Chapter 24
A presence... A very annoying one at that. Has been following Naruto every morning for the past 5 days.
He didn't know who it was, but it was quickly evaded by a super speed escape. Then it would be the next morning before it showed up again.
But now... Naruto was annoyed. So as he ducked into the alley way. He jumped onto the roof and waited to pounce on his stalker. He was not expecting a white haired man standing on a roof looking where he went. 'Okay... I'm so not going to ask what this is about...' Naruto then turned and took off. If the guy followed him again. He was going to who the old freak his sword collection. Sharp end first.
'Damn...' Jiraiya grunted. The boy seemed too sneaky. He just seemingly vanishes like the wind. Having followed him for the last five days to see where he trained... The boy seemed to escape his scouting.
He maybe a sannin... But to be sensed by a boy a tenth his age... Man, that's a hard whack! To his title.
'Guess I'll not bother... He seems to be doing fine without my need to interrupt. I'll just to what I came here for...' Jiraiya glanced down as two curvy females walked by. This got a jaw dropping, eye popping result and he was off like a dog after a stick. He was a writer after all, had to keep his style going. Less he wanted to lose readers or fans.
Naruto sighed as he reached his training ground. Sai was busy off with Ryuunosuke working on the fine arts of kenjutsu. Naruto was still working on the same technique he was given.
Naruto never realised how hard it was to pull off a simple move like this. He could do the beginning and middle. The ending, where he has to sheath his blade before the attack takes affect was the hard part. He couldn't judge his blades angle well enough.
'Maybe I should move the Katana to a different location... Or ask Ryuunosuke-sensei to show me his one again?'
The day had gone by with a tiring result and with no sensei there to get his question.
Naruto opted a rest on his body. And what better place than the hot springs! Naruto sighed as his muscles relaxed in the hot water and the bubbles from his stress seemed to go away.
He had begun to advance. Getting his sword in alignment. It was a breakthrough for the taijutsu blond. He had begun to get into the art of kenjutsu on a whole new level.
Who know learning an art like that would be so much harder than a simple throw of fist combos?
"Ahh... Man this is so relaxing..." Naruto nods with his eyes closed. It was relaxing.
"After a day of learning new things... One just needs to let the information he's gathered soak in. Ready to dive at the task at hand when the time comes." Naruto nods again. Man, this guy knew his stuff.
"All those ladies were excellent research material." Naruto nods. He blinked. What? Naruto turned and his eyes bounced out his head and back in.
"Haha... Ah... I can't wait to get my work done... But I'll never be done with my time with the ladies..." Jiraiya chuckled in his saked state. Having not even noticed the blond blob in the water's. Only 2 meters away and slowly getting ready to attack said man.
"I wonder what I should write next?" Jiraiya mused. "The idea's come so well that putting them in a straight and well balanced order is the hardest part of writing for me... Let's see... Bed first... Hmmm..." Jiraiya closed his eyes with his arms crossed. How would he proceed with his novel at this point?
A blade rested up against the elderly ninja's neck. Jiraiya, sensing a closing doom. Glanced over his shoulder to a glaring blond lad with whiskers... Like the one he was following today. What a surprise he would see him here?
"Can I help you?" Jiraiya asked.
"Why have you been following me all week?" Naruto simply asked. His blade moving slightly closer to the sage's neck.
"Ah... So you have noticed me boy... And a good question to why I have been following you. But please, drop the sword. I don't work under pressure... I only work under pleasure..." Jraiya said catching the boy off guard and escaping his close call. "Now, why I have been following you..." Jiraiya said giving a thoughtful look. "I wish to train you..."
"Flattering as it is to be offered training by a strange elderly man... I'll decline. I've got my own training set. And learning from you is not on my list."
"Do you not know who I am boy?" Naruto shook his head. Jiraiya smirked.
Naruto was then stupefied by the man's show before he gave his name. Jiraiya of the sannin. Naruto simply said one thing before leaving.
"No thank you..." With that he was off and out the building. He had only finished tying his sash up before the sannin skidded out the door.
"What do you mean no?! Do you know what you're giving up on? A sannin is one of the three great ninja. Do you not know what that means to have a sensei of that level?"
"To be honest... No, but I know a sannin such as yourself, won't be able to help me in my area of training... Well... Maybe that strange snake freak... But as I know from a little background study this week... You're no swordsman." Naruto then vanished in a flicker.
The wind howled and a tumble weed passed the jaw dropped stunned sannin... This was not what he had expected when he was going to train the son of his last student... No, he never expected this. The only thing his brain could compute from that was...
"What?"
The new day came and Naruto had 3 weeks and 2 days to go... And luck would have it. Ryuunosuke was there that morning to great the blond.
"Good to see you're up Naruto... How has your training been going?"
"I think I almost have it down."
"Good... Then you can test it on a set of shadow clones... Care to try moving targets?"
"Ugh... Yeah. Sure, I'll give it ago." Five minutes later, Naruto was set upon by 5 shadow clones. Each one moving faster than the other.
Now Naruto had no trouble with their speed. Heck he could walk rings round them. It was accurately scoring the desired strikes he needed from his attack.
It took multiple attempts before he had done well enough for Ryuunosuke to agree, that though he still had a long way of making it a full on worthy strike of a swordsman. He had a skill set under his belt.
Next came a nitoryu move for the blond to learn. And another damned quick draw sheath move. Known as.
"Nito-ryu Iai: Rashomon. Two sword style draw and resheath technique: Castle gate." Ryuunosuke stated to the blond about the fact that he would need to be very careful. As this one will require his hands to be very steady on the sheath. He stated the power of this attack was stronger than the blond thought. It was strong enough said to cut down the gate Rashoumon. Though the theory was never proven. It has been seen to cut even the strongest gate. Rashoumon is the final gate left to be met against.
Naruto asked a quick demonstration on both the one and double slash draw. Ryuunosuke nodded to his request.
Naruto watched as that very same man, turned large oaks into toothpicks. Naruto was awed by this man's skill with a blade. He will never argue with a show like that if he's showing him a move like that.
And as Naruto began his training once more... We move out to others out on their way to improvement on the chunin exam.
Hinata Hyuuga, from the end of the second round. Had gone to visit her cousin. Though, she was met with hate still. She sat down and tried to talk with him. It was a slow progress, working on the simple questions on his teammates and how impressed she was he had learned the hyuuga art on his own.
Though she was met with some hostility, Neji did talk. Much to his defeated state at the hands of a teen his age, and at the bottom of his class.
Hinata had slowly got through to him, if she did or not. That people like her, Lee and even at one point Naruto. Were all seen and underestimated. They could improve; show that they can become stronger than those who were seen as the best of the best in their age group.
She had left Neji with something to think about and she moved onto her own training.
She asked the hyuuga clan first... Her father, though he was pleased she had got to the finals... It's was an insult to him that she did it outside the hyuuga arts. So he wouldn't help her, if she could go so far as to learn outside of the clan... She wouldn't be allowed to learn what she wanted from inside... It was one or the other. Not both.
Though that had dropped her confidence. Having met Naruto for some advice, which had been more than helpful. He offered a few thoughts and ways to use her clan's art and her slowly improving new form with some ideas of his.
This had been the first day after Naruto had begun his first sword technique. Hinata would come to where he lived and he would work with her on the roof of his apartment. As he lived on the top floor.
Hinata was grateful to her idols help... Even if he had to train himself. He would go out to help her still... She just wished she had the confidence to tell him her feelings...
The training was left under Naruto teachings for much of the month. Later, she would go off on her own to continue.
Mina spent her time working with her teammate Kiba and sensei Kurenai.
Shino, he worked with his father to improve what he could do in the month.
Shikamaru got to work with Chouji and Asuma. Much to his annoyance.
Team sand was unknown. The team couldn't be found... But Naruto did get a guest at his training grounds.
Garra had popped up out of nowhere and had stared the blond down. Ryuunosuke had shown up before it got to tense and Garra left with Naruto knowing he was a jinchurriki. But Naruto did let him go, without say he was the same as he was...
Garra left with a vow to kill the other jinchurriki. In order to prove his existence...
Lee and Gai had worked in secret. Gai giving Lee the fine points of taijutsu as best her could. Preparing him for a taijutsu fighter more advanced in his form that Gai could only hope to meet.
Naruto had shown him that he was stronger than he let on. And it was only when his weights were off that the blond became what he could only say was a flash.
Gai hoped that Naruto and Lee would give a good show. And show that taijutsu is just as strong as any ninjutsu.
Finally, Kikan. He was left to his own doings... As his sensei seemed fit to help his defeated Uchiha's ego.
No matter, he learned what he could do on his own without help. He'll improve on what he could once more. And come up with something amazing! He had some serious competition. And he wasn't going to back down because of it.
And finally, Orochimaru himself was in a spot of a bother.
Having spotted Naruto alive during the eliminations. He had background searched on the blond. He was not happy to find the blond was a jinchurriki. It questioned now his plans, having seen the boy's skill. Would his attack go off without problems...?
If Garra is defeated by the kyuubi container. He would have to make sure he doesn't become this boy's next target. He has to kill Sarutobi and hope to off balance the blond before he finishes his tools.
He'll have ninja track the blond for weaknesses, and use them when the time comes.
Back with our blond ninja... It took 2 weeks before Naruto had finally got the technique down... Now when it came to Ryuunosuke. Practice was the word the blond heard. Continue to refine his two new attacks... Only then after Ryuunosuke believed the blond had finally got it down. He would teach the blond more. And as an incentive, if he did well enough the day before the chunin exam final. He would give him one last move.
That was the right incentive! Naruto got straight to it, determined to get it done!
And so... the last week rolled by. And to give him the edge. His shadow clones became his moving targets...
By the end, Naruto knew, no matter what speed his foe moved. He would hit those dead on.
Ryuunosuke was impressed.
When Gai had said of Naruto's skills with a sword. He wasn't sure if Gai was being a bit too much this time. But after seeing Naruto grasp two simple yet strong techniques so well and so accurate. He'll never question Gai next time he praises his student.
Naruto was a wonder... And Ryuunosuke was eager to see how far this child will go.
The days got closer still and Naruto had found his trackers like a dog finding food. Naruto also had fun with them.
He would drag them all across the village and beyond. Before he would vanish from their sight, senses and area. And be back to continue training for the rest of the day.
He never bothered to talk to this group... As he was annoyed with stalkers now and it's more fun to drag them endlessly about before escaping them.
And finally the day came... The day before Naruto had proved to Ryuunosuke he could handle these new skills he acquired and Ryuunosuke noted to the blond that he will even need to use these as a last resort.
Naruto smiled as he stretched that morning. He was busy taking a quick break before his fight. He had time before he battled Lee... But he wanted to show he was ready even if his fights not till second from last in the first round.
He knew if he battled Lee with everything in his rack of techniques... Lee won't be a match for him. So Naruto's decided an idea that both he and Lee will agree upon.
"H-hello... Naruto-kun..." Naruto glanced back with a smile. He wondered when he'd see her again"
"Good to see you this morning Hinata..." Hinata nods with a smile in agreement. Naruto stood with a stretch. "Let's get going... Lee will be bouncing off the walls to berate us if were late." Hinata giggled and followed behind the blond.
As they arrived they found Sakura wishing Kikan luck and moving the audience seats.
"Good to see your here Kikan... Where's the rest of your team?"
"Well you just saw Sakura leave... Sasuke that jerk with that lame sensei haven't been seen all month... I'm currently not in a good mood with them."
"Maybe you could request a transfer?"
"Yeah... But then Sakura's got to deal with them herself..." Kikan muttered. "Even if she still likes that jerk..." Kikan growled.
Kikan blinked as he saw an eerie smile on the blond face. "What?"
"You like Sakura..." Naruto said in a sing song voice...
"Y-you've got to be kidding me?!" Kikan stammered out. "Why would I? She's a Sasuke-fan girl... Why would I be interested in her?" Kikan stated with his arm crossed and looking anywhere at the blond. Naruto nudged Hinata's shoulder while he wasn't looking.
"Really? Shame... She seems to like you a bit..." Naruto smirked as Kikan glanced to him with his eyes and looked away. "After all, she did cheer you on in the exam..."
"She was only being nice because of my encouragement to her in the forest. Once one's a Sasuke follower... They don't turn back so easily..."
Naruto shrugged. "Oh well.... I tried..." Naruto said as he walked by. "I say give it a shot... Who knows... After what Sasuke did in the forest may have knocked the mantle on her Uchiha being the only male for her picture." Kikan merely scowled.
Kikan wouldn't admit it... But something back then in the forest, no, he should start thinking of false hopes... He'd learned firsthand from them girls... And having seen the result to Naruto back then... They not worth his time.
"Let's just go..." Kikan growled and started walking to the arena. Naruto leaned close to Hinata.
"He'll realise he may be the only one to succeed where I failed with Sakura... I hate to say that, but it's true... You've got to help me ok." Hinata nod's dumb founded.
"W-why are you d-doing this Naruto-kun?"
Naruto sighed as he looked forward at Kikan's back. "He reminds me of my old self... I could see when he watched Sakura leave..."
"It was the same look you gave her?"
"Yeah..." Naruto muttered out. "My feelings for Sakura have gone... But Kikan may have a chance... We've just got to try right?"
"I-I guess..." Naruto smiled and they walked to the arena. Kikan was waiting.
"What took you two so long?"
"Just a quick teammate to teammate chat before the final rounds... Right?" Naruto asked. Hinata nods.
"I-I won't let you down."
"Same here..."
"And I will not let you both down my comrades!" Both glance to Lee and Gai behind them.
"Good to see you Lee. And thanks with Ryuunosuke, sensei." Naruto said to Gai.
"No problem Naruto-kun. Ryuunosuke was the only one I knew who could help you with your training... Now I wish you three, luck and see you at the end." Gai gave the thumbs up as he left to the stands.
"Let's go..." Kikan called. Hinata then nudged Naruto.
"Hm?" Hinata leaned close.
"Doesn't Lee also like Sakura-san?" Naruto blinked.
'Shit...'
Naruto would think of what to do later... Right now he had an exam to get promoted in!
Naruto blinked as he noticed that a new judge was doing their finals... Wasn't Hayate the judge? Oh well, must have got sick, he wasn't really in a good state during the prelim.
Naruto smiled as Hiruzen spoke before the teams. He frowned slightly...
Something seemed wrong in the air... Something familiar... But what?
Naruto didn't get time to check as Genma, the judge spoke and showed the group again their fights.
Kikan vs. Sai.
Hinata vs. Mina
Shikmaru vs. Temari
Shino vs. Kankuro
Naruto vs. Lee
Winner of round 5 vs. Garra.
Sai and Kikan glance to each other as everyone leaves to the viewing box. Both walk 2 meters apart and face each other down.
"Good luck Sai... Let's show what we can do to gain our title of chunin!" Sai smiled as he reached for his blade.
"Don't hold back... Or you'll miss your chance." Kikan smirked as he reached for his large kunai.
"Same to you..." Genma glance between the pair and raised his right arm.
"The first round of the chunin exam. Kikan vs. Sai will now... Begin!"
Kikan smirked and jumped back as his left arm swung back. Shuriken slid down a clip line attached to his elbow. They flicked in under his hand like a spring released by a ration spike and Kikan let lose three on the ink user.
Sai drew his blade as deflected to his right as he moved left. 'He knows I'm a long range user... Why start this off at long range?'
Kikan flipped and skidded to a stop in a crouch. His eyes danced along the battle field. Taking in the notes of combat advantage... He flicked another shuriken into his hand. A wire wrapped round it. His right moved behind him and he fingered a scroll in his pouch.
Kikan rushed forward as Sai drew his scroll. 'Now...' Sai mussed as he quickly draw with the speed and skill of a refined master. He formed a seal as the large cobra rose from the paper.
"Ninpo: Choujuu giga!" The snake hissed and rushed the ration lad.
Kikan blinked as Sai was lost by the snake. 'Shit!' He jumped up and found Sai had vanished. 'Crap... I only expected Naruto and Lee to be quick... I wasn't expecting Sai to be a fast mover!' Kikan blinked as he felt shade... But he was in the air?
Kikan looked up and saw a bird over head. Kikan realised it now.
The second the snake blocked Kikan's vision. Sai jumped as Kikan realised Sai was out of sight. And summoned a drawn bird in the air.
Kikan glance down at the snake and gripped the shuriken tight and swung his body round and threw the shuriken up. The wire glimmering in the light.
Sai couldn't see that well because of the angle he stood. But, he knew something was coming his way when Kikan turned to him. With a thrust of wings the shuriken was dodged.
Kikan smirked and rotated and pulled on the wire as he faced the waiting snake. The wire on the shuriken
zapped the bird before shuriken shot by Sai and back towards Kikan's hand at a rapid pace.
The wire stopped whirling into Kikan's hand and the wire went slack as it released the speeding shuriken and stab into the snake. Kikan was able to rotate and roll on his landing.
Sai landed with a crouch and faced Kikan. Who was now short of breath from the fact he had to do so much in order to keep this fight going.
Sai looked on seriously. 'Kikan's already short of breath... Guess what I found about him was true... He has a small stamina level.'
Kikan steadied his breath. 'Ok... Let's use that move...' Kikan gripped the scroll tight in his right hand.
XXXXXX
Half way into the month of training, Kikan had become short of wire and seeked to improve on his tools of trade. What he didn't know was the store he tried was...
"Eh? You're Ten-ten right? Sai's teammate?"
"Yep, you're that guy who took on Kiba? I see you're up and about?"
"Yep! No way was I staying in that place... I'll recover as I prepare for the finals... But I best be going..."
"Huh? But you just got here?"
"Well, you're Sai's teammate, I'd best find somewhere I can get my stuff without my foe knowing my plans."
"Baka... What makes you think like that huh? Sai's training with Ryuunsuke-sensei... Plus, I'm wanting to lose here."
"That's a first."
"Kikan was peeved that me and Neji got to the finals last time. And he gloated at the fact he was in the final were we failed this time. I want him to lose so that's all even and we will try again to pass as a team."
"So... You want me to beat him?"
"Of course... I mean true it be good if Sai passed to chunin... But he's a teammate with me and Neji. We should pass together."
"Bit selfish..."
"Yeah yeah... Now what do you need?"
"Wire?"
"What sort?"
"All kinds?" Kikan stated as he walked up more calmly to the counter. He looked under the desk into the case.
"Just wire? What else you got?"
"Kunai and shuriken..."
"Let's see how you go about using them."
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"Sai is being trained by a kenjutsu and fuuinjutsu specialist... Sai also has a gift with drawing pictures and using them for both attacking and giving him a moment to escape..."
"Why you telling me this?"
"So you have a good idea of your foe. Sai will check your background... He'll figure you out quickly..."
"Right... Ok..."
Several minutes later.
"Ok... You're just basics in other things but your wires... And from what you say that's really good with the stuff you can do."
"Ugh... Thanks." Kikan muttered. Girl's don't normally comment on his wire skills... Even his parents never really helped him since he was a shinobi in a civil family.
"Let's give you some help... This." She rested a long black star with shuriken stacked at one end. "Is a spring release shuriken holster. It will knock shuriken down this shoot to a pocket at the end for you to grasp. It will also react to chakra of any kind. So it's even more reflex able to ninja at long range. So you don't have to reach down and throw."
"Cool!!" Kikan said as he marvelled the object.
"Now... These things aren't cheep you know... This is some of the first of its kind."
"Then why show it if I can't afford it?"
"It's more for you to borrow... But, I'll let you have it if you can win against Sai."
"Really! I-I mean, you really serious about me beating Sai aren't you?"
"Sai thinks he's going to win chunin. And made fun a crack at us when we lost, didn't get promoted and failed the prelim. It's payback time."
"Okay... What else?"
"This... Might be more your uses... Use it when you think Sai has you figured out. It will help in a pinch. Just don't damage it too much."
"You got it!"
XXXXXXXX
'Took some time to master... But, here goes.' Kikan jumped and opened the scroll out to his side. Sai eyed the long seal that was sketched into the drawing. Kikan pressed his right palm flat to the paper. "Kai!" Kikan was engulfed in smoke.
'What's he?' Sai watched as the smoke puffed open and a large curved disk flew his way. He jumped aside and watched as it swung back at him. Sai jumped and flipped back round.
"Time to up the game..." Sai glanced back to where Kikan now stood.
Kikan smirked as he grasped the chain in his right hand. Which was new rapped round his arm. The chain seemed to shrink down without much change up close. But it was circled round Kikan like a snake. It's head looked like a half moon on a chain. Kikan's hand sparked with lightning.
"Sai!" Kikan called. "You may have thought you knew all my moves... But this is my best skill yet. Let;s see if you're ready."
Sai drew his blade as he readied himself. 'Let' see what you've got Kikan...
Kikan had a smirk as he stared at Sai's serious one.
The end was near. Who would win!
XXXXXXX
Find out next time on Naruto's path of chi!!!
Hahaha! What a finish... Sorry if you took you time to reply Diimortal... But you took too long.
Hope you guys enjoyed this and I loved how the end came up. I could sort of here a faint form of Naruto music in the background as it finished the scene... God what was it?
The first round has begun and now I've left myself open for new scenarios.
Right now there's a request going about the idea's department on it either going to be Kikan or Lee to get Sakura's love... Kikan's scenario has been put before the head of the department and me...
I quiet like it... Lee's side is taking time. But it's still chapters away... I think.... (Kikan's looked very close... Lee's party is running short of time.)
I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. And I had a bit more Naruhina fun... Please remember! That there is no chosen pairing for Naruto... And as much as I hate it... (T/_\T) It's not Hinata... Or any girl he meet's in this part. Aren't I a stinker!
Naruto is as he is with Hinata because she's a friend and comrade. Plus she's the first female to know his secret about the kyuubi. She get's brownie points from Naruto because that's some serious trust.
Does he know she likes him? No clue yet. If he does, why hasn't he said anything? No clue... The department is not giving me a reason yet. It's untouched and can be left till that time comes.
Kakashi is slightly, aid Uchiha mode for some reason? Don't know how that got passed to department as useable. Someone must be at work here?
Oh well... Kikan doesn't need anything Kakashi has... Plus it aids me more in thinking up ideas.
I will also like to note no one has put anything forward for what if yet... No matter. It's up to you. I'm not doing much change than what has been given to me. It would take something really good to change the idea path.
People still every now and then still comment on my story, were Naruto is to strong... Or seems to have been watered down at points.
Please remember these important things... I try making them clear in the story. Naruto is a dbz fighter. He will own anybody in Naruto... The power is vastly different.
Naruto is being weighed down by gravity. He doesn't take it off unless he needs some serious speed. Like when Hinata was in danger. So when he battled Gato. He was unlike the weight of 15 or so times earth's G. Naruto didn't expect his foe to turn cowardly. He knew he would kick his ass. He's just weakened by his gravity. If he was that bad he wouldn't have been able to save Hinata or crush the giant golem thing.
Plus on that note... No one, and I mean no one has even got a slight clue to it yet.
Put the ideas together.
Soldiers in metal glowing armour...
Glowing mech dogs or something?
Golems with humans in the middle controlling them?
A short man with psychic powers
A large metal monster.
Put these things together and you'll get your answer. If not... You'll find out in the sequel. (Spoiler!)
Well, I'm done here... Oh! And I'll be dropping with my odsts tomorrow. Or today depending on when you get the story. I will try to find time to get my worm to you... As soon as my squad finds a place to camp.
See you soon... If I'm still alive that is...