A/N: Thank you very much, "guest reviewer", for your review. I still grin everytime I see it, and I appreciate the comments!
Thank you Kisa-Homer, Crystalzap, Bobboky, and Moscow2009(I did translate the message :D), and of course to those who have favorited and added to your alert lists as well!
A few hours after leaving his charge alone Kakashi returned to his house a little more tired then he would have preferred, all things considered. His report to the Hokage on the last Uchiha's situation had been tasking, not the least of which being the confirmation that the legendary Jiraiya was in the village after-all.
Kakashi did not know much about the man, not really more than that he had been the sensei to his own master, Minato, some years earlier, and that he supposedly could detect the prowess of a shinobi's skills. That Jiraiya himself had taken enough interest to heal the last Uchiha meant a great deal, and it also meant that Kakashi himself should waste as little time as possible bringing the boy up to his fullest potential.
He had been unable to concentrate enough after leaving the Hokage's office to train as he wanted to with the other Jounin, his mind swirling around the possibilities. He would need to risk training the boy no later than after two days of final recovery time, but even still the trials to awaken the Sharingan would have to be held off until he was older.
Thus, after giving up on his own efforts for the day Kakashi departed and arrived just outside his house before realizing he was hesitating. Why haven't I stepped in yet? I've been here for.. two minutes? Just thinking? he questioned himself.
His good eye flickered over toward Guy's some distance off and another idea dwelling in the back of his mind suddenly crawled it's way to the surface, an idea that could be utilized to awaken the Sharingan and unlock another powerful ability within the last Uchiha without as much danger as he might normally face under other circumstances.
No, no.. surely Sasuke is too young for that! He could kill himself at this age! he thought in sudden dismay, shaking his head to get rid the idea, but it still clung to the edges of his conscious thought through out the rest of the night.
Stepping into his spartan abode Kakashi found his apprentice sitting beside the roll-out bed with 'string-theory in battle' open in his lap to the mid-way point. Idly Sasuke attached a few threads to the kunai before him and flicked it out and away from his body toward the doorway as he had been for some time now.
He was growing somewhat proficient with it, but the sudden arrival of his teacher startled him again and his fingers slipped and released the deadly object ahead. Kakashi blinked once before his left arm shot out and snatched the kunai an inch from embedding itself in his thigh. "Well. That is certainly an effective way to grab your enemies attention, but perhaps you should aim for a less vital area against me next time?" the Jounin spoke with quiet amusement that didn't quite reach his eye, still partially concerned with earlier thoughts.
Sasuke swallowed and nodded his head quickly. Stepping closer Kakashi looked over the page the boy was at and paused. "You've really been reading, having you? I don't quite think you're up to that maneuver just yet, but given the control I've seen from you lately you could probably pull it off in another few months." he stated.
Sasuke again nodded his head. He still didn't trust the older shinobi very much, and he was still too embarrassed at having slipped his control a few moments earlier to accept the soft praise with a vocal confirmation.
"I'll leave you to it, then. Your true training will begin in roughly two more days- to allow your body to become used to moving about again after being bed-ridden for so long." Kakashi told him. Sasuke grimaced at the further delay but made no noise of disagreement, so the older man simply patted him on the shoulder and dropped the kunai down beside him before heading for the kitchen to make something for dinner.
As the night began to fade, Jiraiya yawned and looked out toward the district Yakushi Kabuto's house was located in. His notebook was tucked away in a pocket and well filled with information and the beginnings of his next few Icha Icha chapters, having stayed behind at the Hot springs for as long as he could reasonably get away with it.
Once dusk settled into place he cautiously disguised his form with the Transparent Escape Technique and took up a position just far enough away that any sensing seals shouldn't pick him up, yet still within his range of visibility. So far he had been standing around for eight hours and almost nothing of interest had yet shown up, making the Sannin member begin to doubt the accuracy of his information.
A flicker of motion in the shadows up ahead caught his attention and Jiraiya leaned closer to be sure he had seen it. A pale haired shinobi slipped in and out of the houses of the area on an unclear path, his head hardly turning as he scanned the skyline and ground levels nearby.
Time to move. Jiraiya thought as the shinobi began to slow down and finally disappeared between two houses. Shunshining quickly over the landscape he appeared at the same narrow alley between the two homes and watched the shinobi at the end suddenly stiffen, then turn a fraction in his direction.
Being all but invisible even before entering the darkened shadows made it impossible to physically detect his presence, but the strength of his chakra alerted the numerous seals set in place for just such an occasion.
Without hesitating the shinobi brought his hands together and began to sink beneath the surface of the ground at a sharp tilt rather than descending straight down, and it was this motion that prevented Jiraiya's first grab to miss by mere inches.
The small whoosh of sound that accompanied it betrayed Jiraiya's presence however, and beneath him the gray haired shinobi smiled loosely as his fingers finished the hand seals he had never stopped forming.
Snapping both hands sharply across the broad range where the sensor seals declared the unseen foe to be at, the pale blue chakra wrapped around the outside of each hand from the fingertips to mid-wrist narrowed into sharp points and slashed into the body at what he estimated to be the chest.
A cloud of smoke erupted before him and the shinobi's eyes narrowed, realizing he had just slain a shadow clone and wasted precious seconds of escape time in the process for it. His attempt to return to burrowing under the ground were cut short as a wooden geta stomped down on his throat and crushed the windpipe inward nearly to the breaking point, and a strong hand wrapped itself about both wrists a moment later.
"You aren't going anywhere, kid." allowing his body to fully materialize, Jiraiya stared down into the others widening eyes with a sense of cold determination. "We've got a lot to discuss before the sun rises."
A few days after returning to Konoha and Naruto was itching to get back into things. It was nice to be back in Konoha, but everyone still treated him like a diseased animal wherever he went, and he was starting to miss his Konoha from before the sudden accident thrust him back in time.
Most of the kids he became friends with later in life kind of avoided him right now, even when he tried to be friendly with them, and it was definitely painful considering how well he knew them down the road. Nevertheless, ever the schemer, he put his mind to good use in figuring out how to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
I'll start with Neji first. he thought, a slight unease fluttering in his stomach as Sakura's face flashed into his mind again. Yes, Sakura is important, but she's not really into being a serious kunoichi yet. Hum.. maybe I should try and get her prepared early? She could definitely use a head-start until Tsunade returns.
Torn between trying to stem Neji's fatalistic attitude and Sakura's mostly-helpless fighting skills down the road, Naruto decided to ask Yamato. The former Root member was eating breakfast in the living room when Naruto climbed up the outside of a wall with chakra and slipped in through a window.
"Yamato-taicho!" he called in greeting. The other man gave a start and choked on the fish and rice in his mouth, having seen Naruto leave the apartment earlier yet never before had the boy arrive through the window.
Naruto stepped forward quickly and hit him over the back a couple of times, helping the man swallow roughly before turning with a frustrated look on his face toward the jinchuriki. Yamato's expression clearly said 'What the hell are you doing that to me for!'. Laughing lightly Naruto gave an apologetic shrug and voiced his questions once the older man settled down.
Sighing and looking up at the ceiling in consternation, Yamato pulled up a scroll and nearby pen and quickly wrote out his answer with the pale brown ink bought two days earlier in order to conserve his chakra. Naruto read it over when he was done. 'Who would benefit the most from your intervention now? Can either just go on as they are without suffering for it?'
Naruto looked thoughtful as he considered that again. Neji eventually got the truth at the Chunin exams, and he seemed to deal with it just fine after wards... but Sakura's skill set definitely sucks. She wasn't able to defend herself or Sasuke in the Forest of Death... sighing as well Naruto nodded his head.
"Okay. I'll get started with Sakura. Hopefully she can handle the real ninja world this early. Thanks Yamato-taicho." he told the other shinobi. Yamato waved his thanks away with a weary look and went back to his breakfast, cautiously waiting for Naruto to depart before digging in again.
Sasuke blinked one eye open blearily as he was shaken gently awake. He was still sore from yesterday's 'training'. He hadn't expected to be babied, but what he was put through definitely fell under the definition of torture. "Up and at it, Sasuke." Kakashi told him firmly.
Outside Guy and his apprentice Lee were waiting quietly, another backpack waiting beside them. Guy was thrilled to have his eternal rival joining in on the morning sessions for two days in a row, and it was bound to pump up Lee-san all the more to have his eternal rival along for the ride as well.
They had to wait roughly five minutes for the two to emerge again, a slightly sick looking Sasuke grimacing as he reached over and hefted the backpack into the air. He grunted at the weight and nearly stumbled over until Lee reached out to support him, a faint smile on the edge of his lips.
Sasuke couldn't return it. He just shrugged the straps over his arms and leaned forward to prevent falling over from it. Behind him Kakashi slipped two common tanto into his jacket securely before striding over to stand beside and slightly ahead of Sasuke. "Are you both ready?" Guy asked the two boys with a wide grin.
"Yes, Guy-sama!" Lee returned in a slightly rushed voice. Sasuke grunted his wary acknowledgment in answer.
"Hm! Then let us begin the first ten laps around Konoha!" Guy agreed and began at what he considered a slow jog, which meant a brisk and hasty walk for the children. Kakashi kept pace with his fellow jounin easily enough.
For the first lap Sasuke was able to keep up with his fellow apprentice, but by the start of the second he was lapsing behind, and as the third had begun he was flat out panting with his hands on his knees. Kakashi shunshined back to him as Guy and Lee jogged in place up ahead waiting.
"Sasuke?" he asked. The boy shot him a vicious look. "If you'd like we can decrease the weight again, but the number of laps will have to be increased to equal out the results." he offered. They had had to do this yesterday and it was thoroughly embarrassing for the Uchiha. He considered refusing and trying to keep up again, but... the throb in his shoulders and the stiffness building up within his legs was too much.
He dropped the backpack to the ground and settled in next to it, motioning with one hand limply and his eyes downcast for his teacher to adjust the weight accurately. Have to be careful here. Kakashi thought as he approached and dispelled the additional weights placed there, dropping the weight to roughly ten pounds overall.
"Okay. That's about five additional laps added to the count. Are you ready?" he asked.
How does Lee do this? Surely one month wasn't enough to bring him up to that level of stamina? Sasuke questioned silently. "..." pushing back to his feet the Uchiha snatched up the backpack as though it was the most loathed object in existence and settled into it again, kicking off from the dirt and starting toward the other two down the road again.
Kakashi scanned him with the Sharingan to make sure there wasn't the same kind of damage building up as before and nodded his head. You'll get used to this soon enough, Sasuke. And once you have... just maybe... that can start to unfold within you. he thought with concern, for the idea he had had previously had visited him again until this morning when he finally spoke of it with Guy.
It was agreed upon by both teachers that their apprentices would under go the same efforts to unlock it once the time was right. Whether or not the two children could handle the strain that accompanied the necessary pre-training would be seen in the months ahead.
Jiraiya had a puzzle on his hands. The information he had gleaned from Yakushi Kabuto a couple of mornings ago seemed most trustworthy, considering the means he had gone to gather it, and he was considering what to do with the traitor to Konoha- should he kill the young shinobi or just turn him over to the ANBU for dissecting?
But that wasn't the puzzle, no. He had information that confirmed what his own efforts had already delivered as rumors, namely that Orochimaru had been very busy since abandoning Konoha. The bases alone scattered around were worth investigating- if the locations Kabuto had spilled to him were where they should be.
Just because Orochimaru had apparently told him where a couple were didn't mean he wasn't lying for a situation precisely like this, and knowing the snake Sannin as Jiraiya did that was a distinct probability.
He had to make up his mind on if risking an unknown attack was worth finding out more about what Orochimaru was experimenting with the First's DNA for, or any other highly illegal and insane projects.
Before he could reach a decision an ANBU member approached him on the Hokage monument and handed over a scroll. "Hm." flicking open the seal he read the contents and began to shake his head before pausing, considering the message therein. At last he let out a short laugh and handed the scroll back to the ANBU member.
"Tell him I'll be there soon. I've got to make a few preparations for a side-trip on the way over and back first, but I'll do it." Jiraiya told the masked shinobi. "Oh, and you should look into the house at..." telling the ANBU where to find the trussed up and thoroughly miserable Kabuto, Jiraiya began to descend back into Konoha proper.
A short time later and Ibiki would be digging around inside the young traitors skull happily, while the Sannin member would be taking the Hokage's response to Suna in person.
Arriving at the academy Naruto scanned the various faces in his class for the one in question. It didn't take him long to locate the pink haired girl toward the back, sitting beside another blond that was probably still her best friend. Instead of taking his usual position Naruto worked his way over to the two girls and nudged his way in between Sakura and the boy beside her.
All three looked at his sudden intrusion blankly while the teacher settled into place and began speaking. "What are you doing here?" Ino asked quietly to keep from being heard. Naruto shrugged.
"Felt like learning something for once. Hard to hear in the very back." he evaded equally quietly, knowing the reputation he had as a slacker originally. Ino humphed and turned toward the teacher, while the kid beside him grumbled and moved over more once it was clear he wasn't going anywhere.
Sakura followed her best friend in turning back to the teacher and away from him, forcing Naruto to likewise comply for the moment. After class was over he approached Sakura again. "Have you considered what you're going to do as a kunoichi one day?" he asked her. Before she could give him a response Ino showed up.
"Alright, now you're just being a pest! Beat it Naruto!" she scolded. Naruto's eyes widened a fraction as he waited to see what Sakura would do, but friendship won out over risking answering the troublesome boy and getting her own name dragged through the mud with his. She and Ino departed together, leaving Naruto on his own.
Well. Guess I'll just have to try a little harder. he thought with a frown.
The next several days tried his patience. If he snapped at Ino it was bound to reflect even more poorly on him and just sour Sakura's already dampening mood toward the jinchuriki, but he was seriously getting irritated at trying to talk some sense into his pink haired future team-mate.
At last, it all came down to a simple encounter. A young but clearly rounding Choji finally got around to accepting Ino's prodding to do something about Naruto. "Look, will you just leave them alone so I can get back to eating in peace?" Choji asked outside the doorway at the start of the next class.
Naruto sighed. "I don't want to have this conversation with you, Choji. I just want to have a few minutes to talk with Sakura uninterrupted." he responded flatly. The other boy's features hardened. "Why?" he asked.
Naruto tilted his head in question of Choji's expression. "Because she needs to be prepared for the trials outside our village. She's a civilian, Choji. She's already starting off at a disadvantage against the world we're living in, and I don't want to see her get hurt by that someday." he told the other boy honestly.
For a moment it looked like Choji would accept that and let things go. Then Naruto was slapped upside the head by a book and found himself on the floor looking up at Sakura herself. "Ow!" he said, rubbing the spot sorely.
"You chauvinistic pig!" Sakura growled at him, waving the book in his direction. "How dare you assume I'm some weakling!" she continued, taking a step toward him threateningly. Naruto pushed up to his feet and ducked as she swung at him again, then caught it on the return against one wrist and looked into her eyes.
"I never said you were a weakling. You just aren't learning as much ninjutsu and such in your off time as someone coming from a ninja family!" Naruto stated firmly. Her eyes narrowed and she drew back and aimed at another part of his body, and he once again caught the blow carefully without using his fingers.
"Do you see what I'm doing to block you?" he asked. "Have you even seen taijutsu used before?" his voice remained carefully above condescending, ending on a neutral tone. She grimaced and hesitated before her next blow, and he waited a moment before relaxing some.
Then she threw the book at him. Naruto sighed and twisted aside to avoid it before remembering Choji was almost right behind him, and his eyes narrowed before he pivoted on one foot and carried through the momentum, allowing him to twist around and slam one hand to the book, carry forward again and press the book against a wall, ending roughly half an inch away from Choji's nose.
Both looked at him with widened eyes as he gripped the edges with his fingers and turned back to the girl. "You see what I just did? Sakura, you probably haven't even been taught the academy style of taijutsu yet! If you don't get started now you'll have a harder time when it matters!" Naruto stated flatly, tossing the book over to her and striding into the class a two minutes late.
The class had heard the entire ordeal, and the teacher was even in plain view yet he never made a move to stop any of it. Silence reigned as the jinchuriki made his way in annoyance toward the back of the class and his usual spot again and settled down on his arms to wait.
Choji entered a few moments later, but Sakura never did.
End Chapter Thirteen.