Author Note; I was doing a little thinking and I'm going to stray a bit from canon. Not by much, but I put some thought into Kakashi's teaching versus Nazo's. After doing so I realized that a dedicated sensei like Nazo would actually watch and teach his students. The only real thing that will be different is maybe a few Jutsu and things that happen much later in the anime happening sooner.

Disclaimer; I don't own Naruto or anything from his universe. I only own Nazo who I created.

You Can't Be Serious

Chapter 3

"I just can't get the hang of this sensei" Sakura growled in frustration. Nazo smiled at her and gestured for her to try again. Sakura sighed and went through the hand seals Nazo had shown her once again. Following the seals she began focusing chakra into her hands. 'OK so far so good. Now come on Sakura it's easy. Just focus the chakra and close the wound.' Sakura's hands began to glow a soft green as chakra enveloped them. She took a calming breath before putting her hands over the small cut Nazo had made on his arm.

"You can do this Sakura. Just take it easy and concentrate" Nazo said assuringly. Sakura nodded and continued to focus on the cut, using the chakra to urge the wound closed. After about a minute Sakura stopped exhausted. "OK. Nice try, your getting better. We just need to work on your chakra reserves more."

"Alright sensei" Sakura hung her head and sighed.

Flashback

Nazo watched his genin as they attempted to walk up the trees. He wanted them to be ready to fight under most circumstances. After they got that down he wanted to move on to water walking as soon as possible. He glanced at the three different trees they were attempting to walk up. Sasuke and Naruto were both a little over halfway to the top of their trees. Sakura however had reached the top of her tree after only several tries. She was now resting on the topmost branch of the tree, exhausted of chakra. He knew she needed to drastically increase her chakra reserves but wasn't sure how to go about it. He guessed there was many ways to do so. He had always pushed himself to his limits every day of his life with his best friend, Minato. That's how he could account for his freakish amount of stamina and chakra. After some thought he decided to ask the other jounin about it, not sure his female genin could take the same punishment as the other two. First he needed to get her to eat properly first though. That would be just as big a challenge as getting her to stop asking Sasuke for a date. 'Honestly what's gotten into the girls these days? What happened to the girls from when I was young? They were always trying to prove themselves just as capable as the men. Oh I wonder if Miko is still around?' Nazo started drifting into his own perverted thoughts, unaware of being approached by someone. His personal bliss was suddenly demolished by immense pain to his face.

"I can't believe it! You too sensei?!" Sakura screamed.

"What are you talking about Sakura, I wasn't doing anything" Nazo protested the abuse of a sensei such as himself.

"You looked like you were thinking pretty deeply and you had blood trickling out of your nose! Hentai!" Sakura huffed at him.

"Oh well that's just a, look never mind that." Nazo stuttered before changing the subject "Have you been eating properly? You still become exhausted very quickly, both with chakra and physically." Sakura looked toward the ground without answering. He took that as all the answer he needed. He had given a little thought into it and he had a temporary plan. "OK Sakura I have a quick fix to our dilemma. Until I can find someone to help me with your stamina problem I'm going to teach you some medical jutsu." Sakura's face brightened up a little at his statement. "However I warn you, I'm no medical ninja. My knowledge of medical jutsu is very limited, so it will only be basics pretty much. You need to promise to start eating properly though. That is the biggest contributor of your nearly non existent stamina and tiny chakra reserves."

"Hai sensei. I'm not sure I can do this though." Sakura frowned and once again glanced at the ground.

"Now, now Sakura. I won't give up on any of you. As long as each of you is willing to learn and try I will teach and train you. All I ask is for you to give it your all and not call it quits, OK?" Nazo smiled as he tried to raise her spirits a bit.

"Hai!" Sakura cheerily answered him and smiled up at him.

Present Time

"Well I think that is enough for now. You did good today. You're welcome to go home or you can join Naruto and myself for ramen." Nazo offered.

Sakura glanced toward Sasuke in thought, then remembering what had occurred between her and Nazo on Team Seven's first day of training made her decision. "I think I'm going to go home and eat something before getting some sleep."

Nazo smiled hearing her say dinner. It took awhile but he finally had her eating normally. Her stamina had improved quite a bit, which in turn improved her chakra a bit. She improved a little bit every training session. She still didn't have enough stamina to finish the majority of the manual labor tasks they received as D-Rank missions, but she was helping a lot more. "OK Sakura, meet us back here in the morning. Same time as always."

"Hai Sensei." Sakura waved as she ran home.

Nazo waved her off before turning to dismiss Sasuke for the day. As he reached the small clearing he had left Sasuke to practice the jutsu he had taught him he found it smoldering. Apparently he had, once again, underestimated not only one of his genin's abilities but also the fire affinity the Uchiha clan had. He noticed the only real jutsu Sasuke knew out of academy was a C-Rank fire jutsu. Sasuke showed it to him and Nazo was impressed. He had decided to try teaching Sasuke a few more fire jutsu and was relieved at how fast Sasuke picked up on them. The latest jutsu he tried to teach him was a bit stronger, but he felt Sasuke could handle it. He was obviously correct as he looked at an exhausted Sasuke panting heavily on the ground in the middle of the charred clearing. His first impression of Sasuke, while accurate, was a bit hasty.

Flashback

"I shouldn't have to be doing this with the dobe" Sasuke stated matter-of-factly. Nazo raised an eyebrow at him at hearing the statement. From the start Sasuke seemed to think he was above Naruto and Sakura. He looked down on Naruto for being loud, rash, a bit slow, and having gotten horrible grades at the academy. Sakura he looked down on because of how she chased him unrelentingly. Nazo knew exactly what happened to Sasuke and the Uchiha clan years ago. He heard the first hand story from Itachi. That wasn't an excuse in his book, but Nazo couldn't tell Sasuke the truth about the Uchiha clan. He would have to take a different approach.

"Sasuke do you mind explaining?"

"It's simple, I'm better than him. I see no reason for someone of my skills to be lowered to this dobe's level."

"What makes you better than him Sasuke? Is it his grades from the academy? There is actually a reason for that. Is it because he doesn't come from a clan? I don't come from a clan either, does that make you better than me?"

Sasuke sneered before responding "It has nothing to do with me being a Uchiha. Naruto is a loser who can't do anything right. That's why I'm better than him."

"Really Sasuke? Did you know that the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu that Naruto uses so easily is a chakra intense B-Rank jutsu most jounin can't use properly?"

Sasuke was more than slightly perturbed at that revelation. "The dobe know such a powerful jutsu?" he uttered in shock.

Nazo felt he had gotten his point across, if only slightly. He wasn't sure if he could ever fully drive it home, at least not any time soon. Sasuke would have to see those things on his own. Nazo would do his best to make Sasuke see that everyone is equal. "I don't know what you're used to Sasuke, but any special treatment you may or may not have received is gone. I will treat all three of you the same, nobody gets special treatment with me."

Present Time

"How is it coming Sasuke?" Nazo tried to get right to the point with Sasuke. It seemed to be the easiest way to talk to him.

"Well It's a bit more difficult than Katon: Ryuka no Jutsu or Katon: Housenka no Jutsu. I think I almost have it though" Sasuke said simply from his seat on the ground.

"Really? That's pretty amazing Sasuke, considering it's a B-Rank Jutsu. Although with your natural affinity for the fire element it isn't much of a surprise. I already sent Sakura home so you're free to go as well. Just be back here in the morning at the usual time."

Sasuke just nodded and proceeded to walk away toward the Uchiha district. Nazo sighed as he watched him walk away. Sasuke had gotten better. Nazo was sure he still disliked his teammates but he didn't openly hate them anymore, it was a good start. He wasn't talking with discontent in his voice like usual. He talked to his teammates, well like teammates. Nazo just wished he could get Sasuke to join him and Naruto for dinner more often, or Sakura too for that matter. Although the fact that every night the two of them went for dinner it was to Ichiraku's for ramen probably didn't help Sasuke or Sakura decide to join them. He let it go, figuring those two weren't big on ramen, which saddened him a little bit. 'Who doesn't like ramen? I mean really now, it's the best food in the world' As Nazo contemplated how anyone could dislike ramen he made his way toward where he left his last student to train, Naruto. As he reached Naruto's training spot he was relieved to find nothing broken or destroyed. That might have worried some sensei but Nazo had left Naruto with a slightly different training regiment than Sasuke or Sakura.

Flashback

"Sensei, are you going to teach us a cool new jutsu now?" Naruto excitedly yelled after finally reaching the top of his tree and jumping back to the ground.

"Actually Naruto I want to teach you three something else. Do any of you know why I taught you the tree walking exercise?"

Sakura raised her hand and Nazo nodded his head. "Because it helps teach us how to focus and balance or chakra?"

"That's true Sakura. There is another reason though." Nazo smiled then nodded toward Naruto, who was waving his hand around in the air drastically to get his attention.

"Because it's awesome?" Naruto said. Sasuke sneered at this comment while Sakura sighed.

"Of course I taught you because it's awesome!" Nazo pumped his fist into the air causing Naruto to cheer. Sasuke and Sakura both sweat dropped at their sensei's outburst. "However that isn't the only other reason."

"Because at some point it will be necessary for us to be able to walk up or stand on surfaces that we wouldn't normally be able to" Sasuke flatly stated.

Nazo clapped his hands at their guessing. "Very well put all of you. There is also one other reason, but I don't expect any of you to know it. The last reason is because it is necessary before I can show you water walking." Nazo saw all three of them, even Sasuke, look confused at that statement. "From your looks it's easy to tell you doubt it. Come on follow me" With that Nazo turned and walked toward the nearest form of water.

Nazo was quite impressed with the progress the three of them were making. Sakura had gotten water walking down after only four tries. He was very impressed with the amount of chakra control she had for a genin. 'If only she had a larger chakra capacity' he thought. Sasuke had gotten it two tries after her, which didn't surprise him. Sasuke's chakra control was almost as impressive as Sakura's. It had taken Naruto almost six tries after Sasuke had gotten it down. Even though it took him longer Nazo found that Naruto was much better at it, he showed an immense amount of promise. While the other two had certainly gotten it down before Naruto, they were hard pressed to even walk on top of the water after being successfully perched atop it. Naruto however, after successfully standing atop the water, began running around on top of the small lake in victory.

"Very good each of you. Sasuke, Sakura I want the two of you to continue trying until you can comfortably walk and run atop the lake."

Sasuke simply stood and stepped onto the lake to begin. Sakura questioned Nazo instead. "What about Naruto sensei?"

"Well" Nazo put his hand on Naruto's shoulder and smiled at Sakura "Naruto is already finished with this exercise." His statement earned a confused look from both Naruto and Sakura.

"What are you talking about sensei? It took Naruto longer than either Sasuke or myself to get down both the tree and water exercise" Sakura blurted out. Naruto hung his head sadly at her statement. Noticing that Nazo decided to turn it around a little bit.

"Yes Sakura that is true. However Naruto is much better than it at either of you. It did take him longer than each of you on the tree walking, but he is the only one of you capable of standing upset down on a branch. It also took him longer on the water walking, but he can not only walk on the water without trouble but run as well. It might take Naruto a little bit longer than either of you at something that needs good chakra control, but once he figures it out he surpasses you both every time." After finishing his tiny lecture he noticed Naruto was now nervously scratching the back of his head while Sakura was staring at him in disbelief. "Now Sakura get to your training. Naruto come with me."

Naruto walked beside Nazo wondering what he had in store for him. "Sensei, what are you going to teach me?"

"Naruto I think you show the most promise of the three of you. That doesn't mean you are better than them, or their better than you. It does mean that I need a slightly different training regiment for you though. Tell me Naruto, how do you feel about the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu that you use so often?" Nazo smiled evilly at Naruto as he finished.

Present Time

"OK Naruto where are you hiding?" Nazo took in his surroundings trying to pinpoint Naruto. The clearing wasn't very large. It had a small pond, big enough for four or five people to spar on, against the back of a hill that overlooked the pond. Trees surrounded the pond on two sides, with the hill on one side. The last side had a section of empty ground surrounded by trees. It was a nice little place to get some all around self training done. Perfect for someone who like to spar with Kage Bunshins. Nazo noticed very early on how fond of the Kage Bunshin Naruto was. The highly chakra taxing jutsu seemed to have no effect against the genin, which was more than surprising. The genin used it very ingeniously though. As creative as Naruto was, Nazo decided to support his use of it. The Oiroke no Jutsu could be powerful against the right people. Maybe not so much for combat, but interrogation was very possible. Since the day he taught them water walking he had helped Naruto with the Kage Bunshin. Naruto was confused as to how exactly using his Kage Bunshin to train would help him. Once Nazo explained to Naruto how he retained any knowledge his Bunshin had when they were dispelled Naruto excitedly agreed. Naruto was a little less enthusiastic when Nazo told him he wouldn't exactly get years worth of training out of it though. The Bunshin would pass on anything they learned or found out, like if they made progress on learning a new jutsu. However they weren't Naruto, so he wouldn't get increased stamina or chakra reserves from their training like he would his own. Just using the Kage Bunshin regularly would tax and slowly build up his reserves though, while sparring against one hundred of himself atop a body of water would help improve his stamina and chakra more. After only a month of D-Rank missions and team training Naruto had improved drastically. At first Naruto's Taijutsu was really sloppy. Nazo knew about how one of the academy instructors, Mizuki, had sabotaged Naruto's learning. Nazo went about fixing that right away. He wasn't about to show anybody his fighting style, not even his genin. Instead he helped Naruto develop his own style, comprised of feints, tricks, oddly off balance and twisted stances, and a lot of jumping around. Throw in Naruto's Kage Bunshin and it became a chaotic dance of destruction. Nazo was proud, he just wished Naruto didn't try to beat him after every training session. As if on cue Naruto launched out of a nearby tree and flew at Nazo like a rocket. Nazo sighed as this daily occurrence played out.

Naruto felt it, today he would finally beat his sensei. He threw a punch as he got within reach of Nazo, only to have his fist slapped away. Nazo grabbed his elbow and turned to get behind him. Naruto twisted in the air and kicked at Nazo's head. Nazo tilted his head to dodge the kick and let go of Naruto's elbow to grab his leg. Naruto dropped once his elbow was let go and fell into a handstand. Naruto kicked his leg effectively sending Nazo, who was holding his leg, flying. Nazo flipped in the air landing against a tree and stood there. Naruto smiled and began making hand seals. Nazo sensed the chakra from Naruto and immediately flashed through several sets of hand seals. Naruto finished the last seal "Futon: Daitoppa." With that a sudden, huge gust of wind blew from Naruto's mouth threatening to demolish the trees around Nazo. Nazo noticed that the strength of the jutsu was a bit stronger than when he had shown it to Naruto. The uprooting of the tree beside his snapped Nazo out of his thought as he finished his last hand seal "Suiton: Suijinheki." Water began pouring out of Nazo's mouth, then surrounded him in a protective shell. Nazo knew Naruto could hold his jutsu just as long as him, if not longer. He also knew his Suiton wasn't meant to stop a Futon so he had limited time. He took a few seconds before smiling, this spar was over. Naruto stared in confusion as the shell of water fell with Nazo gone. Naruto stopped his jutsu as he felt a kunai against his throat.

"Game over Naruto. You are getting better, no doubt about that." Nazo said as he smiled and walked around to stand in front of Naruto. "By the way here" He placed a kunai in Naruto's hand "You dropped that when you did your handstand."

"Wait, how did you get behind me?" Naruto shouted flabbergasted. Nazo pointed to the now leafless tree he had been standing on. Naruto looked and noticed a shuriken on the ground. He saw Nazo pointing behind him also. Naruto turned and saw the remainder of his kunai and shuriken on the ground. Naruto put his hand into his weapon pouch and discovered it empty. "You mean you used Kawarimi no Jutsu with my kunai to get behind me?" Nazo just nodded his head.

"Your getting much better though Naruto don't sweat it. I'll have to start putting a lot of effort into it soon if you keep this up." Naruto smiled and scratched the back of his head at the praise. "Now I'm starving, so get a move on."

Twenty minutes later found them sitting at the Ichiraku counter enjoying their sixteenth and fourteenth bowls. Naruto would constantly brag to everyone about how Ichiraku's ramen was the best in the world. Nazo however had surprised Teuchi when he said that Ichiraku's ramen was at least the best in all the elemental countries. Teuchi always thought business was good, even more so since Naruto had stumbled upon his ramen stand years ago. Now he had another customer who ate just as much as Naruto. To say business was good would be an understatement. Teuchi had enough money from those two alone to open a ramen stand in every city in each of the elemental countries. Of course that would take up a lot of time, and besides his best customers lived here in Konoha.

"Here you go, two more bowls of Miso Ramen for my best customers" Teuchi set the two bowls on the counter.

"Careful boys it's hot" Ayame smiled as she served the two bowls to them.

"Thanks Ayame-Chan" Naruto managed between mouthfuls of ramen. Nazo only nodded his head in thanks. Ayame smiled once again at them then walked into the back to continue whatever it was that needs to be done in maintaining a ramen stand. Now Naruto wasn't observant when it came to women or relationships. His persistence in pursuing Sakura and his obliviousness to Hinata's fainting and blushing was proof of that. That aside though he noticed how Nazo was different at the ramen stand. Well whenever Ayame was there at least. Now being Naruto he didn't know exactly why it was or what it meant, but being Naruto he wasn't above asking out loud.

"Sensei, how come your so different when we come here?" Naruto questioned him as he waited for his next bowl of ramen to arrive.

"What do you mean?"

"Well you often stare off into the distance and get really quiet. I guess it isn't always, but whenever Ayame-Chan is here you are like that." Naruto stated casually as if it was no big deal.

Teuchi smirked as he watched and listened. 'So it's finally going to happen. I knew Naruto would do this eventually. I wonder if he will be loud enough for her to hear him.'

It took a few seconds for Nazo to process what Naruto had said. When he did he spewed ramen all over the counter and began choking. After forcing down the trapped noodles Nazo turned to Naruto. "W-what are you talking about?" He stuttered as he nervously turned to face his student.

"You get all quiet and blankly stare whenever Ayame-Chan is around. Why is that sensei?" Naruto noticed Nazo turning red and continued. "Are you getting sick? You know there is this girl I know, Hinata, who gets sick a lot too."

Hearing the commotion Ayame walked back up front. "Who is sick Naruto?"

"Nazo Sensei is. Look Ayame-Chan he is red and sweaty." Naruto said gesturing at Nazo.

"Lets see" Ayame said and walked over placing her hand against Nazo's forehead. "You're right he does feel a little warm." Nazo had never felt so uncomfortable in his life. Truth was he found Ayame good looking and he was a bit interested in her. The last time he had even chased a woman's affection was during the last ninja war though. It had been so long he wasn't sure what to do, or how to go about it. He had been traveling alone for over twelve years, it had a few prices to pay. "Naruto might be right Nazo. Are you feeling OK?" Ayame now had her face only an inch from his, a serious expression on it.

Nazo was about to try to form words in response when Teuchi called Ayame to the back to help him for a second. As soon as she was in the back Nazo sighed in relief. "Oh thank Kami."

"Something wrong sensei?" Naruto asked in confusion.

"Naruto you're going to be a great ninja someday, but you're really dense." Nazo heard footsteps walking back toward the front and decided to end it short. "I got to go Naruto meet me tomorrow, same place same time. Bye." Nazo tossed money on the counter and ran out of Ichiraku. Seconds later Teuchi walked out from the back smiling. Naruto looked at him further confused.

"Naruto my boy that was hilarious, but we need to work on your woman skills." Naruto gave him a questioning look and resumed eating his ramen.

Sakura yawned loudly as Team Seven made their way to the Hokage Tower. Nazo decided to have his team do a few D-Rank missions today instead of training. That and income never hurt, his Team Sensei income alone wouldn't cover all his expenses. Especially when he paid for Team meetings, where he took everyone to a real restaurant to talk and unwind. Nobody complained for the most part. Sure Sasuke would rather be training, but even he could use spending money from time to time to buy new gear. Sakura was glad to have a day without training. Naruto would rather be doing a higher ranked mission, but a mission is a mission and it was better than training. As they arrived at the tower and waited for their turn Nazo noticed the scrolls. 'So he is out D-Rank missions for the day. I guess Naruto will be happy for a change.'

As they walked up Sarutobi picked up the mission scroll he decided to assign to Team Seven if they showed up. He knew Naruto would be happy at a C-Rank, but he never got the chance to talk.

"Hey, Ojii-San how about you give us a real mission?" Naruto shouted with his hands resting behind his head. "I'm tired of doing these chores, they aren't worth doing. We are ninja now, give us a real mission!" Sarutobi smiled as Naruto's continued rashness. He was quite fond of the boy and how he was. Naruto was even good with Konohomaru, his grandson.

"Naruto!" Sakura yelled appalled at her teammate "You can't talk to the Hokage that way!"

"Why not?" Naruto huffed.

Nazo turned to them "She is right Naruto. You can't talk to the Hokage that way." Naruto started to retort but Nazo held up his hand and silenced him. "No buts Naruto you are a genin and aren't allowed to talk to the Hokage that way." Nazo turned toward Sarutobi. "As your jounin sensei that's my job." Nazo pointed his finger at Sarutobi. "Hey old man, we want a better mission!"

Sakura face faulted and sighed "You can't be serious."

Sarutobi laughed before winking at Nazo and tossing him the mission scroll. "There you go Team Seven, a C-Rank mission. It's a simple escort mission to the Land of Waves. You will be escorting this man. As he finished talking an old man walked through the doors. He was a stocky guy and he didn't look all that old really. He smelled strongly of Sake though. He looked Team Seven up and down before looking at Sarutobi.

"These are the runts that are supposed to be escorting me?" He grunted.

Nazo looked at the scroll as if studying it, quite a feat for a blind man, before looking toward him. "I can assure you Tazuna my genin are very capable. However should they not be able to handle something I am their jounin sensei and I can handle anything that we might encounter."

Tazuna gave Nazo an up and down thoughtfully before nodding. "OK. Meet me at the Gates in thirty minutes." With that Tazuna turned and walked away, drinking out of a bottle of sake.

"OK team you heard him. Grab your stuff, pack for about a week, then meet at the gate in thirty minutes." Nazo stated simply then turned and walked out of the room.

Sasuke and Sakura were a little put off by what happened. Their sensei had just demanded a better mission from the Hokage and gotten one. Naruto however was excited. "Alright! Lets go!" he yelled before running out of the tower toward his house.

City Gates Thirty Minutes Later

Naruto was the last to reach the gates, everyone already waiting for him. As he approached them Naruto felt even more excited. It was going to be awesome, a week long mission outside of Konoha.

Nazo turned to him as he walked up. "OK everyone is here. Everyone ready to go?" All three of his students nodded and he turned to Tazuna. "Alright Tazuna we are ready. Lets get going." With that the five of them started walking away from Konoha, none of them knowing this trip would change each of their lives forever.

Jutsu List

Katon: Ryuka no Jutsu; Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique

Katon: Housenka no Jutsu;Fire Release: Mythical Fire Phoenix Technique

Kage Bunshin no Jutsu;Shadow Clone Technique

Oiroke no jutsu; Ninja Centerfold

Futon: Daitoppa; Wind Release: Great Breakthrough

Suiton: Suijinheki; Water Encampment Wall Technique