Alrighty! I do not own Naruto at all! All rights and regulations do go to Masashi Kishimoto! Azuna does belong to me however! Ok now to write this fan fiction I did use the episodes and I used all of the actual sentences said from the anime so all of those rights again go to the producers, Madman Entertainment and of course the beautiful voice actors and everyone on the crew. Thanks guys... hope you like it!
Chapter Eighteen: The Same Hidden Energy: Part Two:
Kakashi, Azuna, Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura had made their way out into the forest. Kakashi was on crutches and all the Genin stood in a line and although hesitant Kakashi was letting Azuna train. She didn't want to feel left out and if she was training she couldn't be questioned on her past with thankfully – due to Inari's interruption – the rest hadn't got a chance to talk to her about it.
"Alright, training starts now!" Kakashi announced. "First we will begin with the review of chakra – the ninja's basic source of power. Understanding chakra is essential."
"We know that." Sasuke said matter-of-factly.
"He's right!" Naruto chirped. "A long time ago we learnt about – uh – Catra!"
"Chakra." Kakashi corrected with a sigh. "Go ahead Sakura."
"Alright Naruto, I'll explain it simply so you can understand it." Sakura said. "Chakra is the elemental life energy a ninja uses in Jutsu – it's the source of all his power. Now this energy has two forms: Physical Energy that exists in all the cells in the entire body all working together and Spiritual Energy the primal source of power that is intensified through training and experience. As you see these two types of chakra must be drawn out and brought together in order to perform Jutsu. Notice the interplay between normal and spiritual power – that's the key. Finally hand signs focus and unleash the chakra."
"Right on all points." Kakashi praised. "Iruka- Sensei really did have some excellent students."
"Ha!" Sakura laughed sticking her tongue out at Naruto and Azuna but hoped she appeared smart in front of Sasuke.
"Gah! What's the big deal with all these complicated explanations! The whole point is to learn the Jutsu isn't it?" Naruto shouted.
"Naruto's right for once." Sasuke said calmly. "We're already using chakra energy in our Jutsu."
"NO! You have not mastered this power you've barely scratched the surface of it!" Kakashi yelled.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" Naruto screamed.
"Calm down and listen, it's just like Sakura said. You have to call on physical and spiritual energies and then combined them within yourself. But – how do you do that? Each Jutsu requires different types of chakra in different proportions. You must select and combine them in exactly the right way. Up to now you've just guessed at the proportions – hoping they'd come out right. Even if you produce a lot of chakra unless you can balance and control it it's all worthless! The Jutsu won't work at all or it'll just be a joke. You waste so much energy that way, then you're out of chakra and you can't fight at all. You're just a target!" Kakashi explained.
"Well, uh how do we change that?" Naruto asked laughing as he scratched the back of his head.
"Train so hard that control your chakra becomes second nature. To achieve this goal you must be ready to put your life on the line."
Azuna wanted to say that she could already do this. That she could control her chakra perfectly because Nozomi almost made that point clear. She had been in complete control of her chakra for years now. But maybe Kakashi wouldn't believe her. Whatever they were doing Azuna hoped it was a little challenging.
"What, do we have to do?" Sakura asked after a moment of hesitation.
Kakashi chuckled and looked up at them. "Climb a tree."
"Climb a tree?" All four Genin asked in disbelief.
"That's right. But, there's just one rule: No Hands."
"What? You're kidding? Sakura asked while deadpanning.
Well it's safe to say I've never done that before. Is it easier than walking on water because I can do that in my sleep! It should be easier though, considering that this tree isn't going anywhere and water is constantly moving. I should be able to do this – hopefully.
"Am I?" Kakashi taunted. "Let's see."
Kakashi focused for a moment and then started to make his way over to the tree. Because of his crutches he was going very slowly. But when he made it to the tree he placed his foot on it confidently and then started to walk his way up, still using his crutches.
"He's climbing." Naruto said in awe.
"Straight up and he's only using his feet." Sakura finished for Naruto.
"That's amazing." Azuna breathed watching as Kakashi walked onto a branch upside down. He didn't seem faze that he was hanging upside down. Kakashi really is incredible. Azuna thought in admiration.
"Well you get the idea." Kakashi laughed. "Focus the chakra to the souls of your feet and use it to connect to the tree. This is one way to apply to power of chakra."
"Wait a minute!" Sakura yelled. "That's a nice trick but how does it help us fight Zabuza?"
"It's the only way to fight him Sakura. That's the entire goal of this training. First you'll learn to draw a precise amount of chakra to a precise point in your body. This is difficult even for advanced ninja. This type of type of climbing requires a subtle mix of physical and spiritual energy. And the bottoms of the feet and the most difficult places to focus chakra. Are you getting the picture? If you can master this you'll be able to master any Jutsu! Well, theoretically. The second point is to learn to maintain your chakra levels. When a ninja is focused in battle it's even harder to control and maintain his chakra levels – a deadly mistake. To avoid this maintaining chakra must become second nature –effortless. Well I could talk about this all day but that won't advance your skills will it? You need to apply the power of chakra through training." Kakashi explained holding four Kunai knives in his hand. He threw them down so that a Kunai landed in front of each student.
"Use the Kunai knife to mark the tree the highest you can climb – without using your hands. Then try to get past that mark the next time and the next. At first you'll need to run at the tree so your momentum can take you as high as possible. Until you get used to it. Ready?"
Naruto, Sasuke, Azuna and Sakura all tore their Kunai from the ground and grinned up at their teacher. "I'm more than ready this is going to be no sweat all the way believe it!" Naruto shouted. "Remember what you said Sensei I'm the one who's grown the most!"
"You're definitely the one who talks the most. NOW GET FOCUSED AND DO IT!" Kakashi yelled. "And Azuna if your wound gives you trouble go back to the house. We don't want you reopening it."
"Yes Sensei." Azuna said as she began to focus.
The rest of the group began to focus as well. Naruto was giving himself encouragement through his mind while trying to draw up his energy. First I need to draw the chakra to the bottom of my feet. Then all at the same time everyone felt their chakra and began to charge at different tree.
As Azuna was running she could almost feel herself sticking to the ground. Man I think I'm putting in too much chakra. She thought as her feet finally made contact with the tree. As Naruto ran at his tree he got to steps up it before he fell back down again clutching his head in pain. Sasuke had made it about several metres up the tree before one of his feet burst the bark. He quickly made a mark with his Kunai before he jumped back and landed on the ground with ease. This is harder than I thought. The balance has to be perfect. If the chakra's to strong it smashes the tree and pushes you off. But if it's not strong enough you just tumble back down, like Naruto. Sasuke thought gazing at his tree to Naruto rolling on the floor.
"That's about what I expected from Sasuke, and Naruto." Kakashi said sighing as he looked at his blonde haired student.
"Hey this is fun!" Sakura called. Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi all turned towards the sound of her voice and found her way up high in a tree. She was sitting on a branch and grinning down at her team mates.
"Well, looks like half of the female population of the squad has the most advanced chakra control. Well done Sakura." Kakashi praised. Hmm, where is Azuna?
"Yeah well done Sakura I always knew you were awesome! Believe it!" Naruto cheered. It does sort of tick me off though.
"Whatever." Sasuke grumbled looking around for Azuna.
I thought Sasuke would be impressed but now he's mad at me! Sakura thought in dismay bowing her head. Why's it always like that?
"Well not only does Sakura understand chakra she can control and maintain it as well. We spoke about someone becoming Hokage one day didn't we? Seems Sakura's got the best chance of that wouldn't you say? And as for the great Uchiha Clan, well maybe they're not so great after all."
"Shut up Sensei you talk too much!" Sakura yelled. Sasuke's gonna hate me now!
"Hey! Can I come down now?" Azuna's voice rang from above them. Everyone peered up into the canopy of the trees but they could not see her. "I mean the clouds are pretty and all but this height is making me nervous."
"What! Clouds?" Sasuke almost shouted running forward to get a better look. Naruto followed Sasuke movements and as they both squinted into the sky they could see flashes of Azuna's long blue hair against her yellow Kimono at the very top of the trees. Sakura and Kakashi already being in trees could see her more clearly and behind Kakashi's mask his mouth was hanging open.
How the? On the first try? Has she done this before? When I was talking about it she looked so confused, as if she hadn't. And then she looked like she was trying to convince herself that she could do it! This girl really is the Prodigy Child. She really is what they call her: The Lady of the Ocean.
"Well, well it looks like if we are going back to the Hokage statement Azuna has Mizukage in the bag. And well, looks like the Momochi's are far greater than the Uchiha's. Well done Azuna, you may come back down if you wish."
How is she so good at everything? Did she go through some kind of special training? Does she have a secret Kekkei Genkai? How is she so strong and talented? How is it that she has a 'formal name' and that she is so important to her village to be given one? How can she be the daughter of a creep like Zabuza and still be this amazing girl? Why is she so special? Sasuke thought as slowly Azuna started to make her way down.
"Seriously guys, I don't mean to be a drama queen here but ah!" Azuna said her voice shaking slightly as she talked before she squealed. Azuna lost her grip on the tree branch for a moment which caused her to cry out but as soon as she composed herself she continued. "But this height is seriously terrifying."
"You're a ninja how can you be afraid of heights?" Sasuke wondered aloud slightly mocking her.
"Well, I don't know. I think it may have something to do with the fact that – crap!" Azuna hissed as she lost her balance again. Only this time, she couldn't recover. As she was only halfway to Sakura she began to fall at quite a high height.
"Oh no." Kakashi breathed, feeling completely useless at this stage.
As Azuna fell she dug around in her weapons pouch and pulled out two Kunai she held one in each hand and spun in the air. She dug her knives into the closest tree she could catch but she was still be dragged to the ground. The Kunai were making deep gouges in the tree where they were ripping through but Azuna knew they had stopped her from falling fast and hard.
Despite this information Azuna squinted her eyes shut and they were still tightly shut when she stopped moving. "Azuna." Sasuke said loudly although to Azuna's ears he felt a thousand miles away. "Azuna you can open your eyes now."
Azuna's feet were only three inches from ground but she still refused to open her eyes. Sasuke took another step closer to her as he already stood near her. He was getting ready to catch her if he needed to and only he could see how tightly she was holding onto the Kunai. "Azuna." He said again touching her hand softly.
"I really hate heights." She breathed shakily as she finally let go of the Kunai. She opened her eyes briefly before shutting them again and fell backwards. As she was about to hit the ground Sasuke caught her and sent a confused glare at her closed eyes.
"What the heck?" He hissed slapping her cheeks slightly to get her to wake up.
"Forget it Sasuke she's out cold. Her injuries and her fear of the height caused her to pass out. She'll wake up soon. Just place her near a tree." Kakashi said shaking his head and laughing at his blue haired student.
Sasuke did as he was told and then walked backwards away from her resuming the position he was in before. "Alright, despite Azuna's little...hiccup, she made it all the way to the top, on the first try, effortlessly. You'll never be able to match her, well, unless, you try super hard Oh So Great Uchiha and apparent Future Hokage." Kakashi mocked.
Naruto and Sasuke turned to each other glaring. If looks could kill these two would have died a long time ago. Alright, I think they're motivated. Kakashi thought pleased. Of course Naruto and Sasuke both have far more chakra within. If this training works their mastery of chakra will become a valuable asset.
"Alright! First I'll match Sasuke! Then I'm going all the way to the top! Believe it!" Naruto cheered.
Azuna groaned in her sleep. Something isn't right here. She thought as she gazed around in her dream. This just feels wrong. What the heck is it? She was standing on large rocks near the ocean. The sea was slowly growing wilder and Azuna looked to the sky as large storm clouds appeared overhead and bolts of lightning dove into the sea. She stared into the storm, squinting her eyes and not bothering to shield herself from the rain.
The closer she looked into the storm the more clearer the image became. She saw a flash of pale blond hair that reached the shoulders of someone. As Azuna looked harder she noticed that it was a boy and she could see him surrounded by lightning. What is this? She wondered scared. Suddenly Azuna saw pale grey eyes suddenly turn darker and darker until they were black. Then, in the onyx eyes were flashes of bright yellow light. This boy had lightning in his eyes. Azuna screamed before the dream slipped away and she was left with an empty mind. A sleep of hollow dreams.
Back inside the deep dark forest where the sun shined blue and purple Zabuza lay in a bed. The bright blue cover was thrown over him so that you could only see his head. Haku sat beside him on a stool watching Zabuza as he rested. He was thinking about Azuna and how his smile could always make her laugh. He wished that he could see her smile again. But maybe, now that they were enemies, he would never see that smile again.
Suddenly the door to the room opened and footsteps echoed the halls. They shut the door with a squeak and Haku turned slightly towards the people. Haku saw Gato in the middle, the short man who thought that he could rule the world and on either side of him two ninja with swords at their waists.
"Some Jounin. The unbeatable ninja just got beat – limping back home like some pathetic weakling." Gato chuckled. "Demon of the Hidden Mist more like: Coward of the Hidden Mist!"
Gato's last statement cause Haku to stand up, stomping his feet loudly. He did not turn around but a blind man could tell that he was mad. The two ninja beside Gato stepped closer to him and readied their swords to attack Haku if necessary.
"Drawing swords?" Haku asked teasingly.
"Hang on a minute." Gato ordered stepping through the ninja and walking right up next to Zabuza. "Alright let's see what you have to say about this fiasco. And don't play possum I know you can talk."
He reached his hand over to Zabuza to either pull the blanket down or strangle him. Haku didn't wait to find out if it was one of those options or another. His hand snaked out and grabbed Gato's arm firmly.
"Keep your filthy hands off of him." Haku hissed through gritted teeth squeezing harder on Gato's arm.
"GAH! YOU'RE GONNA BREAK IT!" Gato screamed in pain.
The two ninja protecting Gato reached for their swords ready to attack Haku. He saw this and appeared behind them grabbing their swords right from their hands. Haku held the swords in the form of an X so that the blades brushed along the ninja's necks. That's impossible. The large one with the tattoo thought. No one can move that fast. The ninja with grey hair breathed.
"Don't push me! I'm in a really foul mood." Haku warned threateningly glaring at the ninja.
Haku chucked the swords away and moved back to Zabuza's side. "Argh one chance and that's it! Fail this time and I'll cut you off and there'll be no one left to cover for you!" Gato shouted before turning back to his ninja. "Let's go."
The three left the room and Haku sat back down on the stool he was on before. Zabuza gave him a disapproving look before scolding him. "Haku, that wasn't necessary."
In truth Zabuza was going to kill Gato right there and then. He had a Kunai knife in his hand under the sheets ready to stab him with he got close enough. And Haku knew.
"Perhaps, but it's too early to take out Gato. He's still our best cover. Think about it. The murders would draw their attention. Then they'd be after us again. We need restraint." Haku said talking about the Kirigakure Tracker-Ninja.
"Ah, right." Zabuza sighed closing his eyes and going back to sleep.
Back in the forest where the young Genin were training Azuna had woken up and was ordered back to the house. Naruto was still trying his hardest the climb the tree but was finding it really difficult. Sasuke was the same and he was glaring at his tree but he just wanted to set it on fire. Sakura, although good at it, still needed to train to get to the top. She was lying on the ground however panting from exhaustion. She looked over at Naruto and Sasuke with a confused looked before shutting her eyes briefly.
I'm totally worn out. How can they just keep going like that? She wondered. Ha! Naruto isn't making any progress at all. Knowing him any minute know he'll give up and throw a tantrum. Just as she thought Naruto stomped his foot and yelled at the tree. There he goes. He's so predictable it's embarrassing.
What Sakura didn't predict was Naruto walking over to her and sitting down beside her. "Hey, you're good at this, how about some advice?" Naruto asked. "But please don't tell Sasuke I asked. Please! Please!"
Sakura just looked at him in shock while Sasuke looked over wondering what he was doing. Kakashi smiled at Naruto and Sakura and nodded his head. He's catching on. From now on he'll get stronger and stronger. How strong? After all Naruto possesses more chakra than Sasuke. In fact, the amount of chakra he possesses is greater than my own.