Welcome, Naruto! Chapter 7

A/N: Okay, next chapter HERE!

Disclaimer: I think you know what goes here...

Chapter Seven:

Training with Gaara and Kakashi

I woke up at 7:30 Sunday morning, still sore from yesterday. Sakura and Naruto had us walk up trees and learn the substitution jutsu. I tried sitting up, but I collapsed back on my bed, remembering yesterday vividly.

Flashback

"Hey, Darcy, Kelsey, you guys want to learn my sexy jutsu?" Naruto asked after I had fallen from the tree for the umpteenth time.

"Naruto, I don't think that's appropriate for a girl to learn," I said. Unfortunately for him, Sakura had heard him.

"Aw, come on it'll-" but he was cut off from Sakura's punch. She sent him flying all the way across the lake. Yes, all the way, not half way.

"That was kind of mean, Sakura Sensei," I said.

"He had it coming," Sakura said shrugging. "He shouldn't be teaching a girl a jutsu that vulgar."

"Whatever," I said.

"Sakura!" Naruto complained, coming back across the lake. By the end of the day, Kelsey and I had mastered the substitution jutsu, and somewhat mastered climbing the tree. But at the expense of our whole body aching.

End Flashback

I wasn't to psyched for toady, Kakashi Sensei and Gaara Sensei. Well, I wouldn't mind Gaara Sensei so much, but kakashi Sensei would make training hell. Reluctantly, I got out of bed and grabbed a black tank top and a pari of jean shorts to wear, along with a pair of black gladiator sandals (A/N: which apparently make you look fat) and I headed downstairs for a light breakfast of oatmeal.

As I was putting my dishes away, the back door opened. I spun around, prepared to fight.

"Oh, it's you Gaara Sensei," I said, relaxing a bit.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

"Yeah, I guess," I said, walking over to the couch to pick up a pillow. I then preceded to walk down to the basement. kelsey and I decided whenever we would have sleepovers on the weekend, we wouldn't sleep in the same room because we would keep each other up all night, and we didn't' want to be too tired for our training. As I walked downstairs, I heard Gaara Sensei behind me. When I reached the bottom of the stairs I chucked the pillow at Kelsey, and when it hit her, she shot up from were she was sleeping, screaming.

"Haha, got you," I said. "Get up and get dressed, it's time to train."

"But I haven't even had breakfast," she complained.

"Then get up, get dressed, and have breakfast, and then it's time to train," I said.

Within ten minutes she was ready, and we were following Gaara Sensei to our usual clearing.

"Where is Kakashi Sensei?" I asked when we reached the clearing.

"Right here," he said, appearing behind me.

"Ah!" I screamed, and, like always, I fell to the ground.

"Are you a ninja or not?" He asked.

"No, I'm not, I'm just being trained by one!" I shouted. "Do you see a headband on my forehead?"

"I guess you're right, sorry," he said. "Okay, first, I'm going to test you on taijutsu and ninjutsu, then we'll go from there."

Again, without any warning Kakashi disappeared. But this time, we were ready. Well, for taijutsu attacks. What we didn't expect was to each be attacked by two Kakashi's. I assumed the four of them were clones, but I wasn't taking any chances. They both sent punches at me, and I successfully dodged both of them. I sent a powerful round house kick, making the first Kakashi disappear. This time, there was no log. So it was a clone jutsu. The second Kakashi sent a kick at me. Since he was testing both ninjutsu and taijutsu, I decided to show him what I had. With out any hesitation I made the hand signs for the Substitution Jutsu (ram, boar, ox, dog, snake). When the kick hit me, I was safely in the trees while Kakashi hit what used to be my body and was now a log. Without any hesitation, I did the hand sings: ram, snake, tiger. I produced one clone and sent it down to fight the second Kakashi. It was to no avail, though, for after my clone hit him once, well, tried to hit him, he sent a kick at her and she disappeared. The second Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke, thus revealing he was also a clone. I took a risk and looked on to Kelsey's fight, which was already over. Both of her clones were gone. I decided to take a second risk and jump down to meet with Kelsey.

"So where's the real one?" I asked.

"I don't know," she said. We were both looking around. We saw Gaara Sensei on the side, sitting under a tree, we saw the empty woods behind him, we saw a water dragon coming from the lake right towards us, we saw- wait, a water dragon?

"Oh, shit!" Kelsey shouted. We both jumped to the side, and up into a tree, just barely getting out of the way in time.

When I peeked out of the tree, I saw Kakashi Sensei standing there. I hesitated in the tree, not sure if I should jump down or stay hidden.

Okay, calm down, Darcy. Think about this logically, I thought to myself. What would Naruto do in this situation? Jump out of the tree, try to attack, and then end up captured. Right, stupid question. What would a real shinobi do? Stay hidden until the enemy has sensed your presence or the right time to strike has presented its self. Ah, that's the right question. Good thinking other self. Hey, stay focused and stop talking to yourself! Right, I mean, wait, what? Ugh, never mind! Just do what I tell you to do! Gosh, you are such an idiot. Hey, I'm you too, you know!

"You guys can come out now," Kakashi Sensei said. We did as we were told. "Okay, you guys have learned a considerable amount for two day. Gaara Sensei and I will teach you separately. Gaara Sensei will be working on your taijutsu skills, and I will be working on your ninjusu skills. Remember the chakra type test I gave you?"

"Yeah," Kelsey and I both said.

"Well, that's going to come into play today," Kakashi Sensei said. "Okay, I'll start with Kelsey. Darcy, you go work with Gaara Sensei. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" Kelsey and I said in unison. I turned to Gaara Sensei, ready to take what he had.

"Alright, hit me," he said.

"What?" I asked.

"Hit me. We are going to spar," he repeated.

"Okay," I said, sending a very week round house kick at him, which he easily blocked with sand, his arms never uncrossing once.

"You will have to do better than that," Gaara Sensei said, sounding either annoyed or bored, I'm not sure which. But I don't think either were very good.

"Well, why don't you come at me first?" I asked in a kind of mean tone. I instantly wished I hadn't, though.

"Well, since you asked so nicely," Gaara Sensei said with an evil grin on his face. Oh. Shit. Without hesitation he used his sand to attack me.

"Shit! What the hell kind of taijutsu is that?" I shouted. My "Inner Sakura" so to speak told me to run, even if I was supposed to fight him. Well, my "Inner Sakura" won, and I ran like hell was upon me. I ran into the woods and hid behind a tree. I thought I was safe, and then I saw sand creeping around the tree I was behind. "Oh, shit." This guy would NOT give up. Did I really make him that angry? I hoped not, I really like him. (A/N: Come on guys, you know he's hot). I dashed forward thinking about just how lucky Kelsey was to be learning ninjutsu instead of getting the crap (almost) beet out of her by one who was perviously possesed by a demon and who had done more than enough killing for one life time. I wasn't sure why I was running, I mean, sure sand was after me, but Gaara Sensei was just walking, so was there really anything to be afraid of? Was he really going to kill me?

"Ouch!" I shouted when I face planted right into the ground. Apperently Gaara Sensei wasn't my problem. As stood up, I noticed a heavy stick next to me. Hey, that looks strong enough to hit someone with. I picked it up and spun around so I was facing Gaara Sensei. As he got closer I adjusted my stance. Once he was in hitting range I swung the stick. Not only did it hit his sand (now, how was I stupid enough to forget something like that about my favorite character in my favorite show?), it also snaped in half.

"Was that supposed to hit me?" He asked in his usual monotone voice.

"If I may say, Gaara Sensei, I dont' think this fight is quite fair," I said, pointing out what I thought was the obvious.

"And why is that?" He asked.

"Well, see, I'm not even at a genin rank yet, and here I am fighting the Kazekage, who also is the ultimate defense, with no weapons and only two jutsu, and basic ones at that," I explained.

"Your point?" He asked.

Seriously? I though. Does this guy understand the concept of going easy on someone? Well, what do you think? He's killed more people than someone his age should have in one life time, so I highly doubt it. Oh, shut it!

"Okay, guys, time to switch," Kakashi Sensei anounced, surprising me when he suddenly appeared out of no where.

"Okay," I said, deciding not to complain about him popping out of no where. Gaara Sensei and I followed Kakashi Sensei back to the clearning. Once there Kelsey went to train with Gaara Sensei, and I hoped he wasnt' too hard on her. Kakashi Sensei and I stood by the lake, and I got ready to learn what he wanted to teach me. No matter what it was, no matter how hard it was to preform, I would acomplish it succesfully.

"Okay, so, as we learned on Friday, your chakra type is water," he said. "So, naturally, I'll be teaching you water style jutsu. First, I'm going to teach you the Water Prison Jutsu. It's pretty simple, so the hard part should just be rememberin the hand signs." He pulled out a piece of paper with a bunch of animals writen on it. Hand signs, I realized. "Here, I'm going to tell you the hand signs, but when you practicd alone, you can use this to help you." I took it and put it in my pocket. "So, the signs are: Serpent, horse, rabbit, tiger, horse, rabbit, and the put your palm out to seal your enemy in the water prison. I'll show you." He did the hand signs (quickly), placed his hand out above the water, and the water prison formeed.

"You make it look so easy," I said. but I stepped to the waters edge (since I hadn't learned to walk on water yet) and preformed the hands signs slowly (really slwoly). Sure enough a water prison appeared, but only for a second, then all of the water colapsed back into the lake.

"That was good for your first try," Kakashi Sensei complemented. "You need to focuss more, though. That's why the jutsu didn't work. Try it a few more times, then I'll teach you another jutsu." And I did. On my second try, I held for a whopping two seconds (whoo hoo! Talk about progress), and on my third try I held the jutsu for five seconds.

"Well, I think that's good progress for your first day," Kakashi Senseai said. "Now for your next jutsu." I looked up at him agahst, for, you see, I had just colapsed from exaustion.

"But, Sensei," I complained. "Can't we take a short brake?"

"How is that exhausting?" He asked, looking down on me in confusion.

"Well, you see, Sensei, to put it frankly, my chakra level is far inferior to your chakra level," I told him.

"That it is," he said. "Fine, five minute brake."

"Thank you, Sensei," I said. And he sat down and started reading Make-Out Paradise. Shocker. After five minutes, we stood back up and I felt ready to learn my next jutsu.

"Here, these are the hand signs for the next jutsu I'll teach you," he said, and then he paused and looked up at sky (the old fashioned way of telling time). "And this will be the last for today, as well."

"Yes, sir!" I siad. I looked down at the sheet of paper and read the hand signs: Tiger-ox-monkey-rabbit-ram-boar-ox-horse-monkey-tiger-dog-tiger-serpent-tiger-ox-monkey-rabbit-bird.

"This is the Giant Vortex Jutsu," Kakashi Sensei explained. He did the motions and a giant vortex appeared.

"Cool," I said with a smile. I tried the jutsu, and, would you believe it, nothing happened.

"Yes, this jutsu is much harder," Kakshi Sensei said with a smile. "It will take a lot more work. I'll let you try it a few more times while I go and find Gaara Sensei and kelsey." He disappered, and I was left to try and fiugre out just what the hell I was doing.

"Okay," I said to myself. I placed the piece of paper on the ground and put my foot on it, kneeling down in the process. I siad the hand seals as I made them. "Tiger, ox, monkey, rabbit, ram, boar, ox, horse, monkey, tiger, dog, tiger, serpent, tiger, ox, monkey, rabbit, bird. Water Style: Giant Vortex Jutsu!" All I really managed to do was make a small wave in the lake, but I guess that was better than nothing. I colapsed on the ground panting, this jutsu was hard.

"Good job," I heard kakashi Sensei say from behind me. But I was much to exhausted to cry out in surprise. In fact, I was too exhausted to even look up at him. I felt something movie under me. I looked down to see sand that was picking my up. Soon the sand was carying me home, with Gaara walking on my right, arms crossed. I glanced to my left to see Kelsey being carried on Kakashi's back. "Sakura's making dinner tonight, how about you come over since your parents aren't home. Then afterwards, you can study, since finals start tomorrow."

"Cool," I said, not really paying attention.

I'm not sure how long it took us to reach their house, I was zoning out on my the way there, but we made it.

"Oh, good, you're home, Kakashi Sensei," Sakura said with a smile. Then she saw Kelsey and I. "Oh, my, you two look terrible! Sit them down at the table, they'll feel better after dinner."

Soon the table was set with a mix of Japanese and American food like ramen, sushi, chicken, and pizza.

"This looks good, Sakura," I complemented.

"Thank you," she said with a bright smile. Somehow, I ended up sitting with Gaara to my right and Sakura to my left. Kelsey, the poor girl, ended in between Naruto and Kankuro, who were talking about who knows what (I can tell you it wasnt' pleasent) over her. Kelsey and I were across from each other, Sakura and Naruto were across from each other, and she was giving him the evil eye (somebody was going to take another trip across the lake *Caugh* Naruto *caugh*). Gaara and Kankuro faced each other, and Gaara was also givign Kankuro a look, but like I said, Kankuro and Naruto were talking, so neither of them noticed the brother/teemate glaring at them. Temari sat at the head of table, and Kakashi would be facing her, if he was eating with us. After I had some ramen and sushi, i decided to ask about that.

"Where is Kakashi Sensei?" I asked.

"Probably re-reading Make-Out Paradise," Sakura said, clearly disgusted.

"Oh, well, um, you guys ready for finals tomorrow?" I asked. Instantly, I gto four confident yes's from Temari, Sakura, Kankuro, and Gaara. And then there was Naruto.

"Haha, that's a good one!" He laughed. "For a second there, I almost believed that the finals were tomorrow."

"Um, they are, Naruto," I said.

"What? Why didn't any one tell me?" He exploded, spilling his bowl of Ramen.

"We've known for weeks," I told him. But Sakura didn't care about that, she cared about the mess he just made.

"Naruto! You idiot! I just cleaned the kitchen!" She screemed, pounding her fist on his head.

"Ow! Sakura, that really hurts!" Naruto shouted back, clutching his head like it was his heart that had been ripped out.

"Well, I'm done with dinner," Kelsey said. "I'm going home, are you leaving, Darcy?"

"No, I want some more sushi," I said with a grin on my face.

"Okay, see you tomorrow!" She said as she ran out of the kitchen. I think it was more because of what Naruto and Kankuro were talking about, rather than actually being done with dinner.

After about fifteen minutes, I was done with dinner.

"Thank you for dinner, Sakura, but I should head home now," I said. As I left, I could have sworn Temari said something like: "Gaara, walk her home and ask her out!" But I think I was just imagining it. When I reached the door, there was a hand on my shoulder.

"It's dark out, let me walk you home," Gaara said. Or maybe I wasn't imagining. It would be so cool if he did ask me out. We walked out the door. It was true we lived next door to each other, but there was about a mile in between each house.

We walked in silence for a while, and it wasn't until we were half way to my house did Gaara speak up.

"So, do you, um, do you like, um," he puased. I looked up expectantly. "Did you like the dinner Sakura made?" My heart sank, and I looked at the ground.

"Yeah, it was good," I said. I think he noticed the diference in my voice.

"I know that we have to study for finals tomorrow after school, but," he paused...

A/N: Haha, cliff hanger! This was my plan all along, make you wait FOREVER for the next chapter, and then give you a cliff hanger. Actually, no, that wasn't my plan. I do sincerly apologize for the wait for this chapter, but I do NOT apologize for the cliff hanger. Okay, maybe a little, but I won't make you wait as long. I hope. With finals this week, who knows. Well, please, please, PLEASE review! I'll give you virtual... um, virtual what ever you want! I hope you liked this chapter!