I'm elated to be getting such positive feedback. Thank you very much! My updates come in bursts, simply due to the nature of my career as emergency medical personel. Most nights I have nothing to do, but type up another chapter, other nights I am going for the whole 48 hour shift. About the story, I have a really hairbrained idea about Naruto's fighting style with Kubikiri Houcho, I hope you like it. Also I hope you can figure out where I derived it from! Anyway, onward!
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Chapter 3: Kubikiri Houcho vs. Shimotsuki
"Zaiakuuuuuu!" yelled Naruto, waving like an idiot, this caught the attention of a warmer clothed Gaara and Zabuza.
Zabuza looked down at Gaara and jerked a finger in Zaiaku's direction, "I take it that is our third Gennin." As soon as Gaara nodded the jounin began to size him up, 'he looks like a swordsman, although he's weilding a katana why's it on his back?' he thought.
Gaara smirked, "I see you've found Shimotsuki"
"Hn," replied Zaiaku, "I see Naruto found his horse killer," then he eyed Zabuza, "Who's this?"
"Momochi Zabuza," replied Naruto, "He's going to be our Jounin sensei, he's also going to help us with our swordsmanship."
Zaiaku snorted, "I don't need-" he was cut off by the blade of Kubikiri Houcho being pressed against his neck. Looking over at Naruto he noticed it was missing from his back.
A cold voice came from behind him, "You hold your Katana like a Ninja-to, your stance was slack, and if I was an enemy your head would be rolling on the ground. Everything about your swordsmanship is atrocious at best." Releasing his head Zabuza tossed the huge sword back to Naruto, "I've forgotten more about sword fighting then you know right now. However, I will teach you everything." Then he smirked, "Now, we need to get where we're going. Training needs to begin as soon as possible."
Zaiaku was dumbfounded, 'He knew all that just from how I stand and carry my sword? When he moved, it was unreadable.'
'He is a master swordsman little one, it would be wise to learn from him.' Replied Shiva
Breaking out of his inner conversation Zaiaku nodded, "We'll make for my home now, I think there's enough room for all four of us." That said the group quietly departed. Zaiaku stepped in pace next to Zabuza, "That sword Naruto has, that's yours isn't it?"
Zabuza turned his eyes down at him, "It was yes." Then he ran his eyes over Shimotsuki, "My turn for a question. That sword you have, Shimotsuki, it's sentient isn't it?"
The white haired teen nodded, "In a way, it's part of me."
Zabuza turned his eyes forward again, "I know another sword like that. Can you awaken it?"
"Awaken?" replied Zaiaku, 'what is he talking about?'
"You'll see." Replied Zabuza cryptically.
'It is possible that he means to solidify Shimotsuki's chakra,' replied Shiva
Zaiaku cocked an eyebrow, 'You mean for an attack?'
The ice queen merely shrugged, "I'm as lost as you are little one."
An hour and a hell of a hike later the four reached the small house of Zaiaku, "Welcome to home for the next two years!" he exclaimed, "There is a hot spring behind the house, please bathe daily" he finished glaring at Naruto.
The blonde only grinned sheepishly, "What?"
Gaara scanned the house, it was small but it was enough, "Zabuza you can have the bedroom. Zaiaku, Naruto, and I will sleep in here."
Zaiaku and Zabuza nodded, Naruto quirked an eyebrow once the older man went to inspect his room, "Can you sleep?"
Gaara nodded in response, "When he was resealed apparently he corrected it, it was driving him mad as well. I'm coming to think that maybe he isn't as malicious as I originally thought."
'You're damn right!' cried Shukaku causing Gaara to snort.
"We'll pick up groceries tomorrow, along with three small beds to put on the floor. We won't be in here much, except to eat and sleep." Stated Zabuza as he rentered the room. "Get some sleep, we gather supplies tomorrow and start training."
The next morning all three were awoken by cold water hitting them in the face, "Wake up!" cried a disturbingly wide-awake Zabuza. Zaiaku glared, Naruto groaned, and Gaara looked like a deer caught in a headlight. "Get dressed, we've got to get to town and get started!" He reiterated a bit too loud.
"Shut up!" yelled Naruto
"That is no way to talk to your jounin sensei," quipped Zabuza
Zaiaku grabbed a brush and attempted to straighten his mid-back length hair, "Do we really have to call you Zabuza-sensei?" he questioned as his hair took it's normal place: parting to the side, partially covering his right eye.
"You should get used to it, it might be determined as a sign of disrespect if you just call me Zabuza at the exams." then he cocked an eyebrow at the teen's hair, "We're cutting that crap."
The white haired teen went wide-eyed, "W-what?" he stammered
'He wouldn't dare!' cried Shiva
Zabuza waived a lazy hand at his incredulous look, "Fine fine, we won't but the first time it gets in the way of your fighting it goes."
Four hours later the kitchen was stocked and three beds lay on the ground, "Now time for training, outside!" exclaimed Zabuza. Once all three teens were outside the jounin gave them a once over, "Alright first I want you two," he pointed to Zaiaku and Naruto, "to spar. I need to see where your kenjutsu level is."
Pairing off Naruto drew Kubikiri as Zaiaku drew Shimotsuki. Eyeing each other for a moment they began channeling their chakra, causing the snow to turn to ice around Zaiaku and melt around Naruto. After a moment Naruto leaped high into the air bringing down his cleaver hard, with a simple sidestep the white haired teen dodged. Spinning his body the blonde made a horizontal swing, Zaiaku leaped and planted his hand on the flat side of Kubikiri and vaulted into a kick to Naruto's chin, which he easily dodged.
'Zaiaku is faster and more lithe, he's a natural swordsman, but Naruto being able to swing Kubikiri like that is amazing. He looks like he's fought with it for years.' Thought Zabuza, "Ok, stop!" both teens halted, "Now incorporate some jutsu."
Both boys nodded, leaping back Naruto planted Kubikiri into the ground and formed his cross seal, "Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" (Shadow clone technique), immediately twenty Narutos appeared each weilding a Kubikiri. "Much better."
Kyuubi only rolled his eyes, 'This is garbage, kit.'
'I Know, I need to increase my own reserves before I try sucking down your chakra though' growled Naruto as he charged.
Zabuza was impressed, "Wow, not only shadow clones, but he even managed to incorporate his sword."
"It's his favorite technique...well, one of them." added Gaara
Zaiaku meanwhile was having hell dodging all the swords and on ocasion caught a small cut, 'enough of this' dropping back he sheathed his sword. He began sealing and called out, "Hyouton: Fuyu Kodachi no Jutsu!" (Ice Style: Winter Grove Technique) the ground rumbled slightly and then thin spikes of ice shot out at all different angles, killing several of the clones but missing Naruto entirely. 'That was pathetic I should be able to cover twice that range,' thought Zaiaku
'Do not become discourage little one, it will take time.' soothed Shiva
Zaiaku only grumbled in frustration. Dodging another round of ever assaulting Narutos he pulled out his sword and went to work, parrying and attacking. 'Trying to stop Naruto with force is stupid, he hits like a train. He's coordinating the clones to fill in the gaps in his attacks. I have to surprise him.' thought the white haired teen. Leaping up into the air he formed another set of seals, "Hyouton: Shigure no Jutsu!" (Ice Style: Winter Shower Technique) as he turned the condensation in the air into senbon they began to rain down on Naruto and his clones, destroying them one by one.
Zabuza was dumbfounded, "He can control Ice to that extent? Is that a bloodlimit?" he questioned.
"It's not a bloodlimit, but it is unique to Zaiaku," replied Gaara., "Don't think Naruto is weak though. Zaiaku is very good at jutsu, but he can only use Ice jutsu. Naruto on the other hand is horrible at sealing, but can use several jounin level techniques, he also has the most physical strength out of the three of us."
Zaiaku landed, immediatly having to dodge a huge overhand strike from Naruto that would've split him in half. "You look like a pin cushion, Naruto," he jibed gesturing to the three ice senbon imbedded in his arm and legs.
Naruto only snorted, "Yea well, you look like you've gotten into a fight with a cat" motioning to the multiple lacerations on the teens body.
"Oh? well then try this!" yelled Zaiaku as he flipped to a good distance and began sealing, "Hyouton: Haryuu no Jutsu!" (Ice Style: Piercing Dragon Technique)
The blonde teen smirked, "Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" (Shadow clone technique) holding out his arm his clone began to manipulate the chakra in his palm, satisfied Naruto dispelled the bushin and charged. Drawing back he pushed his arm forward into the ice dragon, "Rasengan!" (Spiral Blast)
As the ground down ice cleared it revealed both boys with their blades at each others throat, breaking out of his stunned revere Zabuza called out to them, "That's good enough!" mentally his head was still spinning, 'these two are monsters, I wonder what Gaara can do.' Seeing both boys out of breath he turned to Gaara, "well it looks like I'm going to have to see what you can do myself."
"As you wish" replied Gaara, 'Are you ready Shukaku?'
'This is going to be hell, I can't give you enough chakra to manipulate the sand fast enough. If he has any speed, it'll be like fighting that Lee kid all over again,' groaned the Raccoon
"Shall we begin?" questioned Zabuza
Gaara smirked, "of course" immediately the sand charged forward causing Zabuza to be on the defensive.
After dodging another wave of sand the jounin charged in a blur, delivering a hard kick only to have it blocked by a wall of sand. 'Defense and offense? That's unreal.' Pivoting his body he threw a heal kick towards the back of Gaara's head, the sand was slower to react however. 'It can only move so fast,' continuing his assault he finally broke through and landed a sharp kick to the side of Gaara's head. As the redhead regained his posture Zabuza saw that his face was cracking, "what the hell is that?"
"Suna no Yoroi" (Armor of the sand) "It's part of my absolute defense," replied Gaara as he commanded his sand to attack again.
"That's enough," said Zabuza holding up his hand, "You're strength is your sand, but it's slow. We'll have to get you sped up a bit."
Gaara frowned, "That was no where near everything I could do."
"I know, and this isn't the first day we're going to train either." replied Zabuza chuckling. Then he rounded on Naruto, "You! Manage to fling that thing around with some skill, but you're still mediocre at best. Everyday while I'm working with Gaara I want 500 vertical strikes and 500 horizontal, no chakra." Then he eyed Zaiaku, "You're first thing to do is get that damn thing off your back and to your waist," he patiently waited as the teen complied, "now, your kenjutsu is good, but we're going to teach you a little iaijutsu as well. It'll be good for surprising your enemies."
Later that night all three boys went their seperate ways.
-Gaara-
The redheaded young man looked out over the snow banks and smiled wistfully as a flake of snow landed on his nose.
-Flashback-
a small fleck of snow landed on Gaara's nose, crossing his eyes he stared at it intently, inadvertantly poking out his tongue slightly in the process. Then he heard someone giggling behind him.
"Have you never seen a snowflake before, Kazakage-sama?" questioned a slightly pink cheeked Hinata
"Hinata, you're my wife, Gaara is fine." he reprimanded, "and to answer your question no I have not."
The white eyed girl walked up to him and kissed the snowflake off his nose, then leaned her head on his shoulder, "It doesn't snow much here in Konoha, but when it does it's beautiful."
Gaara attempted a smile, all of this was so new to him, "I agree."
Slowly Hinata cupped his cheek and brought her lips to his.
-End Flashback-
Sorrow washed over him, "Hinata" he whispered to the wind.
-Naruto-
Naruto was sitting on the roof of the small house absentmindedly rolling a snowball out of the collected snow.
-Flashback-
Temari slowly scooped up a pile of a cold white stubstance, "Naruto-kun? What's thi-?" she was cut off by a ball of snow hitting her head on. She spat out the offending substance and growled, "Naruto-kuun!" quickly gathering a ball of snow she launched it at him.
Still rolling on the ground at the look on his wife's face Naruto never saw the ball of snow till it hit him. Seeing Temari in a side-splitting laugh he grinned and pounced, "HAH!" he cried pinning her to the ground and tickling her.
"N-Naruto-kun!..AHAH...stop..please...AHAHAHHA." When his assault finally ceased she stared into his deep blue eyes and smiled.
"We're leaving tomorrow, won't you please stay?" He questioned, with no attempt to hide his pleading tone.
Glaring she whacked him, "I'm not having my husband fight an entire army while I sit at home and worry. I'm a kunoichi Naruto, the same as Sakura and Hinata."
Naruto glared, "AND THEY'RE BOTH DEAD" he yelled, "I can't lose you..please...-" he was cut off by her lips pressing to his.
"No, Sakura and Hinata were my best friends. I want revenge," she stated simply and pulled him back down.
-End Flashback-
"Why didnt you listen?" he whispered as his tears fell silently, "WHY DIDN'T YOU LISTEN GODDAMNIT?" he screamed.
-Zaiaku-
Leaning back in the hot springs he let his muscles relax, opening his eyes he peered at the full moon.
-Flashback-
Leaning back against the tree he gazed at the moon.
"Zaiaku-kun?" questioned a soft voice, "There you are," said Sakura as she spotted him.
He smiled at her, "Sakura-hime"
She sat down between his legs and leaned back against his chest, "I'm no princess Zaiaku-kun," she stated as she nuzzled into his neck.
"I disagree!" he exclaimed jovially
"What are you doing out here? it's so cold," then she scrunched up her nose, "That's right you don't get cold do you?"
"I'm always cold,
Sakura-hime" he replied softly
Turning around she straddled his lap , wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him softly. Pulling back only a little she whispered against his lips, "I don't think so."
-End Flashback-
"I couldn't protect her, will my sins never cease?" gritting his teeth and fighting back the tears he hissed, "I will not fail again."
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End Chapter 3
A quick note, I was in a debate as to whether or not to call it Batto-jutsu or Iaijutsu, in the end I decided that Batto-jutsu sounded a bit too crossoverish. To clarify Iaijutsu is essentially the same thing as Batto-jutsu.
Preview Chapter 4: Teaching sensei, Sangemaru!