Kumogakure Ninja

Posted: 24-09-10

Updated: 28-06-11

CH13: Preparations for the Chūnin Exams

It was two days later, twelve PM and Team Kirabi was at their usual training ground. They had been up and training from six in the morning, training with only a five minute breaks every two hours.

"Suiton! Suijinheki!"

"That's not good enough. It needs more mass, Seido."

"Suiton! Suijinheki!"

"Concentrate on the width as well as the height, Nii."

"Suiton! Suijinheki!"

"Uzumaki... that was pretty good. You may have an affinity for water," Darui nodded appreciatively, running his hand over the Water Encampment Wall. "Not bad at all." Darui stood on the large pond as the genin of Team Kirabi continued to go string of seals and execute the Suijinheki. "Okay, take five. That's it for ninjutsu today."

Naruto released his jutsu with a content sigh and followed his team to the tree where they had left their bags. Naruto dropped against the tree, opening his bag and fished out a bottle of water. "I love that jutsu," Naruto panted heavily with a broad smile. "You think I got a water affinity?"

Hari nodded taking of his blue kimono and dropping on the grass for as a makeshift blanket. "You might. It's not really my thing," Hari admitted. "Maybe it's because water is the opposite of fire, I've got a hard time with it."

"Foolishness," Yugito sat down next to Naruto. "If water is the opposite of fire, then earth is the opposite of wind. If that's true, then by your theory Naruto should have hard time with earth, which he doesn't judging from the new Doton jutsu he learned."

"Yeah, you're right," Hari conceded.

"When did she start calling me Naruto again?" said shinobi thought. Naruto tried not to make it obvious, but Yugito's new choice of attire was very nice on her. He couldn't help but stare at her when she wasn't looking. Then again, he was a teenage boy and it was only normal for him to appreciate female bodies. And Yugito had become more tolerable lately. He wouldn't call her a friend but she was decent company.

"Speaking of ninjutsu, I need your help on that Shūrai jutsu of yours. I can't get it quite as strong as it should be."

"Some other time maybe. I'm low on chakra right now. I just want to get this day with."

Hari stretched his arms and groaned. "I'm definitely not going to be able to train tonight on my own. Katon jutsu take it out of me already."

"When are they going to teach us something other than ninjutsu?" Naruto couldn't believe it, but he was actually getting a little annoyed by coming home tired every day. It got in the way of his sealing training. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I want to learn something else."

Hari agreed, "Yeah, I'm dead tired when I get home. It gets in the way of learning new Katon jutsu when I'm on my own."

The genin continued to talk for a few minutes until Shi called them over. Grumbling Naruto got up, mumbling about 'slave drivers' as he got up and walked over to the jōnin.

"Shi-sensei, what are we going to be doing for the rest of the day?" Yugito asked respectfully. "We've been doing nothing but ninjutsu up till now." Perhaps it was her new found leadership that prompted her to voice her team's concerns.

"That's what this is about," Shi said with a nod. "I've been talking to your teacher and we've been discussing your individual talents."

"Talents?" Naruto repeated.

"Things you're particularly good at," Shi explained. "For example, Kirabi-senpai tells me you've got an uncanny understanding of seals. He'll be teaching you whatever he knows about Fūinjutsu whenever he can."

"What about me?"

"Hari, Kirabi-senpai mentioned you were beginning to read on healing jutsu."

Hari nodded, "That's right, but I didn't get very far with it. It's complicated stuff."

"I'll help you out. I'm a licensed field medic, so I can show you a thing or two," Shi then turned to Yugito. "Kirabi tells me you've pretty much gone along with everything he teaches. What is it you wish to gain a better understanding of?"

Yugito didn't have to think very long. Her brutal defeat at Otaku Shinji's hand still stung. "Genjutsu."

"Genjutsu?" Naruto turned to her with a surprised look. "That's a surprise."

Shi smiled at her. "Then I'll have to monitor you and Hari-san at the same time, Yugito-san. I have extensive knowledge on genjutsu."

Yugito nodded, "Thank you, Shi-sensei."

"Alright," Shi look at the team. "Naruto, you go home. Kirabi will be expecting you there. Yugito, Hari, you'll be with me."

Naruto made a hand seal and said, "Shunshin no Jutsu!" The blonde disappeared with a burst of smoke.

Hari shook his head, "He's been dying for an excuse to use that jutsu."

-ooo-

Naruto appeared right in front of their apartment with a grin. "I rock," the genin slid his key into the door and walked in.

Immediately he heard voices coming from Kirabi's bedroom. With a grin, Naruto took out a kunai, deciding to scare the shit out of Kirabi. As he got closer to the door, the voices became louder and he heard a woman scream.

"What the hell is he doing in there?" Naruto approached the door and turned the handle slightly pushing it. Naruto's eyes widened at the sound emanating from the room

"Oh, YES!"

"Oh, baby!"

"AAAAHH!" Naruto screamed and ran out of the room, forgetting to close it behind him. He had not seen that! He had not just seen THAT!

"Kirabi, who was that?"

Naruto ran to his bedroom and slammed the door shut. He had just seen more of Kirabi than he had ever wanted. Naruto rocked himself in the fetal position. "No way, no way, no way, no way!"

Was that the Raikage's secretary he had just seen in there? On top of Kirabi... naked... screaming... sweat running down her back-

"Ew!" Naruto couldn't just cut Kirabi out of the picture. "I'm going to be sick!"

Naruto could hear Kirabi laughing while his lover shouted at him for being insensitive and forgetting to lock the door.

"Naruto-kun, come on out," Naruto had never learned the secretary's name. "Naruto-kun? It's okay, we're not mad."

"I am!"

"Shut up, Kirabi!"

"Mabui-chan, let him be."

So that was here name, Mabui... Naruto shook his head. Well, he had seen more of her and Kirabi than he had ever wanted. No, wait, that wasn't true. He had seen more of Kirabi than he had ever wanted. Mabui was pretty hot – get your head straight, Uzumaki!

"Kirabi, I'm going to speak to him," Mabui's voice was full of concern; she was always nice to Naruto.

"Fine," Kirabi said uncaringly, "He's a big boy, though. Don't coddle him."

"Go fuck yourself." Naruto had never thought that Mabui was one to swear.

A soft knock came at his door. "Naruto-kun, are you alright?"

"I'm fine!" Naruto shouted, "Just fine."

"Naruto-kun, you're worrying us. Can I come in?"

Naruto sighed heavily. "Fine." Naruto got up and opened the door to let Mabui in. She was wearing her unusual pencil-stripe skirt and matching suit jacket and her feminine garment under it.

A half hour later Naruto regretted his decision more than anything. As if it wasn't bad enough he had Kirabi's naked mental picture permanently in his mind, Mabui had to go in great detail in talking about the birds and the bees.

"Okay, I get it!" Naruto suddenly said when Mabui went into greater detail of the female anatomy. "I'm fine. The shock's completely gone!"

Mabui smiled at him and pulled him into a hug, "I'm sorry you had to see that Naruto. We'll be more careful next time."

"Next time?" Naruto's voice came out at a higher pitch than usual. "There's going to be a next time?"

"Well," Mabui's dark skin visibly reddened, "Kirabi and I have been dating for a while now and this was the, uhm, first time."

"Which you ruined!" Kirabi decided to add from behind the door.

"Shut the fuck up, Kirabi!" Mabui shouted, a vein popping up by her temple. "Naruto-kun," Mabui turned to Naruto and tightened her embrace, "Are you okay?"

"I guess so," Naruto hated how much he was looking like a child now, but the motherly hug Mabui was giving him was warm and inviting. "Yeah," Naruto leaned into the hug. "I am. Just... lock the door next time?"

Mabui pecked him on the cheek. "Sure."

…

It was another hour when they had talked about Kirabi's and Mabui's relationship in the living room. Naruto learned more of the details than he ever wanted to but in the end he was happy for his teacher. Kirabi had practically raised Naruto and the more Naruto thought about it, the guiltier he felt for demanding most of Kirabi's time. Raising a six year old without any previous parenting must have been difficult for him.

Naruto felt relieved when they ended the conversation with another promise of locking the doors next time and Mabui left soon after. Kirabi then turned to Naruto and said it was time to teach him about seals.

"Okay, I know a whole about seals, yo but I'm not a seals master," Kirabi told him. "I had to learn seals from my old man when I was younger in case something happened to my seal. Fūinjutsu was practically the only thing my old man I did together," Kirabi smiled fondly at the memories.

Naruto knew Kirabi rarely brought up his father, who had died about eight years before he came to Kumogakure. Every year, Kirabi would take Naruto with him to visit the grave of the Sandaime Raikage, Yotsuki Makuden.

Kirabi quickly continued. "You seem to have some crazy affinity for seals, so hopefully I can teach you quickly. Cause you're getting in the way of 'pussy time'."

"That's disgusting!" Naruto shouted at him. "You sick, fucking, bald ass, ox loving, son-of-a-bitch bastard!"

Kirabi laughed and then shouted, "Wrong! It's Kirabi-sama! Now listen," Kirabi continued to give him a surprisingly detailed lecture on seals.

Fūinjutsu was all about calibration of numbers and seals to create a dimensional rift where items could be stored and withdrawn at a moment's notice. The art of sealing was very tedious and complicated. It required a mathematical and creative mind to grasp the fundamentals, and it demanded even greater dedication to precision and details to make create a seal.

"Most people see Fūinjutsu as simple push and pull, Fūin and Kai," Kirabi said, "That's bullshit. It's a good thing most people just buy pre-made sealing scrolls, otherwise they would have been pushed into dimensional rifts and lost forever."

Naruto nodded, beginning to understand. "Why is it that I could understand that one simple Fūinjutsu, sensei? I found this book at the shinobi shop the other day," Naruto held up the book and threw it to Kirabi who deftly caught it. "By the time we got to the restaurant, I managed to make a onetime only seal with soy sauce and a napkin. It stopped working after the first time, but that's probably cause of the flimsy foundation I used for the seal."

Kirabi read the book, "Yeah, I can see it's mentioned in the index page. It's not really hard to make, but you shouldn't have known how to do it. Not that quickly." Kirabi eyed his student curiously, "Maybe you've got a bloodline limit or perhaps you inherited the affinity to seals from your parents."

Naruto felt a warm feeling in his stomach. His parents? Could they be the reason why he felt so familiar with seals? "I- do you think it's possible, sensei?"

Kirabi scratched his goatee. "I'm not really sure. It could be anything. Maybe it's just a coincidence." Kirabi wasn't comfortable with getting Naruto's hopes up. He knew full well he was a substitute father for the boy and their bond was like that of any parent and child, but it was only natural for the boy to want to know who his parents were.

"So what are you going to teach me, sensei?" Naruto asked.

"We'll cover the basics first. I'll show you the importance of good equipment and I'll explain a bit more about dimension pockets. After that, we'll start doing some sealing techniques that might come in handy," Kirabi told him. "Eventually, we'll move on to advance sealing methods so you can learn to enforce your own seal whenever you need to."

Naruto grinned and said, "Sounds great!"

-ooo-

(Two Months Later)

Two month passed by quickly for Team Kirabi and they had grown much stronger. In eight weeks they had trained rigorously into exhaustion at the end of the day. They woke up at five, trained from six in the morning till six in the evening and were then told to go home to recuperate for the next day. However, resting was not what the genin of Team Kirabi did once they were at home.

Darui had taught the genin three Suiton jutsu, the Suijinheki, Mizurappa and Suirō techniques. Naruto literally absorbed these water techniques. When Darui gave Naruto another chakra slip, it was revealed Naruto did indeed have a water affinity as the paper cut in half before becoming moist. Though Yugito and Hari had some difficulties with it, they eventually managed to learn the jutsu and execute them to regular standards.

Naruto's obsession with seals grew immensely and he quickly learned seal after seal. Kirabi was both shocked and pleased with his student's insatiable hunger for learning more. Already Naruto had begun designing his own seals for small purposes, such as privacy seals that prevented sound from being emitted outside the perimeter. Aside from Darui's lessons, Naruto started to learn three more Suiton jutsu from the scrolls Yugito bought for him, the Mizu Bunshin, Mizu Sūiben and Mizu no Tatsumaki. Naruto had already learned to do the Mizu no Tasumaki, the Water Storm jutsu and had no noteworthy difficulties due to it having similar concepts of his Shippū Shūren. His Water Clone was still far from perfect but he was getting there. It was the Water Whip that proved to be difficult.

Aside from the water jutsu, Naruto had made some headway with the three Doton jutsu he had yet to learn. Naruto could perform the Dochū Eigyo without much difficulty, but it was the Doryūhek and Doryō Dango that proved to be difficult. Naruto's Fūton Dangan was coming along nicely. Naruto was able to spit out a baseball sized wind bullet that could dig itself ten inches into a tree. Naruto's Hōsenka had improved under the guidance of Hari but his Shuurai no Jutsu had yet to improve beyond a thin beam that barely dug an inch into a tree.

The blonde was also forced to buy a ninjato by Kirabi for kenjutsu lessons. Naruto didn't mind, though, as it was entertaining, despite the fact he wasn't anywhere near Yugito's or Hari's level with the blade as he had focused primarily on his ninjutsu and Fūinjutsu.

Hari had also improved by leaps and bounds. He learned three more Katon jutsu on his own, which he had yet to reveal to the group, claiming it was a surprise, and a handful of medical jutsu from Shi. Under Kirabi, Hari's skill with the blade flourished tremendously; he was even to soundly beat Yugito with the blade. His skill with senbon also increased dramatically as his knowledge of human anatomy grew.

When Yugito declared his ninjutsu wasn't diverse enough, Naruto promptly gave him the scroll on Mizu Sūiben as it was a jutsu used by actual Oi Nin and Dochū Eigyo. Yugito had then given him a scroll with instructions to the Raigan (Lightning Pistol).

Yugito had learned quite a lot too; having bought two jutsu scrolls of every element, save lightning, and she had diversified her ninjutsu. Yugito had bought her own copy of the Sūiben and a scroll on Suirō no Jutsu. Like Naruto, Yugito learned the Dochū Eigyo and Doryūheki from the element. Of the fire element, Yugito learned Hōenka and Hitama – which she suspected Hari had learned as well as he had subtly offered to help her on it. As far as Fūton jutsu went, Yugito gave up after she had finally learned Daitoppa and she simply didn't have the patience for wind jutsu as it was simply too hard for her to learn. Yugito's major project had been her Banrai which Kirabi had personally helped her with whenever he was off a mission.

After her defeat at Shinji's hand, Yugito was determined to learn more about genjutsu. Yugito was now able to detect most low level genjutsu and even cast a few.

All in all, Team Kirabi had improved immensely in two months. The training they went through during the Ritoru Haaku mission was nothing compared to what they had been doing in the last two months. Several days a week, their training would be cut short because either Kirabi or Darui and Shi would be called for another mission. During these times, the team would go and meet up with Team Manako, whom they had befriended.

The genin had met with their sensei, Manako Runi, and he was every bit as unnerving as they had heard. He was a nice guy with a horrible sense of humour, or rather lack of it. However, he was still very powerful and taught them a little kenjutsu while Kirabi was gone. Once he got past his inhibitions, Hari eventually managed to find himself in the company of Kenichi, with whom he quickly became friends with after they learned how much they had in common. Kenichi was not only a pervert like Hari was, but he also wanted to become an Oi Nin once he had the opportunity. Nakamura Taiko and Yugito became good friends when Taiko had surprised Yugito by offering her help with her genjutsu. Naturally, Kenji and Naruto hit it off as well due to their similar personalities and dreams.

Team Kirabi and Team Manako had become good allies in the two months they had known each other.

-ooo-

"Yo, Uzumaki!" Kenji greeted as Naruto and his teammates approached them. "Kirabi-sensei out of town again?"

"Yep. We thought we'd come by and see how you guys are doing," Naruto looked over at Taiko and smiled nervously, "Taiko-san-"

"Don't speak to me."

"Okay… So, how are you doing, Kenichi?" Naruto quickly turned to the ninjutsu specialist of Team Manako. He was always friendly.

Kenichi nodded in a acknowledging gesture, "I'm good, thanks. Yo, Seido, Yugito-hime." Kenichi had been hitting on Yugito ever since she beat him, claiming he was 'into strong chicks'.

"Ugh." Yugito's face pulled in disgust.

The genin talked were talking for a while, mostly about the Chūnin Exam and shinobi related topics such as ninjutsu.

"So, what's this Fūinjutsu I hear you've been developing?" Kenji asked. "I can't really see what sealing is good for in a fight other than withdrawing weapons."

Naruto shook his head and smiled at his ignorance. "Sealing is an art. It's very complicated but it's dead useful in a fight. And I'm not just talking about sealing and unsealing weapons," Naruto added.

"How about a demonstration then, Uzumaki?" Kenji stood up from his crossed legged seating.

Naruto followed suit and so did the rest of them. Not even his own team had seen his sealing jutsu. "Alright, Hari take my pouches," Naruto unstrapped his pouches and holster and passed them to Hari. Naruto then took off his weighted vest and threw it to Yugito, seeing as Hari's hands were full.

Ignoring his teammate's scowl, the blonde stood in front of his friends with his arms spread wide. "You see I've got no weapon on me, right?" The group of genin nodded so Naruto continued. "Okay, watch this." Naruto made a hand seal, reared his arm back and instantly shot of a kunai that lodged itself deeply into the tree they sat under for shade.

"Wow!" The look on Kenji's awe-stricken face was comical.

"How did you do that?" Taiko was visibly impressed, forgetting her current feud with Uzumaki.

"Yes," Yugito agreed, "How did you do that?"

They all turned to Hari who was still holding Naruto's pouches. "Don't look at me, I'm just as surprised as you are!"

"So you didn't pass him one when you took his pouches?" Kenichi probed.

"Of course not!"

Naruto laughed uproariously. "Hari didn't pass me anything. It's my new Fūin!" Naruto rubbed his nose triumphantly. "Pretty cool, huh?"

Yugito raised her eyebrow, "I don't see any scrolls…"

Naruto held up his wrists for their inspection.

"Tattoos?" Kenji asked.

"Temporary tattoos," Naruto chuckled, "I designed this myself. They're for my new Fūinjutsu, Yadama Fūin."

"The kanji on the left is different, it's say shuriken," Kenichi observed. "So you throw kunai with your right and shuriken with your left?"

"That's right," Naruto confirmed. "It's fine though, I'm ambidextrous."

"Impressive," Kenji remarked. "But that's still sealing and unsealing, isn't it?" The lanky genin walked over to the kunai and yanked it out of the tree. "Wouldn't it be just as easy and faster to use a holster? I noticed you making a hand sign before throwing it. That would only take longer." Kenji threw the kunai to Naruto, who deftly caught it.

"Not really, since I can throw as many I want as long as I got them sealed."

"Don't forget they're hidden. They would be perfect for an assassination mission," Yugito added.

Kenji still didn't seem convinced with usefulness of seals. "If you say so," he said, crossing his arms. "Let's see what else you've got, Uzumaki. I'll need every advantage I can get during the Chūnin Exam."

"Alright, here's another Fūinjutsu I was working on," Naruto touched the tip of the kunai to his right wrist and sealed it. "Just watch." Naruto walked over to Hari and took his pouch of him and took out a standard green scroll.

Naruto distanced himself from the group and stood twenty feet away. "Throw something at me!" Naruto shouted at the group. "All of you!"

The genin looked at each other and shrugged as they reached for their kunai holsters.

"You sure about this, Naruto?" Hari shouted to his best friend. "This looks kinda dangerous."

"Just do it!" Naruto shouted.

Kenji looked at Yugito and then Hari before shrugging. "If that what's he wants."

The five genin stood next to each other and held a kunai in their hand. "Ready?" Kenji shouted, to which Naruto replied, "I was born ready, now throw!"

The genin simultaneously threw their throwing knives at the blonde. Naruto reached into his pouch and retrieved the green scroll again and as the projectiles came closer, he held out the scroll in front of him and shouted, "Akkai Genshuku!"

There was a loud tearing sound before the Crushing Gravity Palm shout of the scroll and knocked the kunai out of the way and forced the genin to jump out of the way as it created a crater where they stood.

"Nice!" Hari shouted. "You sealed your own jutsu inside of a scroll?"

Naruto nodded and allowed himself a satisfied smile. "It's the first time I tried it out, but it seems to be working."

Yugito punched him lightly in the head. "That's the first time you tried it out? How reckless are you? What would you have done if that didn't work?"

While Yugito berated Naruto and Hari sighed, Kenji and Taiko shot each other a knowing smile. "Okay, that's definitely useful," Kenji admitted. "You got any more of those?"

Naruto reached into his pouch and retrieved another green scroll and tossed it over to Kenji. "It's the same jutsu. It should come in handy when you're in a pinch."

Yugito wanted to berate Naruto for arming their soon-to-be enemies but decided against it. "We should be going. It's nearly noon and Darui-sensei is expecting us for training."

"Man, you guys are so lucky to have three sensei's that teach you stuff. We've only got one and he's barely around lately," Kenji complained.

"Life's a bitch," Naruto shot back before following his teammates. Darui and Shi were only helping because they owed Kirabi and they took personal interest in the team, but he didn't feel like divulging them into that little fact.

-ooo-

"You shouldn't have showed off your Fūinjutsu, Naruto," Yugito chided him. "Now they know what you're capable of and we've lost an edge. You definitely shouldn't have given him that scroll either."

"You make it sound like we're definitely going to face them," Naruto scowled. "They're our comrades. That scroll might save their lives."

"That's true," Hari agreed, "But you gave them an edge on us when you showed them what you can do. Yugito's right, Naruto. There's a reason why they haven't showed us any of their jutsu yet either."

Naruto shrugged. "We'll be fine. So, what did you think of my new Ninjutsu Fūshi Hōin ?"

"It's amazing. You've gotten really good with seals, Naruto," Hari complimented. "Maybe you could give me one of those ink tattoos you got on you as well?" Hari added hopefully.

"It's fine work, Uzumaki. You should be proud," Yugito said with approval. "It should prove useful. I'd like one of those temporary tattoos as well."

Naruto beamed with pride, "Sure thing. We're teammates after all." Naruto smiled at them, "We'll have to do it at my place though. Kirabi insists on keeping the sealing indoors."

"That's fine." Hai said to which Yugito nodded.

…

It was three hours later after a grueling session of ninjutsu training; Hari, Naruto and Yugito were in Kirabi's and Naruto's apartment.

"I haven't been here in ages," Hari said. "Where's your room again?"

"Down the hall, but it's too cramped. I'll have to draw the tattoos in here where it's spacious." Naruto left them in the living room, "I'll be right back."

Naruto walked down the hall, knocking on Kirabi's door but there was no reply. Naruto nodded and continued his way to his bedroom. Naruto opened his bedroom door and picked up his pots of ink, brushes and the designs for his Yadama Fūin (Projectile Seal) and placed them in a box.

Walking back to the living room, he saw his teammates had cleared the coffee tables and had turned on Kirabi's new TV. "You guys ready?" Yugito and Hari nodded, "Okay, good. Hari you go first."

"What do you need me to do?" Hari asked while Naruto placed the box on the table.

"Take of your shirt," Naruto answered. "Unless, you don't mind ink on your clothes. I'm not perfect at this."

Hari shrugged and instantly took of his kimono robe and white, loose fitting shirt and sat down by the table, stretching his arm over its wooden surface. Naruto swiftly went to work, reaching into the box and withdrawing a huge pot of ink, brushes, a saucer, disinfectant spray, cotton balls and most surprisingly nail polish and nail polish remover.

Yugito raised her eyebrow, making Naruto smile nervously. "It's for outlining the seal's structure. Once I'm sure I know what I'm doing, I'll take it off with this," Naruto held up the nail polish remover, "and then redo it with actual ink."

Yugito merely nodded, but was not completely satisfied with this procedure. Taking off her shirt in front of her teammates did not appeal to the young kunoichi. "I've got a sleeveless shirt. I won't have to take off anything."

Naruto shrugged, "I wasn't expecting you to." Naruto shook his head, not believing his teammate actually thought this was some clever ruse to see her topless. "Okay, Hari, I'm going to disinfect your skin first. Wash your hands and dry them off." Naruto instructed.

Hari got up and went to the kitchen, the sound of water pouring followed a moment later.

"What did Kirabi-sensei tell you about your sudden... understanding of seals?" Yugito asked her teammate as she sat down on the couch, raising her right leg over her left knee.

Naruto blushed, looking the other way. That damn skirt had to go. "Kirabi, uh, told me it might be something genetic like inherited affinities or just a coincidence." Naruto turned back to his set up, Not wanting to give away what he had tried to look at.

"Okay, all done." Hari walked back into the room and held up his forearms for Naruto's inspection. "Good enough?

Naruto nodded and motioned him for a cushion, "Have a seat and stretch out your arm like you did before." Hari did as he was told while Naruto picked up a cotton ball and the bottle of disinfectant before sitting down next to him. "This will sting a little," Naruto dabbed the cotton ball in disinfectant and began to rub it over Hari's forearms.

It was a minute or two later when he was finished and declared Hari's forearms clean 'for the first time ever.' Naruto then went on to pick up the bottle of black nail polish and sketches he had in the box and placed them on the table. Yugito stared intently as Naruto dabbed the nail polish and began to draw faint lines over Hari's forearm. "Those lines stretch all the way to his forearms," Yugito observed. "Yours are much smaller."

"Just watch," Naruto replied, not taking his eyes of the task at hand. Naruto was very meticulous when it came to seals. After five more minutes of intently drawing something that resembled a tribal tattoo on Hari's arms, Naruto nodded and reached for the bottle of nail polish remover and another cotton ball. Naruto rubbed out the still-wet nail polish and told Hari to wash his arms again.

"Again?"

"Any material that isn't supposed to be on your arm has to go. You're lucky I'm not telling you to shave your skin," Naruto reached over for the disinfectant.

It was fifteen minutes of silence later when Hari held up his right arm with a smile, "Is it finished?"

"Not yet, put it down," Naruto forced his hands down and made a hand sign. "Yadama Fūin!" The long lines of ink began to swirl over Hari's arm, tingling hotly as they did so, and eventually formed into another kanji for 'Kunai.'

"Kunai?" Hari asked, "I can throw kunai with my right?"

Naruto nodded and confirmed, "That's right. Kunai with your right and shuriken with your left. That's how you usually use them in a fight, isn't?"

"Alright!" Hari exclaimed and then turned to Naruto, asking, "How do I summon them?"

"Well, you don't have any kunai sealed in that one yet. Hold on," Naruto stood up, reaching for Hari's pouch and took out three kunai knives. "To seal them, you have to touch a part of the kunai to the seal and then seal it," Naruto explained. "I'll teach you the sealing jutsu later. Let's finish the shuriken seal first."

A half hour of meticulous work later and Naruto said, "Yadama Fūin!" The tribal tattoo glowed hotly before turning into a kanji under Hari's left wrist that read, 'Shuriken.'

"Okay, now look carefully and how I do this," Naruto instructed. It was fifteen minutes later when Hari was able to do the most basic sealing and unsealing jutsu.

It was simple jutsu. One had to simply channel their chakra into the seal and either say, 'Kai!' or 'Fūin!' to make it work.

"This is amazing," Hari smiled as he sealed a kunai, threw it in the air and sealed it when it landed in his hand.

"Don't forget to keep wearing the holsters, though," Naruto told him, "Don't reveal the Yadam Fūin unless you have to."

Yugito agreed, "Yes, that's indeed a good idea." The kunoichi sat in Hari's seat while the Oi Nin hopeful stood up and started to play with the seals. "I want an additional one, Naruto." Yugito fought hard to hide her blush. "On the small of my back, to hide my wakizashi."

Naruto was visibly surprised by what Yugito suggest. "What?" He eventually managed with a light blush on his face. "On your back? Yugito that's really close to your-"

"I know!" Yugito had a light blush of her own. "Can you do it or not?"

Naruto gulped, "I don't know, it's different on your back. There are more muscles and they're usually rigid and Kirabi-sensei said- look, it's just going to be uncomfortable for the both of us." Naruto was being surprisingly calm. Then again, this wasn't some random girl he would have to see naked, this was Yugito and he'd practically known her his whole life.

"As if I don't know that," Yugito grumbled. "Okay, fine. Just give me the seals on my wrists for now and then tell me later whether you can make it work for the wakizashi."

Naruto nodded and said, "Go wash up."

Yugito stood up and walked passed Hari who had just returned with a tray of orange juice. "What's up with her? She looks kinda pissed."

"She's not pissed," Naruto corrected. "She wants me to draw a seal on her back."

Hari's eyes bulged, "And you said no?"

"She'll have to be naked, idiot. The seal is for a freaking sword. I'll have to draw it all over her back and maybe down south."

"You should have said yes!" Hari hissed under his breath.

"You fucking perv," Naruto shook his head. "She's our teammate."

"Frigid bastard."

"Asshole."

As they continued to throw verbally attack each other, Yugito entered the room.

"What is this?" Yugito shook her head. "Can we just do it?"

Hari looked at Naruto and mouthed, "Do it!" with a thumbs up. "I've, uh, got to go. It's late and I should, yeah- bye." Hari had his shirt and kimono back on in a flash and left the apartment with a Shunshin.

"What's with him?" Yugito asked, looking at her remaining teammate.

"Okay, Naruto, you're a big boy. Just tell her." Naruto gulped and looked at Yugito. "You know the seal you wanted for your sword?"

"Yes?" Yugito raised another eyebrow, "You said no, remember?"

"Well, I didn't say no because of the sake of being a dick to you. Okay, maybe wrong choice of words in this situation," Naruto added mentally. "It's because seals placed on the body need a lot of space."

"Where is this going, Uzumaki?" Yugito was back to last names. She always got like this when the situation either got strange or went the wrong way.

"If you want it on your back, you'll have to be naked," Naruto blurted out.

"What?" Yugito hissed at him. "I have to be naked?"

"I told you, they need a lot more space."

"How much more?"

"If I put it on your back- do I have to go into details?" Naruto asked.

"No, I see where this is going." Yugito thankfully didn't need an explanation. "Just give me the tattoos on my wrists." Yugito made a mental note to kill Hari next time she saw him.

Naruto nodded out his hand, "Give me your hand." Yugito did as he said and he noted how soft and feminine her hands felt. "I'll rub in the disinfectant."

Yugito's arm tingled. Naruto's hands were rough, as though he was a blacksmith. Yugito noticed how gentle he was being with her, carefully rubbing in the disinfectant and not letting his hands roam any further than her forearm.

"Yugito, you're tensing up," Naruto told her. "Relax, your muscles have to be completely relaxed for this."

Yugito took a deep breath, not knowing why she was tensing up, but she attempted to relax her arm. It didn't work.

Naruto completely took her by surprise and began massaging her forearm. "Don't get any ideas," Naruto was surprisingly calm. Probably because they weren't discussing how she had to be naked.

"I won't," Yugito shot back. "So, what if I wanted the seal on my shoulder or collar bone?" Yugito really did want that seal. Naruto's eyes bulged, his hands clenching her forearm tightly. It took Yugito all her will power not to let out a content moan. "What are you doing?"

"No," Naruto said. "You really don't want me to put it there."

"Why not?"

"Er, because I, uh," Naruto kicked himself for being so uncomfortable on this subject. He was thirteen for crying out loud! He's seen a lot naked chicks in his academy days – hell he had seen Emiko naked and she had let him touch her boobs. That was nice. They were soft and... Snap out of it, Uzumaki! "I can't do that."

Yugito sighed exasperatedly. "Naked again?"

"No, topless," Naruto corrected. "Unless you want to show me the twins I don't-"

"'The twins'? You really are a pervert, aren't you?" Yugito accused with her blush intensifying. Suddenly, she felt very self conscious about the size of her bust. "Taiko was right about you."

"If I was a pervert, then you'd be naked by now."

"Excuse me?"

"I mean for the seal, of course."

Yugito eyed her teammate and shook her head, letting him take her arm and continue his massage. It was a minute later when Yugito said, "I think it's relaxed now." She wasn't very comfortable with being touched by others, let alone massaged by a boy her age.

Naruto nodded and laid her forearm on a cushion, a luxury he had not provided for Hari. Grabbing the bottle of nail polish, Naruto began to draw the seals on Yugito's forearm. "Kunai on the right and shuriken on the left?"

"Yes," Yugito's arm tingled as the thin brush swirled over her arm. "When did you get so good at this?"

"What, nail polish?"

"Yes. I don't think I could even I could use it the way you do." Then again, Yugito never did use makeup. She was all natural and liked it that way.

Naruto looked a little embarrassed. "I could use eye liner if you want, but those would leave behind traces of oil and it might mess with the seal's integrity."

"Integrity?" Yugito repeated. Since when did Naruto use words like 'integrity'? "I know what it means," Yugito cut him off when he opened his mouth to explain. "I just didn't expect you to use that word, let alone know what it means."

"You know, I'm not as dumb as people think I am," Naruto sounded a little offended. "I might not use big words all the time or do things that make me look smart, but I'm not an idiot."

"You're right, I apologize," Yugito offered.

"It's fine. Just don't think I'm an idiot."

"Since when do you care what I think?" Yugito asked.

Naruto looked up from his work and into her eyes, "Since we're teammates."

Yugito's arm tensed again and she knew it. Damn it, why did she care when he looked into her eyes and said something like that? Yugito silently prayed Naruto didn't make a connection with his statement and her touching up.

"Jeez, you nearly ruined the seal. You need to relax," Naruto got up and went to kitchen. "I'll make some tea."

Yugito sighed heavily. "Why am I feeling this way?" Yugito thought back to a conversation that took place over two months ago, "Was Emiko right? Is there something between us?"

Naruto returned with a tray with two cups of tea and placed them on the coffee table. "You keep tensing up when I touch you." Naruto stated, completely obvious to how it may have sounded like to Yugito. "Drink some tea and try to relax."

Yugito scowled and took the cup of tea with her free hand. "I'm not used to this," she told him and took a sip.

"I'm not surprised," Naruto told her, taking a sip of his own tea.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yugito demanded with hostility. Was he judging her?"

"You always kept to yourself so it's not a big surprise you're not used to being touched and massaged. Hell, you're not even used to seeing boys shirtless- though I doubt many girls your age are. I saw you getting red when Hari took his shirt off." That was definitely uncharacteristically perceptive of Naruto.

"Mind your own business, Uzumaki," Yugito inwardly fumed.

Naruto sighed and nodded. "I didn't mean anything by it, Yugito."

Naruto continued do draw the seal with the nail polish and then eventually said, "Go and wash up again."

Yugito placed her tea on the tray and went to the kitchen to wash her hands. Upon returning to the living room, the sat down next to Naruto again. As Naruto took her right arm and began to massage it, Yugito said, "Children are cruel."

"What?" Naruto looked up and met her eyes. They seemed to be recalling a painful memory.

"At the academy, I kept to myself because the girls were jealous of me," Yugito clarified. "I didn't choose to become this, I just did and I'm comfortable with it. Don't judge me as if you would know anything about that."

"Yugito, you're forgetting something," Naruto told her, looking back to her arm and continuing to massage the tensed up limb. "I wasn't much liked either in Konoha. I mean the kids hated me and the feeling you get from being so alone... it's not something you forget. Ever."

Yugito nodded, knowing how insensitive it was what she just said. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I'm past all that now."

"You're not angry anymore?"

"Don't get me wrong, I don't like the place, but I'm not losing any sleep over it either. I've moved on from the hate and anger." Naruto looked up at smiled at her, "I've been living here for the last six years and I'm happy."

Yugito felt her cheeks become warm. Naruto's smile was that of intense happiness and his eyes were twinkling mischievously. Yugito sighed, "Sensei was right about you."

"Hmm?" Naruto felt her arm finally relax and picked up the ink brush. "And what did he say about me?" Naruto asked as he brushed the kanji for 'Kunai' on her right wrist.

"You're different from me. You enjoy life to the fullest." Yugito looked at him intently, "I'm a little jealous of you."

Naruto chuckled softly; it gave Yugito a warm feeling in her stomach. "Yugito, living the way I do isn't hard," the blond told her. "Just smile and think of the good times. Life's an adventure."

"Since when did you get philosophical?" Yugito asked him, curious with the level of maturity he was showing. It wasn't really like the Naruto she thought she knew.

"Want some piece of advice?" Naruto looked at her.

"Sure."

"Move forward."

Yugito looked confused. 'Move forward', what was that supposed to mean?

Naruto actually laughed. "Don't think about the past and don't live in regret of things you wish you could've done differently."

It was a simple piece of advice but with an ocean of meaning behind it. Yugito had been living in regret. She had been wallowing in the past and now she wanted to move forward. "How?" Yugito asked.

"Find people you love and want to protect with everything you've got." Naruto's smile was warm. "For me, it's Kumo. I love it with everything I got and I want to protect it with my life."

"That's why you want to be Raikage so badly..." Yugito smiled softly.

"Who do you want to protect?" Naruto asked her.

"I don't know. I've got no one-"

"You've got me," Naruto told her immediately, causing her to blush furiously. "And you've got Kirabi and Hari and you've got everyone in this village to love and protect."

Yugito looked the other way, trying to hide her blush. Whether it was because Naruto knew she was blushing, or something else, Naruto continued to work on her seal.

Yugito eventually looked back at Naruto and felt warm in her stomach. She was viewing the young shinobi differently than before and she liked it. It was as if he was different man- no, it was as she was now a different person.

That was the night Yugito learned the biggest lesson of her life. She had begun to let go of the past and look to the future. The lesson Naruto had taught her, changed Yugito's life for the better.

-ooo-

(Two Weeks Later)

It was time for the Kumogakure genin to leave for the Chūnin Exams in Konohagakure.

The genin of Team Kirabi had trained rigorously to hone their skills and perfect their jutsu. However those were not the only changes; Yugito and Naruto had finally, after six years of knowing each other, become friends. After that night two weeks ago, Yugito had changed for the better. She had become more friendly and outgoing towards her teammates. Team Kirabi had become a close-knit group. Not only were they comrades, they were friends.

On the morning they were leaving for the Chūnin Exams, Uzumaki Naruto woke up early. It was eight in the morning, but he couldn't sleep. He was too excited at the prospect of leaving their island country and travel to Konoha.

Naruto stepped out of the shower clad in only a towel around his midriff and drying his hair with another towel. The genin quickly changed into his official shinobi attire. Though they were allowed to wear their own clothes, genin of Kumogakure were expected to wear this particular garb when they represented their village. It was actually mandatory for missions, but they had gotten away with it. Kirabi wasn't up to date with the mandates back then but he had insisted they wear the official garb for the Chūnin exam.

The uniform consisted of black shinobi trousers (or skirts for kunoichi), a shirt with the colour and sleeve length of your own choosing, black shinobi sandals or boots and finally the genin could choose either a robe, flak jacket or any other body protector of his or her own choosing. The standard Kumogakure, white metal shin guards and black arm guards were mandatory as well as a sword. Kumogakure's academy teachers had often emphasized why it was important Kumo shinobi carried a blade at all times. It was to keep up their reputation for swordsmanship.

Naruto put on his full body suit that hugged his body snugly, a pair of black, ANBU styled pants, a dark blue, long-sleeved shirt and his black flak jacket that had many pockets, making it perfect for storing sealing scrolls. Naruto slipped into his black shinobi sandals and traditional, white metal shin guards and black arm guards worn by Kumogakure shinobi. The young shinobi attached his ninjato scabbard to his back and then continued to wrap his slightly exposed ankles with white bandage. Naruto's kunai holster was on his right thigh, as usual, and his shuriken holster was on his left. The genin had two large pouches attached on belt that covered his rear and wore his headband proudly on his forehead.

"Kirabi?" Naruto shouted. There was no reply. Grumbling, Naruto walked over to his teacher's room and knocked. Still no reply. "Damn it."

Naruto walked to the kitchen and immediately spotted a note written in Kirabi's messy handwriting.

Naruto,

I'm sorry for not waking you and telling you myself but I got pulled away on a S rank assignment last minute. I can't tell you actually what it is, but it's going to be a while before I'm back. With any luck, I'll manage to see you during third stage of the exam.

While I'm gone on a mission, Shi and Darui will be replacing me. They've taught you a shit load, so I expect you to treat them with respect.

Please tell Mabui I won't be back for a while.

Work hard and make me proud.

Kirabi

"Fucking bullshit!" Naruto ripped the letter up. "Can't fucking believe this is happening."

Naruto stomped into his room and grabbed his bag. As he threw in scrolls that contained his other items, Naruto fumed. He was so fucking pissed off he didn't know what to feel; angry at Kirabi or murderous at the Raikage.

Once he had all of items collected, Naruto exited the apartment, firmly locking it and dropping the keys in his pocket.

"Shunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto disappeared in a puff of smoke.

-ooo-

"Naruto?" Mabui stood in the door way, wearing nothing but a night gown that reached to her thighs. Had Naruto not been angry, he might have been delighted with the amount of leg she was showing.

"Kirabi's going to be out of town for a couple of weeks."

Mabui's face fell, "Oh. Is that why you're here?"

"He wrote me a letter." Naruto's replies were short sentenced but he was too angry to give a damn right now. "Bastard couldn't be arsed to write you a letter, I guess."

Mabui smiled softly, "Don't be angry at Kirabi, Naruto-kun. I'm sure he didn't want to miss it for the world."

"Yeah, right." Naruto turned around and was about to leave when Mabui firmly grabbed his wrist.

"You know, he always talks about you when we're together," Mabui told him. "He might not say it himself, but he sees you as his own son. I don't think he would have gone if he didn't absolutely have to."

Naruto's expression visibly softened. "Thanks, Mabui."

"You go and make us both proud, Naruto-kun."

Naruto nodded and made a hand sign, "I will."

-ooo-

Naruto appeared at the training ground a few minutes later. To his surprise Hari and Yugito were already there.

Yugito held up her letter. "He got called away." Yugito stood in similar attire as did Hari.

Yugito wore black, ANBU styled pants with black boots, white metal shin guards and black arm guards. Yugito wore a violet, short-sleeved shirt that stopped slightly above her bellybutton, revealing her impressive abs. Yugito's headband now served as a belt and her hitai-ate.

"That's fucking bullshit," Hari said with venom. "Why did he have to be called on a mission now?"

Hari's attire matched that of Naruto, only his shirt was plain white and he wore body armour that was similar to Hunter Nin with protective pads on his shoulder. The genin wore his headband on his forehead as usual and he had the same headbands on as most.

Naruto nodded and said, "I know. But he didn't have a choice either. Let's make him proud." Mabui's words had meant a lot to Naruto. He wanted to make the man that took him in and raised him as his own son proud. "I know he wouldn't have missed this for the world."

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