How's it going everyone Shinonigga here with a new chapter for you. I hope you enjoy, so without further ado here's chapter 4.
Chapter 4: Home sweet home
(Hotel room)
Naruto yawned, and stretched out his stiff muscles before he looked over to the beside clock that read five thirty. Naruto observed the occupants in the room currently he Kimimaro and Haku were sharing a bed while Tsunade, and Shizune were in another. Naruto recalled how Tsunade had offered to pay for them to stay in a hotel, for the night so they could get a good rest before heading off to Konoha.
Naruto silently pulled off the bed sheet from his body careful not to wake anyone and stealthily made his way out of the room. He never noticed that Tsunade was watching him from the moment he awoke.
(A few minutes later)
Naruto found himself alone in a clearing that was a short walk away from the hotel. Naruto breathed in the fresh air with a content smile; he always did love the smell of the early morning dew. Cracking his knuckles Naruto soon went into a series of stretches to loosen up his joints.
After figuring he was properly warmed up Naruto ran through a few hand signs and chanted "Ninja art: clone Jutsu." A cloud of white smoke erupted and when it cleared two dead clones were at Naruto's feet. Naruto sighed to himself before he set down in the wet grass. "I just don't get it why am I so bad at this?" Naruto questioned no one in particular.
"Try adding less chakra to the jutsu." Tsunade says making her presence known "You're currently pumping way too much chakra into a jutsu that requires hardly any." Tsunade finished.
Naruto stared at Tsunade with a questioning look. "How do you know, I mean are you a ninja or something?" Naruto asked skeptically.
Tsunade smirked "gaki you really don't have any idea of who I am." Tsunade says while taking a seat next to Naruto in the grass.
Naruto shrugged "I guess not, but I don't really know that many people." Naruto says while eyeing Tsunade. "But I guess you might be someone important, with all that money you walk around with."
Tsunade let out a slight chuckle. "Gaki you don't know the half of it. But to answer your question I guess you could say I'm someone of importance."
Naruto's ears perked up with interest. "Really are you like a princess or something?" Naruto asked with enthusiasm
"Well some call me princess but it's not an official title, I merely was given that unofficial title because the Shodai Hokage was my grandfather." Tsunade stated.
Naruto's eyes were wide in amazement "no way, the first was your granddad?"
Tsunade simply nodded. "On top of that I'm one of the legendary sanin of Konoha." Tsunade added with a bit of haughtiness in her voice. "But enough about me, back to what I was telling you. Try performing that clone jutsu again with less chakra this time."
Naruto nodded and performed the jutsu but limited his chakra as much as he could. Another cloud of smoke appeared; his clone was at least standing but looked very sickly and about to keel over.
Tsunade scrunched her eyebrows. "Hm looks your chakra control is piss poor gaki." Tsunade concluded. "Who the hell was it that taught you to use chakra anyway?"
Naruto looked down at his feet. "Well I managed to hear the basics about it in class, and I've been teaching myself ever since then. I had to cause no teacher would show me how to use it properly."
Tsunade clenched her fist in anger "Those bastards" she spat. 'And here I was starting to forget why I despised that village.' Tsunade thought before she noticed a leaf in the grass. "Come here gaki" Tsunade ordered to Naruto.
Naruto did what he was told and walked over back towards Tsunade.
Tsunade stood up from her crouched position on the grass and stuck the leaf on Naruto's head. "There you go; this is a basic chakra exercise that will help you with your chakra control." The moment Tsunade let go of the leaf it fell to ground, and she sighed. "Gaki, you need to use your chakra to make the leaf stick, honestly how do you expect to become Hokage if you can't do something so basic?"
Naruto frowned before he picked the leaf back up and placed it on his forehead. "There, now how long do I have to keep this leaf there?"
Tsunade grinned "you will keep that leaf on your forehead until we make it back to the village." Tsunade replied simply. "That means if you want to do something as simple as picking your own nose, you'll do so while focusing and manipulating your chakra."
Naruto's eyes widened "What but that trip is gonna take days. How I'm supposed to hold out that long?" Naruto questioned.
"Well that's for you to figure out" Tsunade says bluntly.
Naruto mumbled some incoherent things under his breath before he spoke up. "You know I really don't know why I need chakra control anyway." Naruto says while still focusing on the leaf. "I mean if I can't do jutsu that use a little bit of chakra I can just learn ones that need a lot of chakra."
"Spoken like a true air head" Tsunade grumbled. 'But like all kids their easily motivated' Tsunade thought while walking over to a nearby tree. "So gaki you think chakra control is pointless right?"
"Uh well kind of" Naruto replied bashfully.
Tsunade cracked her knuckles "Well tell me what do you think of this." Tsunade proceeded to punch the tree sending up splinters of wood and uprooting the massive tree in the process.
Naruto gawked at what he had seen. "No way how'd yah do that!?" Naruto shouted with glee.
"With perfect chakra control." Tsunade says while heading back over towards Naruto. "I focus my chakra at the point of impact and unleash a burst of chakra increasing my strength tenfold."
"Teach me, teach me, teach me!" Naruto chanted, while jumping up and down enthusiastically.
"Kid you don't have one tenth the chakra control it takes to utilize this ability." Tsunade stated.
Naruto stopped jumping up and down and his bright smile was replaced with a look of determination. "Then I'll learn, I swear it on the fourth himself I'll get the chakra control needed." Naruto declared with conviction.
"We'll see about that" Tsunade replied 'hook line and sinker' she thought as she turned on her heels and started to walk back towards the hotel. "Oh yeah we'll be leaving in two hours so, don't wander to far away." Tsunade added as she disappeared from view.
Naruto decided to double his efforts on his chakra control and added another leaf to his forehead. After doing this he began his daily workout, all the while keeping both leaves from falling.
(A couple minutes later)
Tsunade was heading back to the hotel, before she stopped in her tracks. "You can come out now." She spoke to seemingly no one.
The moment she said this a man wearing a dog mask walked out from the shadows and knelt down in front of Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, what a coincidence finding you of all people here."
"Enough with the pleasantries Kakashi, just what the hell are you doing here?" Tsuande demanded.
Kakashi proceeded to remove the dog mask revealing himself to be wearing another mask underneath his dog one. "How was it you knew it was me?" he asked while giving an eye smile.
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "You're the only Anbu member I know with silver hair that defies the laws of gravity." She answered crudely. "Now like I said what are you doing here?"
"I've been sent to retrieve one Uzumaki Naruto" Kakashi answered with a matter of fact tone.
Tsunade frowned "You shouldn't have allowed him to leave in the first place, what if something were to happen to him?" Tsunade scolded the mask wearing ninja. "Weren't you the beloved student of his father? You of all people shouldn't have let him wander into such dangers."
Kakashi flinched at Tsunade's harsh tone, but remained silent. Naruto's father may have been his Sensei, but he always felt an indifference towards the boy himself. So forth didn't feel obligated to go out of his way to see to his protection.
Tsunade wasn't finished with Kakashi just yet. "On top of that the boy has obviously been neglected. He can't even perform a simple clone jutsu, and his chakra control is among the worst I've seen. Why the hell haven't you been teaching him properly?"
Kakashi opened his mouth to state some weak excuse for his actions, but Tsunade cut him off.
"You know I don't want to hear anything you have to say." She says while leveling Kakashi a dangerous glare. "Because simply put there's no excuse for neglecting that gaki."
Kakashi sighed "you're right. And I wish there was a way for me to right my wrongs, but seven years is a lot of time to make up for." Kakashi says with slight remorse.
"I don't care how long it takes, but you will atone for your past mistakes." Tsunade says while raising her voice to intimidate the masked ninja further. "On another note I'll be seeing to his development personally, and I dare any of those fools on the counsel to challenge me."
Kakashi's one visible eye raised in surprise. "You mean you'll be returning to the village?"
Tsunade nodded "That's right but I'm returning because of that child. And no other reason" Tsunade concluded.
"I don't understand why are you….. so concerned with Naruto's development?" Kakashi asked curiously.
"Pft what do you think" Tsunade questioned dryly. "His parents were both dear friends to me. And I wasn't there when they needed me most; if only I were I might have been able to save Kushina god rest her soul." Tsunade replied remorsefully. "But I know one thing I won't sit back in let these injustices' go on any longer."
Kakashi nodded "I'll also do what ever I can to assist you in his development." Kakashi added.
"That's good to hear" Tsuande says while rubbing her chin in a thinking pose. "By the way I take it that old pervert hasn't had anything to do with Naruto's life as well."
Kakashi shook his head "I'm afraid master Jiraiya hasn't been to the village in over six years now."
Tsunade gritted her teeth in anger. "That damn fool and he calls himself the boys godfather." Tsunade stomped down hard on the ground causing it to split under her strength. "Just wait until I get my hands on that old goat."
Kakashi muttered a silent prayer for his favorite author, knowing he was in for a world of hurt when Tsuande got her hands on him.
"Anyway, we'll be heading back to the village in two hours; you're welcome to travel with us unless you'd rather stay hidden in the shadows?" Tsunade then narrowed her eyes on Kakashi. "Though this would be a good opportunity for you to get to know the gaki a bit I trust you won't pass up the chance." Tsunade says while turning to leave.
Kakashi merely shrugged "I'll meet you at the gate when you depart" he says before disappearing in a swirl of leaves.
(A bit later)
Tsunade returned to the hotel, to find Shizune, Haku, and Kimimaro all in the lobby having the free complimentary breakfast. Haku and Kimimaro both smiled and waved to her as she entered. She had to admit she was quite fond of Haku, and Kimimaro unlike there blond compatriot they were soft spoken well mannered and unusually bright for kids so young. Tsunade smiled back and headed towards the trio.
"Good morning Tsunade-san." Haku greeted kindly, as she sat down next to the boy with delicate features. "We were quite worried when we awoke this morning and neither you nor Naruto-san were in the room. By the way you haven't seen Naruto-san have you?" Haku questioned apprehensively.
"Calm down gaki, I promise you Naruto's just fine" Tsunade says while reaching for a cinnamon bun. "He's just out doing a bit of training" she concluded.
"Is he really lady Tsunade?" Shizune interjected "what kind of training is he doing?"
"Well when I went out there he was practicing the clone jutsu that they teach at the academy. But his chakra control is so bad; he failed to produce even one effective clone."
Shizune quirked her eyebrow. "Is he really having problems with a jutsu that requires so little chakra?"
Tsunade nodded "that's exactly were the problem lies. The gaki has so much damn chakra it's hard for him to release it in small enough portions to perform the jutsu."
"I see" Shizune says while taking a bite out of her toast. "Perhaps I should show Naruto-kun some chakra control exercises?"
Tsunade shook her head. "That won't be necessary; I've already shown him the leaf exercise, and he's practicing it as we speak."
"Oh the leaf villages leaf exercise" Haku cut in. "I've read about that in Naruto-san's academy book, it helps fine tune your chakra control dose it not?"
Shizune nodded "that's right Haku-kun, it's a basic exercise taught to academy level students, perhaps you and Kimimaro-kun should practice it too. You do plan on becoming ninja as well don't you?" Shizune added.
Haku nodded with excitement, he was always up for learning something new. As for Kimimaro he felt indifferent, it wasn't like any of his abilities required a high amount of chakra control to begin with.
Tsunade smiled approvingly at Haku's enthusiasm. It was rare to find someone so eager to learn that something as boring as the leaf exercise sounded enticing to them. Yep Haku would definitely be a lot of fun, to train Tsunade summarized.
Then there was Kimimaro, she knew from word of mouth that the Kaguya clan were natural born fighters that possessed unnaturally strong bodies by altering the calcium in their bones. It was even rumored that some exceptionally gifted members of the clan could actually manipulate their skeletal structure and utilize it in battle. She grinned at the thought, she could literally beat Kimimaro into the ground and he would most likely keep coming back for more.
Training all three kids was starting to sound more appealing to Tsunade the more she thought about it. But she'd first need to assess if any of the kids, had any talent to work with before she made her final decision. It was time for a little game of twenty questions.
Figuring since she had some general knowledge on the Kaguya clan that she should start with Kimimaro first. "Hey Kimimaro" Tsunade called gaining the boys attention. "Tell me how come you aren't with your clan anymore."
Kimimaro answered without hesitation. "My clan was destroyed a few days ago when they tried to invade Kirigakure"
Both Tsunade and Shizune's eyes were as wide as dinner plates. That sure was news to them, but what really sparked their interest was that Kimimaro spoke with no remorse what so ever. Tsunade could only guess his relationship with his clan must have been strained. After all Kimimaro was surely different then what she had heard a Kaguya to be like, which left her with many more questions that needed to be answered.
"I was the only survivor." Kimimaro added.
'What the hell this gaki actually fought in a battle against Kirigakure and survived?' Tsunade thought while eyeing Kimimaro carefully. 'That's it he has to be one of the select few that can alter his bones chemistry.' She summarized, while narrowing her eyes on the albino kid in front of her. "Tell me Kimimaro, is there anything special you can do with your bones" Tsunade asked curiously, causing Shizune to stare at her with raised eyebrows.
Kimimaro nodded "yes I can" Kimimaro says while outstretching his hand. "Would you like me to show you?"
Tsunade nodded this was something she had to see.
Without much effort Kimimaro forced a sharp bone to protrude from his left palm and gripped it with his right hand and yanked it out. Making Shizune wince believing something like that had to hurt immensely.
Tsunade for her part only watched with calculating eyes looking at the event from a medical perspective. There was no blood on the bone like she expected only a clear solution. On top of that the flesh around the area Kimimaro yanked the bone from healed almost as fast as he had pulled out the bone. His kekki genkai truly fascinated her; under the right circumstances it could produce breakthroughs in the medical field like which had never been seen. 'Oh the possibilities' she mused, before she turned her attention back to Kimimaro. "Let me see that?" she says gesturing to the bone.
Kimimaro handed over the bone dagger to Tsunade and watched her observe it with interest.
Tsunade marveled at the density of the bone, as she attempted to bend it to test its durability. 'This is really something, if this is any indication to what his body's durability is like he should be nearly impervious to physical attacks. With a body like this the Kagyua must have been bread to fight.' Tsunade then set the bone down on the table. "That's quite the ability you have Kimimaro, I'm sure you'll go far in the ninja ranks."
Kimimaro blushed slightly at the praise. "Thank you Tsunade-san"
Seeing that Tsunade was more fascinated then afraid of Kimimaro's ability, Haku decided that he should probably show his as well. "Um Tsuande-san I also have an ability I'd like to show you." Haku says softly.
Tsunade quirked her eyebrow, the day sure was getting interesting. "Is that so, well let's see what you can do."
Haku nodded before he eyed the pitcher of water in front of him. Moving his hand in a wave like fashion he pulled the water from the pitcher, and had it dance around Tsuande and Shizune.
Shizune whistled "Complete control over water, that's quite impressive Haku-kun." Shizune says while watching the water float about in front of them.
"That's not all I can do" Haku added "Although I don't have much control over it I can also do this" The water suddenly stopped moving and began to freeze right before there eyes. In a matter of seconds the floating glob of water solidified into a mass of ice, before it fell out the air and shattered all over the table. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to…." Haku apologized frantically hoping he didn't anger the two women.
Shizune merely smiled "its fine Haku-kun" Shizune says while wiping away the ice from her clothes. "See no harm done."
Tsunade for her part was staring at the seen in amazement. 'What are the odds I'd encounter two gaki's with bloodline abilities?' She then aloud an uncharacteristically wide grin to split her face. 'These three gakis' will make one hell of a team someday, and I'll be the one to make sure of it.'
(An hour and forty minutes later)
Naruto hauled himself back to the hotel all the while grinning like an idiot. He felt quite accomplished with himself for having, completed his daily workout without dropping the two leaves from his head. And now it was time to go flaunt his awesomeness in front of Haku and Kimimaro.
When he made it back to the hotel he was greeted with the sight, of Haku, Kimimaro, Tsunade, and Shizune already sitting in the lobby. Tsunade and Shizune had bags slung over their shoulders while Haku was holding Naruto's rucksack.
"Good looks like you made it back in time gaki" Tsunade stated when she noticed Naruto walk through the door. "Oh and you added an extra leaf to your head, I guess you take your training more serious then I thought."
"Hehe, yep I bet you didn't think I could handle having two leaves did yah?" Naruto questioned with a wide toothy grin etched on his face.
Tsunade smirked "Now don't go getting a big head gaki, that's the most basic chakra control exercise there is. And we'll see if those two leaves are still sticking to your head by the time we get to the village."
"Just watch me, there's no way I'm gonna fail." Naruto says with determination.
"Yeah yeah, just try not to be so loud about it." Tsunade stated in annoyance. "Now are you ready to move out?"
Naruto nodded vigorously, for some reason he actually found he was happy to be returning to the leaf village. When he first left he never imagined he'd be returning with one new friend let alone four of them, weren't the villagers in for a surprise.
(Ten minutes later)
Naruto and company had arrived at the villages gate, were they spied a tall man. The man had silver spiky hair, with a headband covering his left eye, and mask that obscured the bottom portion of his face. He was propped against a wall reading a small orange book with a bored expression on his face.
"Yo" he called out when they neared him, all the while never taking his eye off the book he was reading.
Naruto quirked his eyebrow at the strange looking man, not entirely sure he was even talking to them. "Uh are you talking to us?" Naruto says while jamming his thumb at his chest.
The man raised his one visible eyebrow and looked at Naruto with an unreadable expression. "You're the only ones around aren't you?"
"Hey I don't want to hear any smart ass comments from you Kakashi." Tsunade stated with venom.
"You know this man Tsuande-san" Haku questioned while eyeing the man carefully.
Tsunade nodded "I do and he'll be accompanying us back to the village." Tsuande then grinned, and whispered into Haku's ear. "Between you and me Haku-kun Kakashi, is an excellent ninja and teacher he'll be more then happy to answer any question you have for him."
Haku smiled, he was definitely going to leech Kakashi for every thing the man was worth.
Tsunade smirked, she knew Haku was an information junky and would pester Kakashi to no end. She figured Kakashi had a lot to atone for and she was determined to make the mans life as miserable as possible for a short while. Deciding to add a bit of icing on the cake she eyed the little orange book in his hand with a mischievous grin. "Hatake, you are to put away that book right now, I don't want any of these impressionable kids picking up your dirty habits."
Kakashi's one visible eye widened "You can't be serious Lady Tsuande." Kakashi stated in a pleading tone.
Tsunade's eyebrow twitched "do I look like I'm kidding?" she replied in a dangerous tone.
Kakashi stiffened and placed the book back in his pouch. The last thing he wanted was to bring down Tsunade's wrath upon him.
"Now that's better" Tsunade says with a satisfied smile. "Now why don't you introduce yourself to these three fine kids?"
Kakashi sighed he knew he should have choose to just head back to the village alone, but that would have been going against his orders to bring Naruto back. "My name is Kakashi Hatake, a ninja of the hidden leaf." He replied dryly.
Haku was the first to introduce himself, he wanted to get on his good side before he bombarded the man with questions. "My name his Haku Fuyu, it's a pleasure to meet you" Haku says politely.
"My name is Kimimaro Kaguya" Kimimaro says with a slight smile.
"And I'm Naruto Uzumaki believe it!" Naruto boasted loudly.
Kakashi merely stared at the three boys with a bored expression. All though his face didn't portray it the name Kaguya had actually peeked his interest, if only slightly. 'A Kaguya huh I'll have to get the details from lady Tsunade later' Kakashi thought before he dismissed anymore questions he may have had. "Yeah it's a pleasure to meet all of you." Kakashi says while turning around and heading past the gate.
Shizune sighed "did you really have to take away his smut?" Shizune questioned Tsunade. "Now he's going to brood the entire time."
Tsunade shrugged "I wouldn't worry about that. Little Haku-kun here will be keeping Kakashi to busy to brood."
(Three days later)
Kakashi's face lit up like a Christmas tree when he spotted the village coming up a short distance away. True to her word Haku kept him busy on their way to the village. The kid was like a never ending fountain of questions, the ninja world completely fascinated him. He wanted to learn everything he could about ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, he'd even found himself interested in sealing and he soaked it all up like a sponge.
Yep the kid was a teacher's wet dream. Only problem was Kakashi wasn't a teacher, and the kid was his nightmare.
As this was going on Naruto couldn't keep away the fierce grin on his face, as they approached the village. True to his promise he not only made it to the village without dropping the leaves, but had managed to incorporate more leaves to different parts of his body. He had three on his forehead and one on each elbow.
When they entered the village Haku, and Kimimaro stared around in amazement, the place was huge and the streets were bustling.
Kimimaro coming from a small village were only his clans' man lived had never actually seen a village of the magnitude as the one he was seeing now.
"It feels good to be back" Shizune chorused while looking around the village excitedly. "Right lady Tsunade?" she asked.
Tsunade didn't answer she merely turned around to face the three boys with a serious expression on her face. "Alright gaki's we don't have the time for sight seeing right now. Were heading for the Hokage's tower immediately, I have much to discuss with the old man that will heavily effect your futures here."
Naruto, Haku, and Kimimaro simply nodded and fell in step with Tsunade as she headed for the tower.
Well there's chapter four I hope you enjoyed. I'm telling you this story is going to get really fun later down the road. As of now I'm about to focus a lot on their training, character development, and over all life in the village so stay tuned for the next chapter. And please review.