Chapter IX

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"No! That might be the worst way to properly learn this jutsu!" Kakashi didn't wince under Oscar's glare. Since the dark boy had completed the tree-climbing exercise, both Naruto and Sasuke had asked for help simultaneously, glaring at each other when each heard the other's request. Oscar had agreed to help, provided that his teammates stop sniping at one another and provided also that they listened to Sakura. "She's way better than I am at this stuff." Oscar had been annoyed at his sensei's method of teaching. He was now determined to teach it in a different way, with Sakura helping out.

Oscar continued, "Don't run up the tree like you're using pure momentum to go as high as you can. Sakura, you know this stuff, tell them what the real object of this is."

"Alright, listen up. The exercise isn't about how high you can climb, really. It's about how well you can keep your chakra under control and for how long. Here. Put these on." She held out two scarves. "These are an idea of mine."

Naruto and Sasuke blinked. "You want us to wear scarves? Why?"

The pink-haired girl sighed, showing obvious impatience with her one-time lover. "Don't wear them, tie the scarf over your eyes like a blindfold."

"Once again, why?"

"Actually," Oscar said, "It's a brilliant idea on her part. As long as you can see, you will only be focusing on how the other is doing."

"Exactly," Sakura said. "If neither of you knows whether you are ahead or behind, you will both focus more on channeling chakra correctly than beating the other. Also, it will motivate you to climb for longer, because you can never be sure if the other guy is higher than you are." Sakura was extremely pleased with herself. So was Oscar.

"Brilliant," he murmured, causing Sakura to beam with pleasure.

Doubtfully, the two boys tied their scarves across their eyes before blundering over to their respective trees. Sakura sighed a little. "You know, you could have waited to put the blindfolds on until after you were by a tree."

"No they couldn't have," Oscar maintained. "That wouldn't have looked nearly as funny as both of them groping around."

The two blind boys distinctly heard a dull wham. Both smirked. Cautiously, each set a foot on the trunk of that tree. "Okay, stop," Oscar commanded. "Don't put up your next foot until that one can support you. When you're absolutely sure that you're ready, then move your other foot."

"And when that is anchored, only then can you cut the chakra flow to your first foot," Sakura added. There followed several minutes of silence while both Sasuke and Naruto tried this. Finally, they took their first steps. The two genin on the ground remained silent, not wishing to offer any information that would provoke rivalry between the two climbers. The dark boy and the girl sat down in the grass, watching.

Eventually, Kakashi came along to find two of the trees lacerated all along the lengths of the trunks. "What happened to your master plan?" he asked sarcastically.

Oscar was lying on his back in the grass. "Turns out, Sakura's idea of blindfolding them really helped their concentration. However, if they get distracted by anything at all, the focus breaks, the balance is thrown off, and they go plummeting down again. Turns out balance it about ears and eyes."

"Yeah," Sakura said. "We're still using the blindfolds, though, so neither knows who's in the lead. We haven't told them."

"And why aren't you guys stuck to a tree as well?" Kakashi inquired.

"Should we be? I mean we've got the control mastered…" Sakura trailed off doubtfully.

"I wouldn't say 'mastered,' and, anyway, you can also work to improve the quantity of your chakra stores. Both of you," Kakashi added, seeing the resigned looks on his charges' faces. "Why don't you try running up and down the tree? Or walking on your hands or something." Kakashi waited while the two got up and headed toward the trees. He looked up at Sasuke and Naruto, who had stood still while those on the ground had been talking, so as not to break concentration and fall. Sasuke was technically higher on his tree, but not by a lot and Naruto definitively wasn't panting as much as the Uchiha. Kakashi had reckoned on those two practicing for maybe an hour or so before giving up for the day, but it seemed that each was determined to outlast the other. Meanwhile, Sakura and Oscar had begun racing up and down the trees like squirrels. The nice thing about that exercise was that it builds physical strength as well as increasing chakra stores, the Jounin mused.

Later that day, dinner was held in complete silence. Sasuke and Naruto were each doing his best to put the evil eye on the other. Both ate slowly, trying to conceal their muscle-fatigues shudders. When the blindfold had been removed, Sasuke had been livid and jealous to find that the blonde was not panting nearly as hard as he was. Naruto, it transpired, was just as disgusted when he saw that the Uchiha's tree bore slashes several feet above his own. A tense silence filled the air, broken only by the small clack of chopsticks. Without warning, Oscar broke into hysterical laughter, cutting himself off when he slammed his head down on the edge of the table. The obvious, 'WTF?' flitted through everyone's minds.

"Uh, are you-?"

"Will you two stop yelling?" The dark boy roared, head still down on the table.

"No one was talk-"

"Not you!" the dark boy howled. "I mean those two!" He pointed an accusatory finger at Naruto and Sasuke. He tilted his head up so that his large brown eyes glared from table-top height.

"But-" Naruto began.

"We weren't-" Sasuke protested.

"Urusai! I'm so not in the mood. You come out back with me right now!" The two boys scrambled themselves, nearly forgetting their fatigue. "You too," Oscar said, giving Sakura a pointed look. She followed meekly.

Once they were outside behind the house, Oscar turned to face the others. "What. Is. Your. Problem?" He asked, teeth clenched. In the weak light from one of the windows, Sakura could see that the dark boy's hands were balled into fists.

"Well, I don't get what you're so worked up about," Sasuke said. "We weren't saying anything."

"Ex-act-ly. You two were playing mortal rivals all day and I'm just sick of it."

"Well, I still don't get it."

"Think about it. Both of you. I'll give you a minute." Oscar stood, arms folded and eyes narrowed. Sasuke and Naruto cast each other scared looks. They really had no clue what this was about. Sakura went and stood a little to Oscar's right, so as to be out of the line of fire. When no one said anything for a while, Oscar rolled his eyes. Apparently having a good shout and then standing in the cool darkness had worked off some of his immediate rage. "You guys," he said slowly and clearly, "Are on the same team. So why do you each go out of your way to alienate the other? It makes no sense. Why don't you get along?" There was a pause in the second or so it took the chagrined boys to realize that an answer was expected.

"I guess," Naruto began slowly, "That part of it comes from our similar situations. Both orphans and friendless, at least, I was until you came," he gave a weak smile and decided not to voice the bit about Hinata. That was still his own glowing secret.

"It's more than that," Sasuke admitted. "Everyone weighs me down with responsibilities and expectations. I'm the last of my clan and am expected to have decorum."

"Tell everyone to shove it," Oscar said, unperturbed. "You're getting closer. Go on."

"I always thought," Naruto said to Sasuke, "That you had an ideal life. Everyone respects you and listens to you and you have girls following you around wherever you go. For me, I'm lucky if no one tries to beat me to within an inch of my life on my way to the academy." He teetered on the edge of telling the Uchiha why this was and watching the respect grow on his face, but decided against it.

"Now do you get it?" Oscar asked, hopefully.

"No. Why the hell are we out here?" Sasuke asked frankly.

"It seems I'm destined to spell it out for you. You guys have pleanty in common situation-wise but are interested in different areas. Therefore, you shouldn't have conflicting interests that cross paths and make one dislike the other for some petty reason. I really have no idea why you hate each other, but I can't stand it anymore. We may have managed to survive thus far, but your teamwork will definitely suffer if this goes on. Stop acting like children and get your act together and apologize to each other or your life will be hell without me having to do anything. Those blindfolds should not be necessary."

"You act like you can boss us. You're no older than we are," Sasuke said, eyes narrowed. For answer, Oscar simply drew back his fist and punched the Uchiha in the face. Sasuke gasped, shocked. Naruto wasn't sure how he felt, until his eyes connected with Oscar's. He had his fist cocked once again and was looking dead serious. He gave Naruto as good as Sasuke got. Both boys cradled their smarting faces. Neither of them had ever expected for the violencefrom the dark boy to be directed at him.

"Why did I deserve that?" Naruto asked.

"Because you were thinking the same as he was. And because I just explained it to you guys and you really almost understand, but you refuse to let yourselves see the truth in my words. Go on now. Apologize to each other."

The two were rather inclined to be sarcastic, until they realized that that was the whole point. Why were they inclined to be sarcastic? For no reason. The shaky logic had been kicked out from under them and now they had to face the insurmountable task of actually saying sorry to each other. They managed it, mumbling shamefacedly. "I'll take it for now, but you are both expected to follow up and actually comply. I'm not inclined to trust with me life those who do not trust each other," Oscar said.

"Wait," Sakura said as the others turned to head back inside. "Why am I here?"

"I thought you could learn something," Oscar said calmly, "Like how to admit you're wrong without feeling like it's such a huge deal. Or perhaps how to respect everyone, at the very least because you have no reason not to." When team seven arrived back indoors, all of the genin went straight to bed without speaking. No one got much sleep that night, not even Sakura. It was almost dawn before they dropped off one by one.

A/N: so, yeah. this was a bit short and rather late in the coming, but it is finally here! (Sosorrypleaseforgivemesenpai!) So, i know it wasn't very funny, but i was in a really bitchy mood when i wrote it (a good part of it was lost in this blackout and i had to rewrite it from memory). I apologize personally to all those who object to Oscar playing such a ginormous role in this chapter, but I really could only see that kind of thing coming from him. And no, while he did punch them hard, it couldn't have stung for too long, seeing as he doesn't have much physical strength. For those still thinking 'WTF' over Oscar's behavior at the table before he started yelling, he just wanted to get everyone's attention as fast as he could. No Log in this chapter, but its inanimate mightiness has not been forgotten!

Shannah Tova for those who celebrated Rosh Hashanah (happy new year) and also have a wonderful Yom Kippur. I'll update as soon as my schedule permits, which shouldn't be too too long. I believe that is all.

Oh wait! PLAY HALO REACH! Seriously, that shit is awesome. I've only played a total of two and a half hours or so, but I already outrank my video game nerd brother. I'm a corporal! Yay! Blow stuff up! See ya round!