Truth Unfolds in Wave

by Mr.mclane

Six months before Naruto's return to Konoha, He is placed on a team of familiar faces who is being sent to Wave. Naruto wasn't expecting this mission to escalate to a life changing experience nobody would ever forget. NaruXSaku, first fict, Pre Chap. 500

51. New Developments

AN: Sorry if I was a little late with the update.

Please note that the sections breaks are now normal line breaks (something up with how the manager formats it from word).

the end of the chapter will now be marked with 'End of Chapter' since I don't know about you, but it confuses me to no end.

Also soon there will be an update to team spar's, with just a minor clarification done in regards to Lee's extension of his taijutsu (why I made it sound like the Hyuuga's gentle fist is still beyond me.)

Edit: Just one more thing. This chapter unfortunately has not been beta read, since both my beta's are too busy at the moment, so apologies if I made any mistakes (prays for no terrible errors).

Edit 1: fixed a slight inconsistency i left in this chapter (regarding super kage bunshins, and what happened back on chapter 30)

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Chapter 50 New Developments

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Kakashi decided to take his students outside the town, but neither of the two knew what he had planned for them after they asked him to teach them something new.

Naruto had his hands folded behind his head, as they trailed behind, "Where do you reckon Kakashi-sensei is taking us?"

"Beats me..."

Hearing her trailed off voice, he tilted his head in question, "Something up Sakura-chan?"

"Naruto, is it ok with you if I speak to Kakashi-sensei about what we talked about earlier with the Kyuubi?"

Partially agape, Naruto snapped his gaze to her, showing his surprise as she continued, "I just want to know if there is anything better that can be done to help you with the Kyuubi."

Confirming that his ears did hear that correctly, he looked elsewhere, "I don't want to bother him."

"Don't be silly Naruto, he wouldn't mind."

His gaze still looking elsewhere again made her sigh, "I only want to ensure you will be alright Naruto."

Letting out a mumbled groan, he slowly nodded, making her nibble on her lower lip in agitation, despite her victory. 'He doesn't want to talk about the Kyuubi to anybody. Hell, he looked scared out of his mind when he told me earlier.'

Despite her musing, she turned to Kakashi and raised her hand at the walking away jounin, but halted. 'It is Naruto's choice...' Folding her hand into a fist, she let it fall to her side, "I won't say anything."

Her statement made the blond go through a phase of surprise, then question, "But you had a good point though?"

'And now he is arguing with me otherwise?! bah, baka!'

"I did, but it is your decision. " 'And I don't want to lose the trust you finally gave me.' Naruto slowly looked back on the road, with his posture now relaxed, "Thanks Sakura-chan, I would like that."

Still sensing her worried gaze on him, he shot an assuring grin, "I will talk to either sensei or baa-chan if your idea doesn't work."

"You will?"

"Ah, I will."

Satisfied with his words, she then narrowed her eyes in playful suspicion, which was bundled with a smirk, "By the way...what did you just call my sensei?"

It was as if a shot of tingling electricity travelled up his toe on his next footstep, making him freeze, to then slowly turn and give a nervous chuckle, "H-Hehe, what are you talking about?"

"Excuse me for interrupting, my plotting students, but we are here."

Kakashi's voice made both teens look in front to hold surprise. They were back at the swamp they visited before. Naruto shared a raised eyebrow with Sakura, "Why are we back at this swamp again sensei?"

Kakashi turned and continued walking, until he was standing in the middle of the swamp, then turned back to his two student's, "Because it will be essential to what I plan to teach you both."

The teammates looked at each other in question, then back to the talking Kakashi, "Firstly, show me both of your attempts at the leaf exercise."

Still puzzled by where this was going, Naruto picked two leaves off of a tree quickly, and handed another to Sakura. Kakashi silently watched as both closed their eyes in concentration, then soon after, revealed their results.

Walking up to Kakashi, they handed their leaves over for him to inspect. Naruto's was a completely dry brown colour, and even was cracking as Kakashi took it from Naruto. He then looked to Sakura's, which was mostly yellow, along with some very rough bits where brown was starting to show. "Very good both of you, although it is not as if the requirement for what I teach you is to pass this step anyway."

"What are you going to teach us sensei?"

Kakashi let the two leaves fall to the water's surface, as he answered Sakura's question, "Why, haven't you worked it out yet Sakura? That's a little disappointing."

Sakura perked an eyebrow in puzzlement, while Naruto surprisingly showed signs of understanding, "Suiton jutsu?!"

Sakura went wide eyed at Naruto loud announcement, while Kakashi nodded, "B-But I thought we needed to complete the ste-"

"You need to complete the steps to use suiton more effectively than anybody else, but there is nothing stopping either of you from learning normal suiton jutsu's most shinobi can do if they choose to."

Kakashi then turned to Naruto, "However, since you are both at different levels in the training, it means that Naruto is more adept to using higher level suiton jutsu's at the moment of the two."

"So you will teach us different jutsu's?"

"Hai. It would be best to teach you both suiton techniques, since you're chakra benefits from it, meaning you can naturally learn them a little quicker, and do them better than a non suiton user...and eventually you will be able to improve them when you master your suiton element's."

Both teens said nothing to his explanation, making Kakashi continue, "The downside to this however, is since you have not mastered your elemental affinity yet, you require a water source to perform the jutsu."

"Huh? But that squid summoner has been able to do all kinds of thing-"

"With a direct water source. Most suiton jutsu require water of some amount to perform. Many shinobi learn to use the water in their own bodies to perform jutsu, while others more skilled in the element, learn to accumulate the water from other sources...which is what you both are training to do."

"But sensei, what good is us learning suiton jutsu then, if both me and Naruto require water to perform them?"

"Our opponent summons water usually with his summons...when the time comes, you will have the water you need, and if not, I am certain you will find the amount of water required."

Seeing satisfaction in Sakura's eyes, he got started, "We will get you started first Naruto."

"Yosha!"

"Sakura, please wait over by those trees."

Nodding, Sakura did as told and waited, while Naruto already was growing eager, "So what mad suiton jutsu am I going to learn?!" Kakashi inwardly sighed, but was pleased to see his student's antics had still not changed.

"Well, let me show you, since you will be bored out of your brains otherwise."

Naruto nodded his head furiously, while Kakashi ran through seals, ending on the tiger seal, "Suiton suijinheki!"

Sakura went agape when her vision was blocked from seeing the other two, when the water in around several meters suddenly erupted where Kakashi and Naruto were standing. The water was spiralling around in a large circle like a twister, which eventually began to slow, as the water fell back in the swamp, spraying water vapour everywhere.

Naruto was stunned, while he felt the water vapour dampen his face, "Whoa..."

"Naruto, as we discussed earlier, you have an easier time with managing jutsu's that require lots of chakra. You fight with kage bunshin both offensively and defensively, and you have rasengan as your main offensive ninjutsu. What you do lack, is a strong defence to fall back on when in a pinch. This jutsu, while able to counter most fire jutsu, can also be used to blind your opponents vision, allowing you to set up an ambush, or surprise them. You are creative minded, so I am sure you will find loads of uses for this jutsu."

Naruto finally wore off his stunned features, and smirked, "Sick! what are the seals?!"

"...You didn't watch me before..."

'Jiraiya...how on earth did you manage?'

"Ok, watch me again."

Once Naruto now had the general idea, Kakashi waved Sakura over, "Ok Sakura, because that jutsu requires a lot of chakra, you understand why you will receive little benefit from learning it at your current skill with the suiton element?"

"I understand...So what can I learn instead?"

"Well-" Both teens gasped when 'Kakashi' suddenly burst into water, leaving nothing but some bubbles remaining where he stood.

"You wanted to learn kage bunshin from what Katsuya told me while you were unconscious.- "

Snapping their gazes to behind them, stood Kakashi who continued, "-But since you know that you can't, you can have a compromise if you wish."

"...Mizu...Bunshin." Sakura whispered, while Kakashi began his explanation.

"Mizu bunshin is a common jutsu amongst suiton users, as I am sure both of you can recall from Zabuza, and other cases. They are not like kage bunshin's though, they do not have their memories linked, nor is the chakra split equally between the user and the bunshin's. Mizu bunshin also have a much more limited range than kage bunshin, being that of around fifty meters from the original."

Sakura cringed at his explanation, "Sensei, with all due respect...that really sounds ba-"

"However, mizu bunshin, unlike kage bunshin, can take more physical damage normally, because of the fact that kage bunshin is made solely with chakra, where as mizu bunshin is made up of a physical entity as well. So while kage bunshin is the more effective all around jutsu, mizu bunshin's are more durable, require significantly less chakra, and can become more stronger by the amount of water and chakra used."

The kunouchi was agape, but still was confused, "Can mizu bunshin perform jutsu like kage bunshin?"

"Absolutely, however they are more restricted than a kage bunshin."

"Restricted?"

"As you know, chakra is moulded via physical and spiritual energy. The spiritual energy is not the issue here, but the physical energy is, since a mizu bunshin is just made of water. Meaning, this limits mizu bunshin's to non elemental jutsu, and suiton jutsu only. This again, is where kage bunshin are superior, since they are pure chakra, that is not restricted by such physical limitation."

'So just non elemental jutsu and suitons? I guess that's ok...it's not as if I know any jutsu of such anyway...'

"Ok...How many can I create sensei?"

"That is something you will have to discover for yourself, if you wish to learn it." She still was not certain, but a friendly nudge from her back from Naruto made her look to him to see his encouraging wink, "Go for it Sakura-chan!"

Nodding slowly, she turned back to face Kakashi, "Alright...tell me what to do, sensei."

---

'Has he lost his mind?!' Karin thought, as she stared at the crazed Uchiha standing on top of a boulder, with his eyes fixed on the black storm clouds above. She was standing under the cover of a cave they found nearby, out of the pouring rain. The sudden flash and thunderclap made her jump, but she relaxed in confirming Sasuke still hadn't been hit. Her eyes caught his hand starting to emit electricity, as Sasuke then held his hand high, with an expectant look on his face.

The storm roared to the bait, but didn't strike down upon him. Karin shook her head frantically at the growing nerves, "Sasuke, this is stu-"

Karin's voice was muffled out by the sudden flash of pure white light, and the deafening roar that made her lose her footing. When the thunder finally subdued, her nose caught the scent of something burning, 'Sasuke!'

Rubbing her eyes to rid them of the burning image of the blinding light, she struggled to find where the Uchiha was once standing. Making out a murky figure, she tried to focus on it, praying that Sasuke wasn't the source of the foul burning smell.

When her retinas finally could focus, she saw Sasuke kneeling down, breathing heavily, with his once risen hand frantically trembling.

Pushing herself up, Karin ran from out of the cover of the cave into the downpour of rain, "Sasuke!" She shouted, still wondering why she was smelling something burning. Reaching him, she quickly looked over his crouched form, not seeing any signs of injury.

Concluding he was just shaken, she grew a disgruntled glare, "Are you satisfied now?! Or do you still have that stupid 'curiosity' of yours?!"

The Uchiha did not respond to her scolding, instead he was too busy looking at something behind her, with an unbelievably wide grin across his otherwise exhausted face. "And what is so bloody interesting to look a-..."

Turning, she finally saw the connection to where the burning smell was coming from.

Not far away from them, was an ablaze forest. Within the centre of the tree line, was a enormous, scarred and burnt impact crater.

"W-What is..."

'Did Sasuke...direct the lightning?'

Turning back to the Uchiha, she watched him shakily stand on his own two feet, "You are in the way."

Karin was about to question his statement, but then she understood, and marched off back to the cover of the cave in deep annoyance, 'He wants to get struck YET AGAIN even though his is so shaken from the hit?! He is completely crazy!...and yet so unbelievably cool!'

---

The sun was starting to set, making it hard for Kakashi to read his 'substitute', being his old icha icha book. Looking up, he saw that neither of his students were calling it quits. Naruto had created a good few dozen kage bunshin, that were all standing around on the swamp surface. Naruto had thrown off his jacket and shirt, since he soon discovered his failures were only resulting in him getting completely drenched. Sakura was not as loud as the chorus of clones, and instead, she was sitting crossed legged near the edge of the swamp, next to Naruto's jacket and shirt, with her hands in a seal. The water in front of her was bubbling, and began to raise like wobbly jelly. When the curves of her figure were starting to show in the transparent water, it suddenly collapsed like a building, and emitted a loud splash. Groaning at her failure, she opened her eyes to stare at the water in frustration.

"Damn it!"

Looking up in the tree that was shading her, she roughly made out Kakashi's silver hair behind the leaves, "What am I doing wrong sensei?"

"You are picturing your figure as I told you?"

"Hai."

"Then just keep at it, things take time and practice after all." Sakura could only grit her teeth at Kakashi's true, but highly irritating words.

To rebel, she clapped her hands together to form the required seal, "Mizu bunshin no jutsu!" Her attempt this time resulted in the water bursting up a good several feet, and began to mould into her shape while falling. It however only made the outline of her shoulders, before collapsing in the water again. Groaning at her efforts, she looked to see how her teammate was going.

It appeared even with his kage bunshin, he still was struggling. "Suiton Suijinheki!" she heard shout from the real one, as he reeled his head back, and then moved his lips in the motion as if he was to spit...only his tongue poked out though. She felt her sweat drop, while the blond muttered incoherent curses at his failure. Kakashi had told him that the jutsu could be performed in two ways, one way involved generating the water by using chakra, and the other way was simply using the water around you.

Neither of the teens questioned the logic behind it, since they had seen Sasuke in the past spit out balls of fire from his mouth. Naruto being himself of course, was trying to create the water without aid. Attempting it again, he ran through the seals, "Suiton Suijinheki!"

This time a large spit ball flew out with his tongue, earning the sweat drop on Sakura's head to fall lower, "Ok, that really is starting to creep me out Naruto."

Pointing a finger up to his sensei, Naruto grumbled, "What am I screwing up?!"

"Maybe...it's because you are not listening to my advice, and starting with the harder form of it first?"

Kakashi put flatly, earning the blond to fold his arms in defiance, "Stupid jutsu."

The sound of a clone calling out earned his gaze, "Suiton Suijinheki!" Naruto did not expect to see a stream of water flow out of the clones mouth. He was about to shout victory, until he noticed the water was not spinning around the clone violently like it was meant to. Instead, it was spitting it out in the fashion a fountain statue would. Scratching his head sheepishly, he dispelled the clone, "...Oh!" was heard echo between the Naruto's, while Sakura sighed. She wanted to say he was hopeless, but Naruto already was getting further than her.

So instead, she decided to try and help out, "Why don't you do what sensei says Naruto, give the easier one a try. Who knows, it might help you with the later form of it."

"But I'm getting close!"

"True, but just give it a go."

"...Ok then."

Both blinked in just how easy that was, while he waved a hand to the kage bunshins, "Hoi guys, let's try the easier way now."

"Huh? what the hell for?!"

"Sakura-chan said so."

"...Oh, sure thing then." Sakura could only go partially agape, not understanding why that simple reason he made sound like the law, brought an unimaginable amount of satisfaction to herself.

"Awww, Naruto now listens to what you tell him to do."

Sakura grew a flush and darted her head up, "He always has done that sensei, so drop it!"

"So how are you going?"

Stunned for a moment at the sudden change of topic, she sighed and formed the seal again, "Mizu bunshin no jutsu." She watched the same thing begin to form, but suddenly crumbled away with a splash.

Her curse went unheard, when a violent eruption drowned out her voice, and it suddenly began to rain water, and even some small fish. Her eyes bulged though at the sight. Before her, was what may as well have been classified as a giant water spout, violently spinning in a blur, spraying water everywhere.

Finally, it subdued after drenching most of the place around, to reveal a fox smiling blond, who was laughing, "Hehe, so awesome!"

Sakura and Kakashi were completely caught off guard, "Y-You got the easier one nailed down that quick?!"

Naruto could only smile while pointing a thumb to himself, "Yeah, guess you were right Sakura-chan."

'It was Kakashi-sensei/me who suggested it...you baka.' Both mused, with Sakura adding the 'you baka' at the end.

Trying to move on, she smiled, "That was amazing Naruto."

Naruto now held a sheepish smile, and made himself comfy next to her, "Thanks Sakura-chan...how are you doing?"

Her smile folded to a scowl, "Not good." Running his hand through his wet hair, Naruto grinned, "Then don't let me interrupt."

Smiling, she turned back and formed a seal again, "There really is not much to interrupt."

Naruto watched the water rise again, and noticed the shape was sort of similar to Sakura's figure, but then, it suddenly collapsed again with a splash.

"Isn't it meant to last longer than that?"

Elbowing his gut to have a chuckle erupt, she growled, "What do you think!?"

Patting her back, he still chuckled, "Sorry Sakura-chan...keep at it, I won't bother you." He then lied back, with his hands behind his head, looking nearly asleep if it wasn't for his wide grin. Sakura simply stared and shook her head at his antics, while looking at his bare chest.

It was much easier to take things in when you weren't desperately trying to save a person's life from an injury, and she had to admit...Naruto sure had matured. His solid and tanned skin wrapped very smugly over his defining, but not over the top muscles on his chest and down his arms, showing the results of his training, but it wasn't enough to make it look like he was a body builder. Tsunade's necklace with its jade shine, surprisingly complimented his calm appearance.

Realising she was staring, she turned her head away with a flush, but held an embarrassed grin while still seeing him from the corner of her eye, 'Wow, he really does look...attractive.'

Her flush calmed, when she noticed a black seal on his belly, and now fully turned to gaze at it. It looked the exact same it did in his picture as a baby, and still found it startling as she followed the spiral around till it ended near his belly button. Hearing his awkward chuckles, she looked up to see him scratching his sheepish face, "W-Why are you looking at me like that Sakura-chan?"

Sakura's eyes flickered with amusement, while grinning, "Does the seal always show?"

His playful appearance softened, while looking down at the seal that held the Kyuubi, "Only when I use a fair amount of chakra, or when I use the Kyuubi's chakra." Nodding her head slowly, she looked at the seal again, and grew curious, while reaching out to trace around the spiral with her fingers. It wasn't the same as his whiskers, which were like a bump on his skin, it didn't even have a different texture by touch. The seal was more like a tattoo under the skin, but even she did not miss the difference in temperature between the lines of the spiral, and his tanned body. The seal felt as hot as a burning grill, and she could also sense the rage within it running up her fingertips.

'I literally can feel the Kyuubi's chakra radiating from the seal. It's dormant chakra alone is giving me the shivers. Only he would have the strength to live with that feeling everyday.'

The burning sensation numbed, when the tattoo like seal faded away, to only being his unmarked gut. Hearing his giggles, she again looked up to see his sheepish grin, "T-That tickles!" he cackled. She now grew a fire engine red flush in realisation that she was basically groping him, and removed her hand in a rush, to look away and hide her embarrassment.

Seeing her state, Naruto perked an eyebrow , "Neh? what's wrong Sakura-cha-mmph?!"

He was interrupted by his shirt muffling his mouth, "Put your shirt back on."

"E-Eh?!"

"You are making me lose focus."

Naruto at first held clear surprise by her sudden embarrassed statement, but then grew a mischievous grin, "I am doing what...Sakura-chan?"

Sakura looked to reveal her flush, while giving an expression that read 'No!' "You heard me, don't play dumb!"

As if he was prodding her, he sat up and a little too close for her liking, with a teeth revealing grin, "What am I doing Sakura-chan, I am just sitting next to you?"

Her reddening cheeks continued to flare, as she gave him a half hearted glare, "Back off!"

Naruto was not listening to her threat, and instead did an exaggerated arm stretch to the sky, making the kunouchi stare again, to then shake her head and look the other way to hide her fire engine cheeks.

Naruto was enjoying himself way too much from this, 'Sakura-chan thinks I'm eye candy! Awesome!'

They then sat there for a moment awkwardly, with the rosette firmly looking the other way, 'Pull yourself together! So he has a good complexion... a nice one, a great on-...I am losing it.'

Naruto leaned a bit forward, granting him view of seeing her flaming cheeks, "You look like you have a fever or something Sakura-chan."

The ounce of sarcasm in his voice made her fully turn to him to glare, "Shut up!"

His laughter only made her grit her teeth, "What are you, a big kid or something?! Yes Naruto, you are distracting me from doing my training! Get the hell over it!"

"But how am I doing that?" The ounce of rising joy that tingled at the back of his throat made her eyebrow twitch. She knew what he wanted to hear, and her pride was going to be damned before she would let it sink and admit that.

So she did the next thing that came to her mind, tell him the opposite he wanted to hear, "Because you are an annoying pest!"

She then defiantly scrunched her eyes shut, and clapped her hands together, forming a seal, although her pink hued blush remained from the blonde's laughter, apparently completely unaffected by her taunt. Eventually he calmed, and then scratched his face, "Hehe, I am not helping out with your training am I?" Her lack of response made him continue his light snickering. Silenced at last, he grabbed his black shirt and pulled it on, still amazed and thrilled by his discovery.

Pulling the loose shirt down, he chuckled, "Better now?"

Relaxing her expression, she tilted her head to see him, "Oh shut up." Naruto's response was to only yet again laugh at her embarrassment.

Giving in, she looked back to the water, "...You look good by the way Naruto."

"Hehe, thanks Sakura-chan."

'Oh-h he is so not going to let that one go for a long time either.' She mused.

She couldn't resist voicing what her mind was thinking, "What about me?"

"Eh?"

"You know, do I look more...womanly to you?"

Naruto pondered about her tensed and a little nervous question for a moment, then gave an approving thumb up, "Don't worry, you're still the same!"

Despite how cheerful that sounded, it still made her head twitch in surprise, then moulded to disappointment, "Oh...well thanks."

The kunouchi's dry, and annoyed tone, made the blond raise his eyebrow in puzzlement. Maybe he said something wrong? "Like yeah, you look the same as before-"

"I heard you the first time Naruto." She frowned out, glaring at the water with her hands in its seal, with the still baffled blond sitting next to her.

'What did I say? I only said she still looks amazingly pretty?'

'Ahh Naruto...you are clueless as ever.' Kakashi mentally scolded, still watching his students from above.

Naruto, however, was still determined to work out what he said wrong, 'Did she not understand what I meant? Does Sakura-chan not understand she is pretty?'

For the first time, Naruto wished he listened to Jiraiya's rants and lectures on how to 'communicate with a woman heart-to-heart'. Even Sakura earlier pointed it out to him on how to handle this relationship, and it was not as if she had any experience to go on either. Was he really that dense on this? Since her advice was the only real thing that made sense, he decided to try it.

Scratching his cheek in embarrassment, he emitted a warm giggle, "Hehe, as I said, you haven't changed Sakura-chan-"

Her looking over in a huff as if to say 'I know!' made him stutter, "Y-Yeah, you haven't. You're still very p-..."

'Wow...this is a lot harder to say than I thought.'

The kunouchi however was alert, with her ears perked in deep interest by what he was about to say. 'What was he going to say?'

Watching his finger continue to scratch his cheek quicker, Naruto let out another nervous chuckle, "Hehe, you're still very pretty Sakura-chan." He beamed with a light tremor from his peeked nerves.

Sakura's sharp gasp, and loud splash from her attempting jutsu failing, did not aid his turning awkward situation. Kakashi was on them with his one fixed eye like a hungry hawk, 'Well now...maybe he isn't so hopeless after all...he just is not a natural sweet talker.'

Despite Kakashi's criticism, the receiver was still catching up in her stunned, and agape trance. Finally her mouth closed, while a deep red blush was forming on her now smiling face.

"Y-You really mean that?" she murmured, trying to hide her smile with her hand in front of her face.

It was as if he had jumped a hurdle, and suddenly talking about such things was amazingly effortless, "You kidding me? You're hot Sakura-chan!"

She had from time to time been told she was attractive, but she never would let go to the fact she concluded long ago, that her only outstanding feature was her forehead compared to other kunouchi. Hearing this being said to her from Naruto brought a rush of amazing sensations she never believed could be so powerful. Her flushed expression deepened, while she could not resist the teeth revealing smile anymore.

'SHANNARO! DAMN RIGHT!'

"W-Well, that's nice to know." Was the only thing she would let her near erupting, and ecstatic mind, share aloud. Lost in the heat of her emotions, she took a handful of his shirt and pecked his lips roughly, and then paced herself for a second one, which lasted a much longer length. During the buzzing kiss, Naruto could feel just how much sensation Sakura was experiencing from the sparking contact.

She then reluctantly pulled away, as if she regained some self control, and released his shirt, "Thank you Naruto." Her whispered thanks could not have held anymore warmth.

Naruto made a mental note to himself to remind her she was pretty very often if that was going to be the reaction.

Placing his hands behind his head, he chuckled it off, as if he was trying to act casual, "I was only telling the truth Sakura-chan." She found the water in front of her fascinating, as her reddish hue deepened. She didn't know what she found more absorbing, the rush of self value, or by just how much Naruto made it sound like a fact. Not knowing what to say in response, she could only smile wide at her reflection, too embarrassed to look at her side.

Calmed at last, she still was at a loss to what to say, so she dropped the subject, and formed her seal again, "Mizu bunshin no jutsu." She whispered, as the water began to rise, forming her physical outline. She smirked when the water began to mould the tips of her hair, 'Come on...almos-'

Her thoughts were cut off with a loud splash, opening her eyes to huff in frustration at the bubbles forming of her failed jutsu. "Bah, this is hopeless."

"Come to think of it, that looks sort of familiar."

Sakura turned to Naruto, who was scratching his head, "It's like you are creating the clone with the water."

"Ah, I am forming my shape with the water using my chakra, which is what keeps it together...but the stupid thing always falls apart as I create it."

Naruto looked up to the dawning sky in remembrance, "So it's like my super kage bunshin."

"Huh?"

"When I was learning it, remember what I told you?"

Sakura put a finger to her chin while remembering, "You said you got the idea of a building, or a building being constructed...you start with the ground and foundations, then work your way up..."

"Yeah, why do-"

"Oh trust me, I will give it a shot, just give me a minute." She spoke smugly, forming the seal again and closing her eyes to concentrate.

"Mizu bunshin no jutsu."

'I won't just picture my entire self at the start, instead I will just begin with my toes, and work my way up.'

As if the water was a view of her thoughts, Naruto watched the water slowly rise, already seeing the rough outline of her feet, moving up to her slender, but toned legs, then outlining the many curves of her mid section, until it reached her fine shoulders, as the head formed. Once the outline was done, the water began to solidify, eventually fading into a full perfect replica of Sakura, with her green eyes staring at him.

'Wow...Did Sakura-chan always have so many...fine curves?'

The real Sakura rubbed her temple, and opened her eyes to gasp and smile wide, "I did it! I really di-"

She was sharply cut off when her clone suddenly punched Naruto in the face, making him fall back, gripping his face in pain, "OW!!"

Sakura blinked in shock, while looking back at her clone, "W-Why did you do that?!"

The clone flushed, and placed her hands on her hips, "The baka was looking at me in a really...creepy way." The real Sakura still did not understand the bunshin's odd behaviour, more so, she was fascinated to hear her voice and posture come from something other than her reflection.

Naruto moaned, while his head was spinning from the hard hit, 'Wait a minute...Sakura-chan is allowed to gawk at me, but I can't?...I am so confused, dattebayo.'

The apparently long forgotten Kakashi had to cover his mouth through his mask to suppress his never ending laughter, 'What would I give for some broiled saury while watching this? Naruto should be glad the real her did not see his face.'

Back with the two teens, Sakura dispersed her clone, and now stood up, and began walking out to the water. 'Ok, let's try it again.'

Meanwhile, Naruto had recovered, only to relapse, as he studied Sakura's figure from the back. It was as if he was looking at her for the first time once again. Seeing those curves he was oblivious to before, he found himself staring, as his eyes travelled up the back of her toned legs. His view paused on her 'cute' small buttocks hidden by her medic skirt, as it then travelled up her hour glass frame, ending with her soft shoulders and pink hair. Naruto began to wonder why it suddenly was becoming so hot, not even realising he had a small trickle of blood running down his nose. Jiraiya had once told him about this, remembering he used a specific word for it.

'Checking out' rang a bell, and he distinctly remembered the sannin saying you will do it without even being aware of it from time to time. The sannin even gave him a lecture, where once your 'investigation' of the 'subject' was finished, most would give a summary of their 'findings' in the fashion of a single number, word, or phrase.

Whatever it may be, Naruto made a concrete verdict...

...Sakura is freaking hot!

The oblivious 'subject', placed a hand on her hip and nodded to herself, with her back still turned, "I wonder how many of these things I can make. What do you think Na-W-WHA?!" Sakura turned to literally shriek at his appearance.

Was this what her mizu bunshin freaked out about earlier? His mouth was partially agape, while his eyes that were fixed on her looked like he was spaced out. He did have a twitching, satisfied grin though, which was bundled with a very strange giggle erupting from him. She did not miss that small trickle of blood running down his nose either. She could not work out the reason why, but she suddenly felt extremely exposed under his gaze, and tried to hide herself, which resulted in a comical display, since she was out in the open.

"H-HEY?!" She shouted, making him suddenly shake his head clear to then snap his head elsewhere to try and hide his state, rubbing his nose furiously.

Still shaken from his appearance before, she formed a gritted teeth frown over her still present flush, "W-What the hell was with that look?!" Reluctantly looking back with a sheepish smile, he scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

"U-Umm not much, just nice scenery."

"Scenery?!"

"Y-Yeah!-like the trees, the sun, the fine curv-Ermm!-Yeah!"

Extinguishing her anxiety with a long stretched groan, she then shook her head, "What the hell is his problem?" She muttered, and got back to what she was trying to say earlier.

"Like I was saying, let's see how many of these things I can manage to create at once." Trying to ignore the sheepish grin Naruto still was directing at her, she closed her eyes and formed the seal again.

"Mizu bunshin no jutsu!" Several figures began to form around Sakura, but a couple instantly fell apart as they began to rise. With each step, another forming figure crumbled back with a splash, making the kunouchi grit her teeth in frustration at each almost lashing sound. Eventually, only two remained, one at each of her sides. When no splash was heard, she opened her eyes to see the two mizu bunshin.

"Two...my limit is two."

She muttered in disappointment, before slamming her hands together, "Mizu bunshin no jutsu!" Sakura attempted again. She found another two mizu bunshin now standing before her, it seemed she was truly limited to only creating two at a time. The first pair then dispersed with a loud splash, only succeeding in frustrating her further, 'They don't last that long either with the amount of chakra I'm putting into them.'

Before her inner musing could continue, she then noticed one of the mizu bunshin she was looking at had her eyebrow raised in curiosity. She then turned in the direction, and soon raised her own eyebrow in puzzlement.

Naruto was giving her two great big thumbs up, "That's sick Sakura-chan!"

His genuine praise stunned her, "I-Its only two Naruto, that's not something to be proud of."

Naruto shook his head and got up and walked out to in front of them, "Why? How many were you wanting then?"

"A dozen, or two, maybe even-"

His shaking head made her stop midsentence, "This isn't a competition who can create more clones Sakura-chan. You're not well, ME."

"Thanks for the encouragement..." Seeing all three of the Sakura's shoulders slump, he again persisted, and approached the mizu bunshin on her right.

"Sorry Sakura-chan."

The clone looked up in question, but then hissed when he pinched her arm way too hard to be classed as friendly, "THAT HURT YOU BAKA NARUTO!" Before the real Sakura could react, she watched her clone practically send the blond flying across the swamp, and crash into a tree.

Finally snapping out of her shock, she turned to her mizu bunshin with a growl, "Why did you hit him?!" The bunshin muttered under her breath along the lines of 'that really hurt! You weren't the one he pinched!' , and rubbed the bruise forming.

"They are strong!" Naruto's proud and loud announcement made her look back to see the uninjured Naruto walking up to her again.

"Unlike my usual clones except for my super kage bunshin, your mizu bunshin are a lot more buff Sakura-chan. In order for me to match them with a kage bunshin, I need to pour in enough chakra that easily covers two hundred kage bunshin..so, my super kage bunshin."

"But your enhanced kage bunshin can use many jutsu's before dispersing...even Kakashi-sensei told me that the amount of chakra in a typical mizu bunshin is enough for a couple at the most. That is why they are in general considered a tenth in strength. "

"He also said it depends on the amount of chakra and water you use. You don't look like you have used much chakra?"

"I only used just enough to make the jutsu last a short while-" As if it was perfectly timed, both mizu bunshin's dispersed, leaving only bubbles remaining where they once stood.

Naruto grew a plotting grin, "Create another two, this time with as much chakra as you can." Puzzled by his plan, she decided to go with it based upon his ideas in the past.

She began to form another two clones, but the water began to bubble, making her perk open an eye, 'So it's like when manipulating water for my medical jutsu. Too much chakra, and it boils.'

Closing her eyes, she tried again, this time more cautious. Naruto watched her perform the jutsu again, and saw the water rise violently, because of the visible chakra manipulating the water. When the two figures were formed again, Sakura let out a frustrated sigh.

"That is as much chakra as I can put into them."

Naruto still bared his grin, not sharing her dissatisfaction, "How long do you believe they would last?"

Sakura bit her lower lip while thinking, "...Guessing from the amount of chakra before...I would say maybe ten or so minutes. That's without them using chakra."

Naruto gave that knowing smirk that made her narrow her eyes in suspicion, "What are you getting at? This looks pretty crap Naruto."

He let out a chuckle as if he was holding back the answer, and instead tried to act smug, "My memory isn't as amazing as yours-"

"Not this again."

"-But I remember you saying with only a third of your chakra, you could still do many things...like healing, and even summoning...so I guess there is enough for two mizu bunshin to do loads of stuff?" Sakura's jaw hung open, but Naruto reached into his kunai holster before she could say anything.

Both herself and the mizu bunshin practically jumped when he suddenly cut his hand deep with a kunai, "W-What the hell are you doing?!" The mizu bunshin to her left cried, watching him continue to cut his hand until it was badly bleeding.

The real Sakura was about to intervene him from continuing his crazed act, but he offered his open and wounded hand to one of the mizu bunshin, and said three words that made all three hold shock, "Fix me please."

The mizu bunshin looked wide eyed at the wound, while slowly nodding and getting to work. The real Sakura could only stare at the green glow, realising just how much this new jutsu opened up for her once again.

'I can use this jutsu...not just for offense and defence...but for improving my medical abilities. I will be able to help more than one person at once with this, and when I get my dual jutsu's working...oh my god.' Naruto's warming smile finally received a slowly forming one from the real Sakura.

"I can use this jutsu, for so many things." Kakashi observed the display with a U shaped smile, 'It doesn't surprise me that Naruto saw why I wanted Sakura to learn mizu bunshin of all the other suiton jutsu's first. He is used to the privileges an extra pair of hands can do, thanks to kage bunshin. It is the kind of jutsu she needs under her belt. It compliments her vital medical abilities, as well as offering her numerous possibilities in a combat situation.'

"You just have to get creative Sakura-chan." Naruto finished Kakashi's thoughts aloud, while Sakura had to bring a hand up to her head at the rush of possibilities.

"...Wow...I..."

"Hehe, 'Wow' pretty much sums it up Sakura-chan."

"I was so lost in wanting to see this jutsu be like kage bunshin, I never stopped to really look at it that way."

"Sakura-chan, not to be mean or anything, but you aren't me. You are in your own league of really cool though."

Snorting, the original shook her smile bearing head, "Always with the suck up praises. Just put a sock in it already."

"You're welcome Sakura-chan."

"Baka."

Chuckling along with him, Sakura watched the smiling mizu bunshin finish up, "There, and don't ever freaking cut yourself to give an example again, you idiot."

It announced, earning the blond to shoot an appreciative smile, "Thanks Sakura-chan." He whispered, and kissed the bunshin on the forehead, which made both of the bunshin's, and the original's cheeks flare, but for different meanings.

"Y-Your welcome Naruto."

"Why does she get all the attention?!"

"HOI! I AM THE REAL SAKURA YOU IDIOT!"

---

The roach that was crawling around him did not startle the meditating Nara, who still had not acknowledged the outside world in his deep musing. Shikamaru didn't even greet Lee, when he returned from his 'intense session'.

Grabbing a small towel, Lee rubbed his face, "What an exhilarating training session."

"..."

The lack of response made Lee turn to observe the sitting shadow user, and walked around so he could see Shikamaru's concentrating expression.

'Shikamaru-kun's method of collecting his thoughts is so strange. I wonder...' Shikamaru again was oblivious to Lee's presence, as his mind was flickering through the fields of possibilities. Regardless of where he travelled in his plans, the same result was always met...uncertainty.

There were too many 'what if's', or other possibilities that just bewildered him completely. He knew who they were fighting, although he wasn't confident to disclose any other late comers. He also was aware of their opponents abilities, or at least most of them, to have a general understanding or outline, that was not the problem. The issue was that he did not have the adequate talent to counter them. Even if Jiraiya was still here, the situation would only change so much.

It was like trying to play a game of shogi, with his side full of just pawns, and the opposition's side unhandicapped. Unless your opponent was new to shogi, the chances of winning were not even worth considering. Then Shikamaru once again found himself at his current plan, to retreat, and regroup with more people from Konoha. Hopefully Sakura had done what she said she would do, and talked some sense into Naruto. However, he still needed a backup plan in case they weren't given the opportunity to put that plan to effect.

This was where no matter how far he journeyed through the mazes of his mind, he could not find the path that lead to the exit, instead, he was always brought to a dead end. If only he could change his pieces, something to even the grounds, or be given something more. His eyes then bulged open in shock to his musing, 'Given more pieces...'

Hearing a moan suddenly pulled him out of his thoughts, to realise sitting in front of him, was a mimicking Lee, who somehow was perspiring heavily from just copying him.

"The effects of this unusual posture are so refreshing to my spirits." If Shikamaru was listening to Lee's stressed words, there was a high chance his sweat would have dropped heavy, but his mind was thinking elsewhere.

'I must find Kakashi.'

---

'Dying?'

Ronan pondered on the slug sannin's words, wondering who this 'Kushina' was, or why that one word at the end had made the strongest ninja in Konoha twitch.

Pushing away his intrusive thoughts, the ANBU captain looked to his lieutenant , "How far is it now Araiki?" Ronan could guess how far the distance was due to the tremors and roars, but he needed an exact figure. The Hyuuga's eyes focussed in the distance through the dense forest, looking for their target. Ronan knew his teammate had found it, since even he saw the trained shinobi suddenly change expression to that of which held fear, "Around several kilometres now, judging by its speed...I would estimate five minutes until its here."

Araiki's mumbled response was heard loud and clear amongst the army of shinobi behind them, causing muttering to be heard behind the pair.

Looking up at the now turning night, Ronan then addressed his subordinates, "Remember your formations, and our purpose. We cannot kill this monster, no matter how strong, or co-ordinated we are together. Our mission is to slow down the Kyuubi's advance to Konoha. Hokage-sama needs the time we provide for whatever his intentions are in defeating the Kyuubi."

"Hai, Ronan taicho!"

"This area is where we shall ambush it. Teams three through to twelve, begin setting the trap, Araiki will be in charge while I am gone."

With the shinobi getting straight to work, Ronan turned to his teammate, "Araiki, I want your team to keep eyes on the target, and update my team via the radio on your progress and its location."

Adjusting his microphone collar, Araiki nodded, "I understand."

"Good."

With that, Ronan turned and began to approach his team, "Ronan." Looking again to the Hyuuga, he waited for his response.

"...Don't die."

The Uchiha's eyes widened in surprise by the amount of emotion behind his long time teammates voice, and took several moments to respond with a grin, "So, this is what the 'high and superior' Hyuuga that once said he didn't care about us 'Uchiha trash' has turned into."

The Hyuuga grew a scowl, "Hmmph, even if you did make it to a higher rank than me, you still are tr-"

"Thanks Araiki." The roles of shock has reversed, and Ronan turned to continue walking away.

Araiki then heard his earpiece hiss out a whisper, "You too."

Switching the microphone off, Ronan approached his team of ten hand chosen shinobi. The entire team was consistent of Uchiha's, some in ANBU attires, others in traditional Uchiha insignia marked outfits.

Ronan's presence made their eyes turn, "We will be the bait, we are to lure the Kyuubi to this spot." Each nodding to his instructions, they set off towards the direction to where the earth shaking roars were.

During the journey, Ronan's team spoke, "Shouldn't we engage it directly all together?" A young jounin asked.

"No. The Kyuubi will slaughter us all if we were to try and do that. To it, we are nothing but pests. If a swing of its tail alone has the power to cut a mountain, imagine if it gets serious."

The older Uchiha's words made the younger one almost miss a step on the next branch, "We are running to our deaths."

"Fear not, we are from Uchiha. If anybody has a chance of surviving this, it is us."

"Cut the chatter, all of you. Araiki, update?"

"We are done here, the Kyuubi is a couple of kilometres away from your four O'clock. Wait!" Ronan listened to the static for several moments, not missing hearing the menacing roar in the distance.

"It...It appears...as if it has discovered us already. It has changed course and is heading right towards you!"

"It most likely can sense our chakra. It is a beast after all." Ronan replied calmly, despite already feeling the effects of adrenaline flowing through his veins.

"Everybody, prepare yourselves, it already knows we are coming!"

"Impossible, how?!"

Ronan never could respond, as his sharingan eyes widened at the sinister chakra crawling across his skin like a virus. He thought it was stunning sensing the dark chakra back from Konoha. However, being this close, the chaotic chakra felt like it was lashing against his skin, smothering him with the intense killer intent.

Ascending to the top of the tree he was standing on, he burst through the nest of leaves to freeze at the sight. Perhaps its was due to its mountainous like size, but the Kyuubi appeared much closer than what Araiki was telling him. The first thing that captured his gaze was the menacing blood red eyes, that were larger than the barely visible moon behind it. Tearing away, he next saw the mouth full or razer sharp teeth, each being at least several times his height. It appeared some kind of red mist was 'leaking' out of its mouth with each gust bringing breath. Looking behind the almost blazing orange fur, he saw the nine violently swishing chakra tails, that were each at least twice as long as the creature itself.

Hearing rustling behind him, Ronan was now aware he wasn't the only person atop, "O-Oh my god..."

Shaking off his fear, he had to remain in composure. How can he tell his subordinates to focus if he himself was struck with terror? "Remember the plan!" Ronan barked to the others, as he began to rifle through seals, meeting the Kyuubi's menacing glare with his sharingan, "Katon Gouryuuka no jutsu!"

---

Opening his eyes suddenly from his rest, Ronan stared at the person that had alerted him.

It was Thomas, "Report."

"Deidara-san and Claara-san have completed setting their traps. However, it appears they are not taking the bait."

"As expected. They have a new task I wish for them to do anyway."

"What do you wish for me to instruct them?"

"Tell them I want them to scout out their exact location, and also to ensure they won't be escaping."

"You wish for them to attack?"

"I wish for them to keep them busy until we arrive."

"Hai."

Standing, the Uchiha looked up at the sun, "It is time to move out again."

Hearing shuffling from behind, Ronan looked over to see Mangetsu arising, using his sword as a support, "Very well then."

Placing the sword on his back, Mangetsu then took point, as they began walking through the forest. Ronan trailed behind, and winced again in memory of his dreams, 'Soon everyone, the thing that we laid our lives for will be put to rest at last.'

---

Sakura had returned to sitting under the tree, practicing her mizu bunshin, while the blond was engaging in a less 'boring' exercise.

"Once I am through with you teme, I am going to earn my kiss from Sakura-chan as a prize!"

"W-W-What?! You are me, stupid!"

Naruto really was beginning to wonder if his clones were growing minds of their own, as he stared off against the smirking super kage bunshin, who made the claim.

"Naruto...if I hear you refer to me as a 'prize' again, I will give you a much more earning reward...being a knee in a place that will hurt!" It seemed Sakura's growl wasn't heard, as the pair began to spar on the grounds behind her.

The seemingly forgotten Kakashi had to commend himself for not shedding a tear yet from his entertaining show that never stopped him laughing, 'Don't they have nature documentaries on this kind of fighting?' Sakura tried to ignore the loud exchange, and focused on her new jutsu again.

"You are going to lose anyway, I have heaps more chakra than you, and you can only make so few kage bunshin yourself...you are doomed!"

"Which is why kage bunshin is banned!"

"WHAT?! WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE RULES TEME?!"

"I have a better idea."

The clone of Naruto never was able to turn in time, when he received a round house kick from behind, sending him shooting off to disperse once colliding with a tree. The real Naruto looked at the pink haired attacker, "Let me put my new bunshin's to the test, if you don't mind."

Naruto shrugged, finding the situation all the more better, "Sure thing Sakura-chan! What you want to do?"

"Let's spar again, since we are near the swamp, I guess we have the water we need to use our new jutsu."

"Yosha!"

The scarecrow decided to leave himself still forgotten, and sat back to watch, 'Now then, this will be interesting.'

"Any restrictions you want Sakura-chan?"

"No, how about yourself?"

"I'm good." With an exchange of nods, both teens fell into their stances.

"Hehe, this is like round three in some tournament Sakura-chan."

Said kunouchi scoffed, "A tournament where I feel like I am being given a handicap each time."

Picking up on what she was suggesting, he gave a firm nod, "I won't go easy this time."

"Liar. At least try not to lose so pathetically this time."

'Naruto probably is going to try and trick me with his enhanced kage bunshin again. It wouldn't surprise me if he also tries to overwhelm me once again with his kage bunshin either...he can exhaust me easily if he does that.'

Biting her lower lip, she tried to think of a strategy. Naruto on the other end was waiting for her to make the first move, his face showing he was prepared.

Seeing Sakura's facial expression, he grew a smirk, "Can I say something?"

"What?"

"Be creative."

Stunned for a moment from his simple statement, Naruto twirled a kunai while still smirking, "Just think, what could you do if you had an extra pair of hands Sakura-chan."

"I only have two mizu bunshin..."

"It's not about numbers Sakura-chan."

Growing annoyed at his riddles, Sakura placed a hand on her hip while frowning, "Then teach me Naruto-'sensei', what can you do with only two bunshin."

Shrugging, Naruto formed his seal, and created a lone clone. "Sure."

Naruto then stuck out his palm to his bunshin, and created a rasengan with the clone, "Rasengan."

Sakura perked an eyebrow, before sighing, "You don't need a bunshin to do that anymore though."

"I still can make a stronger rasengan overall with another pair of hands than alone Sakura-chan."

Letting him win the argument, she nodded, "Ok, so that's one thing you can do."

Naruto dispersed the sphere, to then reach into his pouch for something, which was revealed to be a scroll. Unrolling it, he formed a seal and slammed his hand down onto the paper, emitting a smoke cloud. The cloud soon faded away to reveal two opened fuuma shuriken on the ground. Sakura's eyebrow twitched higher in question, 'What is he thinking?'

"Think fast Sakura-chan." She was about to question him, until before she knew it, she had a large steel blur bee lining for her. Quickly evading one, she turned to shout at him in puzzlement, but another was sent at her, making her dive to the side, "What are you doing?!" She never got a response as a third was now in her sights.

'...He only had two.'

Narrowing her gaze on the sharp object spinning towards her, she quickly jumped to the right at the last moment, to have it dig into the grass she was once standing on, and gave it a harsh kick.

The shuriken then made a loud 'OW!', which then 'poofed' into Naruto.

"Yeah yeah, you can use a kage bunshin to combine with your ridiculous henge...that doesn't mean you throw two bloody real fuuma shuriken at m-" Her scolding never finished, as the Naruto she was shouting at in front of her 'poofed' again.

"Then there is using them for distracting Sakura-chan, and that is something you will find what is so grand about being able to create a physical bunshin." A voice said calmly behind her, making her turn her head to see a glowing rasengan around a foot away from coming into contact with her back.

"H-How?"

"Hehe, you don't remember?."

Sakura looked at him in puzzlement, then remembered Naruto's trick to save Kakashi from Zabuza back then, "O-Oh!" Sheepishly grinning, Naruto dispersed the rasengan to then scratch his head.

"That was using two then, the same amount you can do too."

Showing her appreciation to his help, she gave a soft smile, "But that's you Naruto...I can't henge like that, nor fight in that way."

"Which is why I said get creative, you told me that time back in Wave you knew a good load of jutsu."

Mouthing out his last words, she held an agape expression, 'My genjutsu...'

"...I'll try."

Naruto then clapped his hands together, "Ok! now lets get this spar started already!" The Naruto standing before her then 'poofed' away, making her turn back to the one she now guessed was the real one.

Naruto waited a few more seconds, then made the first move. Sakura was not even shocked when the Naruto in her sights yet again 'poofed' away. Sensing the ground rumbling under her feet, she back flipped back in time to see a blond assailant burst from the ground. Sakura decided to push foreword once recovered, and engaged Naruto in taijutsu. Aware of her strength, Naruto did not block any of the punches or kicks swiftly trying to make a connection. Reaching quickly into his holster, the blond darted a kunai up to clang against the one she had grabbed from her back sheath, "This isn't how you fight Naruto."

She barked in annoyance, only to have him chuckle as they continued the exchange, "Just getting started."

"Great start...trying to win by boring me to death?!"

The next clash emitted a spark from Sakura's harder push, "What Sakura-chan? I don't like hitting you!"

It was as if their parries back and forth was a dance, which slowed down a little as they talked that seemed like history all over again, "I understand that Naruto. It's not as though I want to hurt you either. But come on baka, quit making me feel like glass for the third time now. We promised to bring back Sasuke-kun together, right. How can I keep up my part, if you don't take me seriously."

The next exchange of steel was a little weak on Naruto's part, which made him take a step back from the blow. Looking further into what she said, he could comprehend what she was trying to say. She didn't want to be treated like she was weak.

"...I'm sorry."

Naruto's emotionally drenched apology caught her by surprise, "Hey! don't get down about it Naruto."

Perhaps Naruto just needed some incentive. Deciding to go with that, she then shot him a wink with a soft smile, "Tell you what, if you win the spar this time, I will accept another date."

'First you scold Naruto for using yourself as a prize, and then you go ahead and do the same..very hypocritical there Sakura.'

Obviously the blond was not as sharp as Kakashi was, "Wha?! B-But you made the first date."

"You proposed it, I accepted it."

She had him there, "...I don't like this."

"Do we have an agreement?"

Gritting his teeth, he half heartedly shook his head, "I guess so."

Talk about a rush of guilt returned to the sender. Sakura was aware that Naruto listens to what she says, the example earlier was more than enough proof of that. Exploiting that was the wrong idea, especially in his already edgy state, and she hadn't even realised she had done it until just then. Naruto sighed and jumped back in to resume their duel.

Deciding she would apologise after, she gave an appreciative smile, "Thanks Naruto."

Their tempo then picked up, as the clashes began to blur at the picked up speed, until Sakura backed out of the dance to form a tiger seal.

"Let's take this up a notch shall we Naruto?" The blond held puzzlement when nothing happened, but then he gasped in surprise when she jumped straight back into their trade of blows again. Naruto couldn't exactly describe what was happening, it was not as if she was faster as in Lee like fast, but the feeling of her being as light as a feather came to mind. Sakura was noticeably more agile in her blows, and she was practically twirling around him on her feet, as he was now the one constantly on the defence. The blond didn't even see when the sudden blow to his wrist was made, making him drop the kunai to then feel a cold steel rest against his throat.

Sakura grinned at his stunned expression, "So, is my speed now still an issue, like the first spar, Naruto?" Naruto could only mouth out a stretched 'wow!', as the kunai was lowered.

"That was an impressive display of speed then Sakura, you definitely have gotten noticeably quicker."

Both teens looked to the tree Kakashi was sitting in, to see him giving a thumb up of approval, "I suggest you should release those weights in the middle of a fight as a trump card. A change in speed like that would catch many people off guard. Of course, only if its not risky."

"Hai, thank you sensei."

Turning back to her teammate, she still grinned at his expression, "Quit that spaced out look and lets continue."

Shaking his head frantically, he recovered, "Yosha."

Both teens took a jump back, while Sakura reactivated the weights, and then soon after, dashed towards him. Naruto in the meantime, created two kage bunshin.

Seeing the two bunshin run through seals, she prepared herself, 'he is going to use his new jutsu?'

"Suiton suijinheki!" Both shouted, as they both began to spew a stream of water out of their mouths.

Sakura almost tripped over her own feet at the disgusting sight, "Err..."

"Hehe, here's another use with two kage bunshin Sakura-chan."

She was about to question his sanity, until she then saw him rifle through seals, "Suiton suijinheki!"

Sakura halted, when a large spiralling wall of water blocked her sight. She could only look in shock at the large spiralling wall of water blocking her vision of Naruto, 'He used the kage bunshin to supply the water, then he performed the jutsu properly himself?!'

Naruto looked to his two bunshin, who then formed a seal, disappearing into the ground. Naruto turned back to his violently spinning water wall and gave a fox smile, 'This jutsu is mad!'

Meanwhile, Sakura was over the shock, and looked to a nearby tree. She punched it at the base, to make it tumble over. She then gripped the tree at the cracked base, and span it around to toss at the wall, "SHANNARO!"

The tree went flying straight into the wall, but did not have the result she expected. Instead, the two foot in diameter thick tree, snapped like a twig on collision, earning her again to be stunned, 'W-What?!'

"You forget that the water is enchanted with his chakra Sakura. Since it is such a large volume of water compared to a mizu bunshin, Naruto can practically pour loads of chakra into the jutsu, making the water unnaturally solid." Kakashi voiced out, making the kunouchi slowly nod her head in understanding.

Seeing the wall begin to evaporate away, she prepared herself again. Her eyes then held question when neither of the blondes were there, 'Where di-' Her thoughts never were given opportunity to finish, when suddenly the ground in front and behind her erupted, to reveal two of the missing three Narutos. She couldn't act in time, when the one behind kicked her in the back of the leg, making her take a knee, to feel a kunai against her throat.

Her surprised look made the blond with the kunai chuckle, "I like that jutsu alrea-" Both Naruto's smug expressions were wiped off their faces, when 'Sakura' burst into water, making both Naruto's jump back in surprise.

They weren't expecting to suddenly feel a kunai shaped object resting at the back of their necks, "Hehe, I agree."

One of the Narutos pouted, "When did you?"

"You shouldn't take your eyes off your opponent...at least that's what Tsunade-sama drilled into me." "Not fair."

"Now now Naruto, I distinctly remember you saying to Kiba to expect the unexpected." She mocked, not phased when both blonde's 'poofed' out of existence, and turned to see the all too familiar army of orange.

She grew a firm line across her mouth, 'This is what tired me out the first time...'

Looking at the mizu bunshin, she smirked, 'I know how to beat this tactic of yours this time.'

She mused in a sing song way, when she went back to back with her mizu bunshin, and quickly formed another, thanks to Naruto's cancelled jutsu drenching water everywhere. Now surrounded, she decided to taunt, "Going to try and tire me out yet again are you?"

"Maybe."

This sounded all too familiar to her ears, "Copying what you did before in our first spar won't work this time."

She formed a seal, "Bunshin no jutsu!" Her announcement earned eyebrows raised from most of the clones, when she and her mizu bunshin's now were surrounded by at least a dozen illusions.

"Umm...are you feeling ok Sakura-chan?"

Her smirk was contagious to all her bunshin's, "I'm fine, but what about you, just standing there doing nothing?"

Her taunt made the blondes close in, while the real blonde scratched his head in the back of the herd, 'What is she doing, she knows I can easily tell the difference between crap bunshin's, and the other three?'

Despite that, the mixture of Sakura's were evading like a real person would do. He and the kage bunshins quickly determined which was fake, since only three were kicking up dust, casting reflections in the puddles of sprayed water, or actually striking out at the kage bunshin army. Homing in on one, Naruto delivered a kick to her back, "Sorry if that was the real yo-HUH?!"

The blonde's apology ended mid sentence, when his foot phased through what should have been one of the physical Sakura's.

While landing, he sharply dodged a spinning foot from another Sakura that he dared guess was an actual physical one. Feeling the chakra whip against his face, he knew that was true. Now that he discovered one, he gave a quick gesture to several clones, as they all began to focus on the Sakura, who was gracefully now evading the bombardment. Finally landing a hit, he was rewarded with her curse, as she balanced herself to back flip away, but another Naruto already was waiting for her.

This blond was about to kick into her back, however, before he could, a quick elbow from another Sakura stunned him with a loud grunt. Assuming it was the real Naruto, the Sakura then did a second elbow, this one chakra enhanced, sending him skidding backwards several meters. Groaning, he sat up and rubbed his gut, to then see what was happening. There was a heat haze looking field covering five meters around where the clones were fighting, with one of the Sakura's holding a seal, standing in the centre of the field, and was looking at him with a grin.

"Of course I know you can tell the difference, which is why a little area of effect genjutsu can remove that flaw."

Naruto was surprised, but then gave a proud smile, "I get it. You are holding the genjutsu yourself, while you are creating chaos with the plain bunshin's, and your mizu bunshin's are the ones taking out everyone in the confusion."

Her grin widened, "Ah."

Naruto gave a smirk, "Well I better fix that then." Sakura then went agape at the 'poof' of the blond, and she realised now that it wasn't the real one her mizu bunshin's had sent flying.

'DAMN IT! HE TRICKED ME A THIRD TIME?!' The wash over of realisation hit the blondes, as they all suddenly slammed their hands together, and dispelled her genjutsu.

'Oh crap.'

Eventually, Sakura's mizu bunshin were taken down, with now only her remaining against the still never ending swarm of orange. Even when she released her weights, she could not handle these numbers. She even tried using her chakra strength to create an opening by slamming the ground, but Naruto knew how she fought, and had jumped back from each attempt to catch them off guard.

The blows from the blondes were breaking through, and finally she fell to her knees. Sighing while on her knees, she waved a hand up, "Ok, ok...you win this one." She tried to stand, but resulted to falling back to her knees. She felt a hand rest on her shoulder, and looked up to see the now one blond baring an apologetic expression.

"You ok Sakura-chan?"

"Yeah. Thanks for fighting properly this time Naruto."

He winced at one large bruise on her arm, which wasn't the only one, "You're hurt."

"Hey, I'm a medic baka."

Sitting, she began to heal her bruises, "Don't sweat it." She persisted, while the blond slowly nodded, still feeling guilty about it though.

"By the way, how is your face?"

Naruto touched the large black bruise on his cheek he received in the brawl, and gave a twitching grin, "Its fine Sakura-chan, good hit by the way."

She chuckled, "It was luck, I thought you were just another clone."

Waving his hand dismissively, he decided to voice his thoughts from earlier.

"That was a nice plan by the way with the genjutsu."

"I honestly thought it was going to fail if you noticed the genjutsu, but luckily, you didn't...until it turned out it was your stupid enhanced kage bunshin I explained what I was doing to."

"My enhanced kage bunshin always tricks ya hey?"

"Stupid thing...hey wait a minute, did you just say what I think you just said?"

"Huh? what are you talking about?"

"You said enhan-...Oh, forget it."

Naruto then scratched his cheek sheepishly, "So-erm- I won, does that mean?"

Sighing, she smiled, "Naruto. About that, I am sorry for doing that to you."

"Doing what?"

'Wow, he really is gullible.'

Looking elsewhere, she nibbled her lower lip, almost horrified at how similar this was to confessing doing wrong to your parent, "Manipulating you to fight me seriously then, I should not have done that, and I am sorry."

Naruto mouthed an 'oh' and scratched his head with a soft smile, "That's ok Sakura-chan, you just wanted me to fight seriously. Don't worry about it."

'I have to try and not do that.'

Sakura scolded herself mentally, and decided to get back to the more brightening point, "A promise is a promise Naruto."

"Really?!"

Maybe Naruto was lagged behind, but the amount of joy and surprise in his question made Sakura give them impression it was like she was saying yes to a first date all over again. Perhaps he was too used to hearing a no?

She decided to concrete in her new response, "Of course Naruto, why wouldn't I say yes?"

Sakura almost jumped in fright by his exploding fox smile, as he shouted out 'yatta!' just as loud as that time she had confessed.

Eventually, she just laughed at his antics, 'Note to self. If Naruto is depressed, just say yes to a date.'

Naruto's shouts of joy and random suggestions made neither teen aware Kakashi had jumped down from his observers spot to approach them.

"Very good you two, I suggest howeve-"

"When?! Where?!"

"Hehe. We are kind of not in the best situation right now Naruto."

"After this is over then!? Back in Konoha!?"

"Quit making so much noise, your giving me a headache."

'What happened to the days they listened to me?' Kakashi sulked, while the teens continued their bickering.

"We can do wherever you want Sakura-chan, and I will pay-err..I will try and pay for whatever it is."

Chuckling lightly, she shrugged, "I picked the first one. It's your turn."

Naruto took the opportunity literally the moment she stopped speaking, "Hey-hey! How about Ichiraku's ramen!?"

"Oh please no."

"Huh? I thought you liked the miso pork?"

Sakura looked elsewhere, "It was nice. But I really don't like having well...spicy foods often." The 'spicy foods' bit seemed to echo in his head after her confession. This was devastating news, considering how much he loved the spicy bean paste the most in his favourite dish.

"Sakura-chan...no!"

"What?! So I don't like spicy foods, I do have them if need be."

Naruto's shoulders slumped impossibly low, "Sakura-chan...hates ramen."

"When did I say that?" Sakura felt her sweat drop to his down demeanour, while Kakashi held a similar expression.

As if expected, she stood up and patted him on the back supportively, "However, I do like Shio ramen though."

"You do?"

"Ah. Nothing better than a healthy, vegetable filled ramen to start the day."

She exaggerated, but then turned blank when he scrunched up his nose in detest, "You like vegetables of all things with your ramen? that is gross."

"And what's wrong with vegetables!? They are good for you!" If Kakashi's sweat drop could get any bigger, it would make him tumble over from the size.

'They are...both hopeless.'

Hearing footsteps, Kakashi turned behind him to see Shikamaru, "Hinata said you guys were here, now, I have a stra-"

"No wonder you were so short Naruto...you seriously did not eat any vegetables when we were genin?"

"...Hey, does that mean you are skipping your vegetables then?!"

"Baka! most girls are naturally shorter than guys!"

"Hehe, now you are just making up excuses for being short, Sakura-chan." The gritted teeth expression, along with the waving fist brought more entertainment than fear.

"I am making up excuses for what, U-zu-ma-ki Naruto?"

The spelling out of his family name made him pale, "D-Didn't you hear me properly? I said you're just naturally shorter!"

"Oh really? I thought so... And its not by that much!"

"...This is all such a drag."

---

Hinata swallowed the hard lump at the back of her throat, while her web veined byakugan eyes focused sharply on something outside of the building she took refuge in.

Without looking to her side, she spoke to the other person hiding with her within the shadows, "They are still overhead Lee-kun."

Not wanting to risk ducking his head out to look, the accompanying Lee gave a firm nod, "Shikamaru-kun was right to suspect this, they must be the scouting party to confirm out location."

The heiress nibbled on her lower lip, while scanning around to find Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru. The tension in her bite was eased in seeing they had spotted the danger too, and were hiding within the buildings, just like them.

Lee tensed, as he watched a shadow swoop over the entrance of the doorway, then relaxed as it passed over. The source being a giant clay bird, hovering over the ghost town with two shinobi standing on its back.

"This is the closest town from where we encountered them earlier." Claara announced, her eyes looking down, focusing on the shadows for any movement.

Deidara scoffed, "Not much left of it hmm, they should just clear this place out and be done with it. I might even do the service for them for free."

Continuing hovering above, Deidara grew a smirk, "So do you think they are here?"

Claara took several moments to reply, narrowing her gaze on a window of some kind of abandoned school, "It is too hard to tell from up here."

Deidara's smirk couldn't grow any more plotting, "Then lets allow my artwork to investigate, hmm."

"Ronan specifically said to only keep them occupied, not kill the-"

"Yeah yeah, we will leave some for him to quit his whining." Claara could only stare at her partner, as he jammed his hands into his clay bags, and could hear the furious sound of his hands munching on the clay.

Down below, Hinata's eyes focused on the glowing chakra from the ex-Iwa nin, 'What is happening with his arms?'

Deidara let out a chuckle as he presented his new sculpture to Claara, who raised an eyebrow, "Moths?" Claara questioned, looking at the two white sculptured insects, that were nearly a foot in length, resting in his palms.

"Just watch hmm." Deidara then threw the two sculptures to his sides, letting them drop a little, before 'poofing' into twenty foot forms of their original small selves.

Claara watched the giant insects fly in opposite directions, making a loud flap from the blurring fast wings. Hinata had widened her eyes in shock, seeing what was happening inside of the two objects, 'I-It can't be!'

"Katsu!" Deidara shouted, making both moths suddenly burst into a cloud of smoke. The ex-grass nin blinked blankly for a moment, then widened her eyes in understanding when she saw a swarm of hand sized moths reveal themselves in the clearing smoke.

Deidara held a smug grin at his work, "There should at least be over a thousand of them. A single one alone cannot do anything spectacular, but if over a good few of them go off together...well you get the idea, hmm."

Hinata rubbed the sweat that was running down her forehead, 'T-There's so many of them. Their chakra is very unstable, they will explode from even the softest touch-' The heiress's anxiety only grew in realisation to the swarm scattering, each one taking a different course, as if they were searching.

Looking to Lee, she signalled him to follow, as she dashed further into the building, 'We have to hide! Please Kiba-kun and Shino-kun, understand what is happening and hide.'

On the other side of the town, somewhere on the third floor of the abandoned elementary school, were the others. Kiba thanked god that the woman did not see him when he risked peeking through the window before.

Akamaru whimpered next to him, earning his gaze, "What is it?"

"My bugs are very uneasy." Kiba looked to the standing figure on the other side of the window, who was facing the exit to the old dusty class room.

Shino casually leaned his head out a little into the daylight of outside, then slowly moved back into the darkness, "We need to get out of here, now."

"Hu-Wha-"

"No time to explain."

Before Kiba could say anything, Shino already sprung for the door, making him curse as he followed. Sniffing the air now, he ignored the shiver that ran down his spine from the disgusting odour of death that this place reeked of, and picked up another strange odour around them. They were not the only inhabitants in the building, in fact, he had to have missed something, because he was picking up dozens of the same scent now lurking around within the building. Running through the long, narrow corridor, passing different rooms in their journey, Shino suddenly changed course at the end of the corridor. Kiba paused for an instant, when his enhanced senses heard the sound of flapping from his side. Looking, he saw a stream of white insects that looked like moths pouring into the nearby class room. Kiba did not stay to watch after that.

Quickly catching up to Shino, the bug user answered his brewing panicked question, "They are searching the area for us. However, I think it is safe to say from Hinata and Sakura's report about their encounter, we best avoid that nin's jutsu. They probably are explosive." Kiba grunted at his teammates calm demeanour, as they continued travelling down the stair wells.

Finally reaching the bottom the two shinobi and Akamaru froze when the hallway leading to their escape was blocked by dozens of the flying bombs. Before the insects could notice them, Shino again took charge, and ducked into a class room that appeared to be clear. The classroom had scattered desks and chairs all over the place in rows, most being either covered in dust, or decaying. Kiba saw several windows that were more than big enough for granting escape.

Before he could make a break for the closest one, he was held back by Shino's firm grasp on his shoulder, "We cannot do that, they will discover us if we do."

Biting hard on his lower lip, the Inuzuka hissed, "Then what the hell do you want us to do?! stay in here and get blown up!?"

His rising panic was replaced by stunned fear, when Shino's goggles flickered a eerie green shine, "Calm down."

The Aburame's monotone order had worked, as Kiba then noticed the amount of bugs flying out from Shino's attire. It always caught the Inuzuka off guard just how many of the little freaks were living inside his teammate, as there was a haze of them now circling around them. The swarm of bugs then flew towards the door, blocking Kiba's view from seeing out into the hallway. He then gasped as the wall of bugs changed to a dark grey colour, and stopped moving, blending in perfectly with the faded coloured walls.

"Many bugs in the world can blend in their colours with the environment to protect themselves from enemies. My bugs simply can do it better than most."

Akamaru's groan voiced Kiba's thoughts aloud, 'Holy hell!'

Kiba blinked when his eyes noticed it was getting dark in the room, and turned to see even more bugs covering up the windows, not letting through an ounce of light, until they were standing in pitch darkness.

"Cool..."

On the other side of the town, Hinata observed that her teammates were now secured just like they were, and so she shifted her focus to what was happening above.

"They are too high for any of us to reach. We can do nothing but hope they give up and leave."

Lee stood affirm, with his back against the closed door of the room they were in, which looked like it was once a kitchen, "Any signs of Naruto-kun and the others?" The heiress was quiet for several moments, as her eyes then widened in discovery, "Hai, I can just see them from several kilometres away."

"Then I believe the best we can do is as you said, wait for them to leave, or wait until Shikamaru-kun or Kakashi-sensei act."

Back up top, Claara still saw no signs of any movement, "So I take it by the lack of any explosions, that there is nobody here, Deidara-san?"

There was something about that tone she used at the end that screamed mock to the ex-Iwa nin. Growing annoyed, Deidara grew an angered smile, "Then let's just see then!"

---

"So this is what you have thought up Shikamaru?"

Said shadow user groaned at Kakashi, "It is desperate, but it is the only hope I see if worse comes to worse."

"I don't like it." Both shinobi looked behind them, to see Naruto giving a harsh glare at the ground.

Sakura nodded her head in agreement, "That is too much of a risk, we are basically relying on a double edged sword."

"Which is why this is a last resort." Shikamaru quickly countered, looking to his front to continue, "I still recommend what I suggested before, fighting should be our last resort for the time being."

Naruto suddenly stopped walking, which got the others to turn.

'Ero-sennin...'

Shaking his head, he raised his gaze to see his expecting audience.

"We really have that little chance of winning in your eyes if that is your only idea?"

Shikamaru was about to talk, but Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him. Earning his puzzling glance, Shikamaru returned to listen to the blond.

"Even though you tell me that Shikamaru, I still don't want to run. I don't care if me winning is just a chance in your head, I will avenge Ero-sennin."

"Naruto...Thi-"

"But I am not stupid enough to not see that all I am doing is putting more people important to me in danger. Kiba, Hinata, Shino...and even you Shikamaru, came back to help me when you could have just stayed in Konoha and be safe. Instead you all came back, even after knowing about the Kyuubi."

Naruto continued still in a low tone, interrupting Sakura. "Even though all this has happened, I still wanted to take these guys head on. I promised I would protect them, yet all I am doing is throwing us in deeper crap. Somehow, I kind of understand why Sasuke left Konoha, left us. I was so busy trying to work out what was going through the teme's head, telling him to just let it go. But now, I can see what it is Sasuke truly felt, what he currently feels...Just how hard it is to let go."

The others were still silent, listening fully to his confession, "Looks like though I will just have to let go, before anybody else is hurt or worse in this mess. Funny how it took that dumb idea of yours Shikamaru to make me see just how stupid I have been. We should have went with your plan the moment you thought of it, instead of sticking around here. I hope its not too late to change that though. "

Kakashi dropped his hand from Shikamaru's shoulder, inwardly relieved for his student's acceptance, 'It is good to see Naruto is not travelling down the path which Sasuke has chosen to follow.'

Naruto gave his traditional fox smile to the others, "So Shikamaru, lets hear that other idea of yours again?"

Shikamaru clicked his tongue, "How Trou-"

His words were drowned out by the sudden sound of an explosion, making everybody dart their heads in its direction. It came from the abandoned town they were close to, which now had a huge black smoke trail rising to the sky.

"W-Wha-"

Naruto's question was cut off when they now saw the red flames of another explosion erupt from the other side of town, kicking a huge ton of dust into the air.

Kakashi took charge, 'So they have found us...'

"Everyone, follow me!"

---

End of Chapter

As always, please read and review.