required a lot of chakra, and had layers of difficulty, for when he got better at chakra control. It hadn't taken him very long lying in the grass to come up with an idea.
All living things have chakra, and so do the elements. Chakra control was all about controlling the interaction of chakra inside and outside the body. For most people, their chakra was so small that controlling anything outside of their bodies was beyond hopeless without the assistance of hand seals, but Naruto had plenty of chakra to spare.
So there he sat in the field, eyes closed, nose scrunched in concentration. His first task was to see just how viable this idea was. He focused on his own chakra, much like he did for his Kaze training, only he slowly and evenly pushed it out of his body like he did to walk on water. As he increased the amount of chakra slowly and paid close attention, he began to notice a little bit of fuzziness just outside his body. It was almost like seeing a painting with your hands instead of your eyes, he decided.
He could... sense something. But it was all so jumbled and mixed up. A breeze suddenly kicked up, gusting through his hair, and Naruto jolted out of his meditation. As the wind had picked up, he'd felt something stronger and clearer, until the wind had gotten strong enough that his chakra just seemed to melt into nothingness.
Hmmm... this could be difficult. Naruto pondered how he could improve the training technique until after a few moments he noticed a movement on his left near the tree line. Whipping his head around he saw Hinata staring at him, smiling warmly. He loved the way she smiled at him... there were plenty of people that smiled at him now, but not many smiled with their eyes... Hinata did.
"Hina-chan!" he called out, jumping to his feet. He ran towards her as she began moving in his direction, and as they met Naruto scooped her up in his arms, bringing her in close. He took in a deep breath, his nose filling with the scent of lilacs and the unique smell of Hinata. Her body was warm, and soft, and as Naruto held her close, cherishing the warmth and scent of the moment, the rest of the world seemed to melt away into a blur of sound and color that he could neither see nor hear properly.
His eyes were closed, and the only thing that stood out in his ears was the sound of Hinata's breathing right next to his head, and for a while, time stopped for them.
"Naruto-kun..." she purred softly, he smiled, slowly pulling back so he could look her in the eye.
"Hina-chan..." Naruto moved his face in towards hers, until their foreheads were touching, gazing confidently into her soft eyes. They could feel each other breathing, their faces only inches apart, and Hinata blushed stronger than she had in a long time as her entire vision was occupied by the intense yet comforting sight of Naruto's piercing blue eyes.
"We need to get to our class..." Hinata whispered. Naruto didn't make any movement to show that he had heard her, continuing to star into her gaze for a few more moments before slowly bringing his lips forward a few more inches, capturing hers.
No matter how many times they kissed, Hinata always marveled at how soft and warm his kisses felt. She felt herself sink into Naruto, and for the first time in a while the kiss made her weak in the knees. It was a very intimate kiss.
Naruto pulled away, neither sure how long it had been.
"Well we should go then..." Naruto said breathlessly. His voice brought another blush to her cheeks. Naruto always spoke so confidently and loudly, and whenever he spoke with his breathless voice it made Hinata feel so special and close, like it was a voice he used only for her.
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"Alright, now I want everyone to pay attention to Naruto-sensei as he demonstrates the strike." Hinata looked around the practice field and saw the nods of understanding coming from her students before she turned to meet Naruto's eyes. He nodded as well before settling into the proper stance.
The students watched in fascination as Naruto demonstrated a flowing combo intended to disarm an opponent of a bladed weapon. After a few times, the students all found space from each other and began to run through the combination.
Naruto walked around watching and giving suggestions, as Hinata did the same with a different group of students. He came up to Daisuke and paused; the boy was a natural talent for the form. I should ask him...
"Daisuke, stop for a moment. I got something I want to talk to you about." The boy looked up at Naruto with a frown, but dropped his arms to his sides and followed Naruto a bit away from the class. Naruto looked at him for a moment, like he was trying to find something in the boy's face.
"Daisuke, who are your parents?" The boy's body language was easy to read. Immediately his eyes darted away and he shifted uncomfortably.
"I grew up in an orphanage." Naruto waited for a few seconds, but Daisuke didn't seem to be offering any more.
"I'm sorry if it's a bit uncomfortable for you, but why?" Daisuke looked up at Naruto, frustration written on his face.
"Why do you want to know?" he spat. Naruto sighed.
"Were you born in Konoha?" Daisuke's expression changed at once to astonishment.
"No... I..." He looked down. "I was found by a ninja on a mission while I was a baby. I was in a basket on a river, and all I had with me was this necklace." Daisuke reached beneath his shirt and pulled out a chain with a pendant on the end. It was a billowing cloud with a lightning bolt through it. That was all Naruto needed to see.
"Why are you named Amenaka?" Daisuke silently flipped the pendant over and saw that his name was engraved on the other side. "I see." Naruto watched the boy shift again uncomfortably, wondering what to say.
"Wait," Daisuke said, coming to a sudden realization. "Why were you asking?" Naruto sighed.
"After class, you and me are gonna go get some ramen. I've got something we need to talk about."
Daisuke wanted his questions answered now, but Naruto was adamant, and returned the boy to his practicing before going off to work with some of the other students. Throughout the rest of the day, Daisuke's mind was completely preoccupied with his coming discussion with Naruto.
Since he had only one class after Naruto's, it wasn't long before the school day was over, and he ran out of the Academy to see Naruto waiting by the fence. He looked troubled, or at least Daisuke thought he did.
"Let's go," Naruto said simply, and Daisuke followed silent as they went through Konoha to Naruto's favorite ramen stand. "Hey! Ayame-chan! One pork for me, and whatever Daisuke wants!" The boy eyed Naruto for a moment, before turning to the cheery young woman.
"Miso, please." Daisuke ran his fingers over the pendant thoughtfully. "Why did you ask about my family, Sensei?" Naruto looked seriously at him.
"Because while I was on my training mission, I met your family. Your real family." Daisuke's eyes widened and he seemed frozen, as if a statue.
"My... family?" Naruto nodded. "MY FAMILY!?" Daisuke jumped out of his seat.
"Calm down and let me explain," Naruto told him, motioning for him to sit back down. "Hmmm... where to start..." Naruto looked thoughtful, his face scrunched up in concentration as Ayame set down their bowls in front of them. Naruto thanked her, began to eat, and stopped after finishing his first bite.
"The Kaze clan experienced a branch family revolt several years ago. It was bloody, and ruthless, and in lots of ways, meaningless. Just an excuse for killing... but when that happened, a lot of things changed for the Kaze.
"The old families that were loyal to the old Reifujin, that's their leader, were slowly eliminated, imprisoned or forced out. But out of tradition, they were not simply removed. The family that served the Reifujin as the Royal Guards were slowly destroyed, person by person." Naruto pointed at the pendant. "That is the symbol of the Royal Guards of the Kaze." Daisuke's eyes narrowed.
"What exactly are you saying." Naruto looked off for a moment, as if remembering something.
"The Amenaka's were the Royal Guard's of the family, and that is the symbol of their family. You were born from the Kaze." Daisuke stared at Naruto in shock.
"You... met my family?" Naruto nodded. "But... why did they send me away?" Naruto looked thoughtful once more.
"I don't think they sent you away. I think that your mother, or maybe both your parents, I'm not sure, left the Kaze as the revolt happened, and they took you with them. I don't know what happened to your parents, but they must have traveled east towards the Elemental Nations, where you were found by a Konoha ninja." Daisuke looked at his ramen, his appetite gone.
"Do I have any family left?" Daisuke nearly whispered. Naruto smiled.
"You sure do. You must be their cousin... they helped me and Hina-chan a lot while we were there, when we first were... err... meeting the Kaze. In fact, your cousin is the Reifujin now! His name's Raoul." Naruto watched the boy for his reaction, but Daisuke was strangely subdued.
"Then my parents are dead." Naruto frowned.
"Well, we don't know that. Lots of things could have happened."
"No," Daisuke said emphatically. "If they escaped the uprising and tried to get away, the only reason that I'd be left like that is if they died. I refuse to believe anything else." Daisuke looked angry. "I don't want to believe anything else..."
Naruto and Daisuke fell into an uncomfortable silence as they both slowly went through their ramen. It was a lot for Daisuke to take in, and he ran over everything Naruto had told him several times. He had relatives... Daisuke put his chopsticks down.
"I need to go to the Kaze. I need to see them." Naruto looked startled.
"Look kid, it's not exactly a piece of cake getting all the way to the Kaze, and you don't even know how to get there."
"But you do." Daisuke said pointedly. Naruto looked annoyed.
"I'm not taking you all the way to the Kaze just to say hello. Not right now. There's more important things going on for now, and I can't take that long for a field trip. I told you because you deserved to know." Naruto sighed. "Look kid, wait until you get out of the Academy. I'll see if I can take you some time, okay? In the mean time, I'll train you. You can be my apprentice!" Naruto puffed up, looking proud, and Daisuke smiled.
"Alright, it's a deal!"
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Sora and Yasu sipped their tea, but Kakashi sat stoically, staring off in deep thought. Miki had long ago been put to sleep, and they were sitting in the kitchen around the small circular table there, scrolls and books spread out everywhere in front of them.
"I have to leave tomorrow," Kakashi said. He cast a weary look toward Sora then Yasu. "I've already been here a week longer than I was supposed to. Tsunade is expecting me back."
"We'll be coming to Konoha soon," Yasu assured him. "All three of us."
Yasu was in much better spirits now, and seemed much more like the old Yasu that Sora remembered. For the first time in a long time, Sora had seen Yasu smile and heard her laugh. Although it did annoy her that most of those laughs came at the expense of her and Kakashi... But to be honest, Sora had found herself smiling and laughing more recently too. I guess we just needed someone else to help us break out of our routine...
"Right, we'll be heading down once I've finished up the work I have now." Sora looked across the table seriously. "Kakashi, there's something we want to share with you before you leave." He lifted his single visible eyebrow in apparent amusement.
"Oh?" Sora pulled out a large scroll from underneath everything and began to unroll it. There were lines and lines of complex formulas on the sheet, stretching as far as she pulled the paper out.
"This is what I've been working on." She looked back up at Kakashi. "It's a way to alter the Fourth's seal, to protect Naruto from losing control of the Kyuubi's chakra." Kakashi eyed the scroll with interest.
"While still allowing him to draw chakra from the seal?" Sora nodded.
"I don't know how much it'll allow him to draw... it will probably limit him somewhat, but he won't have to worry about losing control nearly as much." Kakashi looked over some of the formulas, recognizing bits and pieces offhandedly. There was a lot of work put into this research he could tell.
"How close are you?" Sora pointed to a line of text.
"I've got the mechanism down, and I know how I can change the seal without any danger to Naruto, but I still haven't found a way to purify the chakra. The problem is that the fox's chakra has too much evil intent; it overwhelms his body and his mind." Kakashi looked at the line and saw the missing piece in the formula.
"You should show this to Jiraiya," Kakashi told her. "You and I are both good at sealing, but Jiraiya is a master sealer, and he's most familiar with the Fourth's seal." Sora nodded, rolling up the scroll.
"I plan on it once we get there, but I need to wrap up all my research here first. Yasu has been helping me with some of it, and there are a few things she wants to finish up as well." Yasu nodded vigorously, her eyes suddenly cold.
"The next time we meet, Itachi's sharingan will do him no good," she spat venomously. "I'm going to make sure of it." Kakashi raised his eyebrow again.
"That's a pretty tall order."
"I'll do it," she reiterated. Kakashi shrugged. He didn't doubt her passion or her ability, only that it was possible.
"Speaking of Itachi, do you know anything new about Akatsuki, Kakashi?" The silver haired ninja shook his head at Sora.
"No, we know about as much as you do. Itachi is a member, and they are seeking the jinchuuriki's, though we don't know why." Kakashi sighed. "We don't even know who's running them. Somehow I doubt it's Itachi."
"Well obviously it's the bijuu's they're after, and not the jinchuuriki's themselves. But why?" Kakashi shook his head.
"Whatever it is, it can't be good for Konoha or for Naruto." Sora nodded.
"Maybe next time we meet them, we'll be able to ask some questions." Yasu shook her head.
"I wouldn't count on it."
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Naruto smiled as he watched Hinata scurry back and forth around the kitchen. He liked watching her cook.
"Ne, Hina-chan, what are we having for dinner?" His voice was soft, and he'd come to call it his 'Hinata voice'. She looked up and smiled.
"I'm going to make tempura with Soba noodles, Naru-kun." He nodded and watched as she went back to work. He didn't want to tell her, because he thought she might laugh, but part of the reason he would watch her cook was because he wanted to learn to cook himself. It always made him happy when she cooked for him, and he imagined it would make her feel happy if he cooked for her.
Naruto had come to enjoy this way of ending his days slowly with Hinata, and before long he found himself on the couch with her in his arms, their appetites sated. She would have to go soon, he knew, but the warmth was so nice. He hadn't had that warmth for his entire life, and it was something he never wanted to be without now.
"Hina-chan," Naruto said. She was lying with her back against his chest, and moved her head to look up at his face. "You make me feel so happy." A smile washed over her expressions. Naruto thought she looked radiant.
"You make me feel happy too, Naru-kun..." She leaned up and their lips touched. It was beginning to become a familiar feeling for Naruto, and it was one he didn't want to go without.
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The following day was a day off for Hinata. She wasn't like Naruto, and still needed at least little breaks to recuperate her energy every so often, though after the intense training with Sora, those times were few and far between.
She was sitting in one of the vacant studies in the Hyuuga estate, a scroll out in front of her, practicing her calligraphy. It was soothing, and was one of her favorite ways to spend these resting days. The door opened behind her and she turned to see her father staring harshly at her brush.
"Hinata, please come with me." Hinata hesitated, but rose to her feet and followed Hiashi out into the hall. They entered one of the state rooms, and Hiashi motioned for her to sit on one of the pillows.
"Yes father?" He paused.
"Do you hate me?" She looked up at him startled, searching his eyes for meaning. They were as empty as always.
"Does it matter to you?" Hiashi stared at his daughter for a few moments.
"No." Hinata sighed before bowing her head.
"I hate some of the things you do. I do not hate you." Hiashi nodded.
"A proper answer. Is it truly how you feel?"
"Yes."
"I see." Hiashi paused again, and uncomfortable silence falling between them. "Do you love anyone?"
Hinata's mind raced. Did he find out about Naruto? Was this all a test? Was he setting her up for something?
"Does that matter?" Hiashi again stared his daughter down.
"No, but you seem to think it does." Hiashi sighed, almost as if he didn't want to be here any more than her. "Hinata, love is a feeling. It is fleeting, and it is weakness. It is the blind spot of an otherwise perfect life that allows poor judgment, inferiority and mercy to alter otherwise correct decisions."
"How can you say such a thing?" Hinata responded, affronted. "Love is not a weakness, it is the greatest of strengths. It allows people to be more than they are."
"No, Hinata. It allows people to think they are more than they are. It clouds their mind and keeps them from seeing the reality before them." Hinata began to flush with anger.
"Is that why I am weak, father?" She spoke the last word with a heavy dose of sarcasm. "I feel, and that makes me weak? Is that the same weakness that defeated Hanabi in moments?" Hiashi's eyes flashed dangerously.
"Do not address your father and your clan leader like this! You will show the proper respect!" Hiashi seemed to calm himself down before continuing. "Hinata, you are my daughter, and I wish for you to be all that you can, but your capacity to feel is causing you to settle for less than you are. You are weak when you should be powerful. You are indecisive when you should be strong willed." Hiashi looked off as if remembering something. "You love when you should be indifferent." Hinata had seen the look in his eye before.
Hiashi smiled warmly at Hinata as she showed him the calligraphy she'd just finished.
"Very good, Hinata-chan." Hiashi took the scroll and showed the smiling woman next to him. Hinata looked up hopefully at her.
"Did I do a good job kaa-san?" The woman smiled kindly.
"You did a very good job, Hinata-chan." Hinata watched as her and Hiashi shared a warm look between them.
Hinata stared at her father in understanding.
"Do I remind you of mother?" Hinata saw Hiashi flinch ever so slightly, before his face formed a very sour look.
"You remind me of failure and weakness." Hinata however was unaffected by the slight, and looked down at the tatami mat.
I remember that look... Hinata thought to herself.
"Hizashi-sama was right," Hinata said quietly. Hiashi looked at her in anger. "The division between the main family and the branch family will tear our clan apart." Hinata felt a sting and found herself on the floor. Hiashi had struck her.
"Do not speak of my brother, child. You know nothing of the world and its ways." Hinata looked up at him, mild shock on her face.
"Is... that all you wanted, father?" she asked, getting back to her sitting position. Hiashi looked as if he was in a much more foul mood than when their conversation had begun.
"You are dismissed."
Hinata rose to her feet, bowed, and walked out of the room.
Mother's death destroyed you more than I realized... father...
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Naruto was in the same field as the day before, sitting in the lotus position, focusing.
I need to use more chakra this time, to really be able to feel it. Naruto slowly collected the chakra within him to prepare to meditate, when a thought suddenly occurred to him. He was trying to collect his chakra to train himself and heighten his self-awareness, and thus his control. But that was very close to the type of meditation the Kaze used to mold chakra with the principals... in fact there was a principal just for that.
Naruto cleared his mind, focusing on his goal. He was going to become one with the world around him. He was going to use his chakra to feel rather than see; to learn more about the air and the grass and the morning dew.
He collected the chakra in his core, tighter and stronger. Choose your principal.
Self.
He was going to completely focus himself inward by feeling outward. He was going to use his chakra to attain understanding.
Unwind and go.
The results were nearly instantaneous. Naruto felt an explosion of sense, as he suddenly became aware not just of the grass around him, but the nature of the grass itself. What made it different from the air and the dew. It was such an amazing epiphany, that after only a few moments, Naruto's concentration, his intention, broke, and the sense of the world around him melted away like wet paint dripping off a canvas.
That's it! Naruto thought excitedly, opening his eyes. No wonder no one's ever been able to perform this kind of practice before... it requires large amounts of chakra, focus and use of the nature of chakra itself. He smiled widely. I guess that would make sense... using the nature of chakra itself to help you learn about the nature of the world...
Naruto shrugged, jumping to his feet.
"What do you want, ero-sennin?" Jiraiya appeared in a swirl behind him.
"Oh? You knew I was here?" Naruto scoffed.
"Oh please, ero-sennin! I'm not the same weak ninja that left three years ago!" Jiraiya quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh?" He smirked. "Is that so? Well I suppose you deserve some real training then." Naruto eyed the toad sage suspiciously.
"What do you mean? I'm not interested in peeping!" Jiraiya smiled widely.
"But you'd be so good at it..."
"No!" Jiraiya's smile faded and he fixed Naruto with a very serious look. Naruto was surprised. He hadn't seen a look like that on Jiraiya's face except for the conversation about the Fourth.
"Well then how about some real training, Naruto." The blond nodded slowly.
"What do you mean by real training?" Jiraiya looked him in the eyes.
"No playing around, no peeping, no researching... I'll train you as an actual apprentice for the next three months, until the Jounin exam." Naruto looked him up and down, trying to judge if this was a trick.
"Why?" Jiraiya smiled, but this time it didn't look patronizing, like Jiraiya was humoring a small child.
"Because you aren't the same weak ninja that left three years ago," Jiraiya explained. "I trained your father as a real apprentice... I'll give you the same chance." Naruto stared at him, as if considering.
"Alright," Naruto said, nodding slowly. "No holding back."
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"I suppose this is goodbye," Sora said lamely, staring at Kakashi outside the entrance to the hidden House of Nanashi.
"For now..." Kakashi said, looking Sora in the eye with his eyelid half closed. They stared at each other for a few moments before Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
Sora sighed before turning to go back up the stairs... she wanted to go to Konoha right away, but it would have to wait just a little while.
Kakashi, now traveling back towards the Hidden Village of the Leaf, turned and looked at the retreating rock formation. I hope you can make it back soon... Kakashi turned back to his front. Naruto... I've got to help you while I still can...
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Author's Note: We're approaching the end of the first arc... things are going better than I hoped.^_^
The chapters are not as long as I have hoped for however. I keep looking back after I've posted and imagine other scenes that could or should go in that chapter. Well, I made this chapter so that I wouldn't look back at it like that. I really feel like ever scene that should be in this chapter, is.
Next chapter Neji and Hinata will square off. The next chapter could potentially be very long... I might break it into two chapters, I don't know.
Big props to "Redios" who left me a 700 word review! It actually made me feel guilty... That's only about one-sixth the length of an average chapter in this story... I must confess, getting such a well thought, and LONG review made me put so much more into this chapter. If someone was going to go through that much effort to write how my story made them feel, I was going to make it worth it.
So you guys can thank "Redios" for all the extra length and awesome that I added to this installment.
PS: The quote at the beginning reads: "Koko to soko no aida wa, watashitachi ga arimasu." Or "In the space between here and there, we exist".