Chapter 13-The Rasengan-Make it Or Break it, Naruto's hardest Jut-su
Naruto followed Jiraiya through the forest laughing with Gamakichi as the tiny frog tried explaining what his little brother had tried doing the other day. When they got to the edge of the cliff Naruto fell silent as he looked upon the bustling city with bright lights strung up in every direction.
"What's going on here?" Naruto asked looking at Jiraiya with a confused look and then back down at the city "it looks like there's a festival going on or something?"
Jiraiya nodded and then put a hand on Naruto's shoulder and grinned down at the toad and the boy "That's right the festival here is going to be going on for a while, and I need to gather some information on Tsunade's whereabouts"
Naruto glared at Jiraiya suspiciously and then sighed "You just want to research for your books don't you" he said pinching the bridge of his nose.
Jiraiya laughed and then scratched the back of his head before blushing a little "Where'd you get that idea?" he asked laughing nervously making Naruto and Gamakichi roll their eyes.
"And to think pop actually likes this guy?" the tiny toad said rolling his eyes annoyed Naruto laughed and reached up and scratched the toad on the head making him hum in pleasure.
Jiraiya became serious and pulled Naruto aside and stared him down in the eyes "Listen, I need to make you into the best ninja you can be so when we are here we will start to train you as such got it" Naruto hung his head and nodded sadly "Look kid I wish I could say that you were like every other ninja out there. But you're not the same as everyone else, you were an ANBU officer for a good portion of your life and you have a demonic big brother, you will never be a normal kid no matter how hard you try"
Naruto gulped and nodded before clearing his throat 'I get it, I guess my dream of being normal won't really ever become a reality" he said scratching the back of his head. Jiraiya shook his head and then looked at the festival below him "Go have fun but remember to always be on your guard do you understand" Naruto and Gamakichi nodded excitedly before Naruto's face fell into one of depression.
Jiraiya watched as the boy's face became clouded "What's wrong kid?"
Naruto looked down and smiled sadly "the very first time I went to a festival was with Itachi, running into him made me remember everything"
Jiraiya smiled and then put a hand on the younger boys shoulder "You may be his charge but you are my student and I will protect you from him with my life" Naruto's eyes widened and then his face became a one of joy "Now get"
Naruto yelled out in joy and then jumped down the cliff and onto the street the tiny toad on his head letting a delighted yell as his friend leapt through the air. Jiraiya shook his head and then cracked his knuckles and began to walk down the street when a bar girl grinned and winked at him. "Well Hi There"
Jiraiya blushed and then like a man possessed he walked into the bar and slung his arm around the girl's shoulders.
Back in the leaf village, Sakura was staring at the clothes on her bed and as she ran her fingers through them she couldn't help but smile sadly. Spread across her bed was the various outfits that she had worn when she had been impersonating Lady Sara. As she came across a bright vibrant green mid thigh dress the memories of the day came rushing back to her.
Flashback
Sakura laid her hand in Gaara's and closed her eyes as she felt the sand caress her wrist, today she had to make an appearance and Temari and Kankuro had been ordered by Gaara to stay home and leave her protection to him. Ever since she had given into Gaara's lust filled glances the sand ninja had been very protective of her and hardly trusted Kankuro to be around her, Baki was allowed to be around her and Temari was the only one other than the Jonin and Gaara who was allowed to hold her hand as they walked around the village.
"Are you ready Milady" Gaara said in his cold voice and Sakura nodded as they stepped out of the house where she was immediately stared at by everyone in the village. Sakura made her eyes seductive and misty all the while she squeezed Gaara's hand so that he knew she was with him.
"I'm yours Gaara remember"
Flashback
Sakura frowned as the memories flashed by her, it was scary how far she had gone with Gaara just because of what Naruto had asked of her, and she had done it willingly like it was nothing. As she fingered the clothing she remembered that this was the dress where the two of them had gotten the furthest, in all reality Sakura had thought she was going to lose her virginity to the sand ninja that day as he had been more assertive that day.
"Going through the memories" Sakura looked up in shock and saw Sasuke staring at her blankly as she held the material between her fingers.
"Sasuke I can explain" she said in a soft voice but Sasuke shook his head.
"You know the whole month I was training I kept wondering where you were, I hadn't heard about you at all and then I kept remembering Lady Sara, the way she acted when we first met and then I got the silly notion that you were Miss Sara but I waved that idea away but then I figured it all out" he said his voice becoming laced with fury and anger.
"You're mad that was to be expected, but you weren't supposed to find out" Sakura said not looking up at the raven who began walking towards her.
"You wanna know what sealed your identity perfectly" he said pausing and then looked away from Sakura in what looked like hurt "You have hand like bruises all over your arms and back, I know for a fact that Gaara had a tight grip on Lady Sara and he gripped her in every place you have bruises" Sakura glanced down at her bruises that were still fading and then looked at Sasuke tears brimming in her eyes.
"What do you want me to say...you want me to say I'm sorry, I am you don't think that everytime he kissed me or everytime I let him touch me that I didn't feel horrible but I put up with it" she cried her tears not quite spilling over.
Sasuke put a hand either side of her on the bed and looked into her eyes pleadingly "Tell me why, why would you spend a whole month with them letting him kiss and touch you"
Sakura looked into Sasuke's eyes and then put a hand on Sasuke's face and smiled "I did It because it's what Kunochi do" Sasuke's eyes went wide and Sakura looked down in sorrow "What did you think we learnt about when we were separated the number one kunochi rule is that if the mission requires it...you must use every advantage you can to make sure the mission succeeds"
Sasuke shook his head and then pressed Sakura against the bed, "Did you even think about how this would affect me!"
"Affect you?" Sakura whispered in confusion.
"Yes me, haven't you noticed the way I act around you the way my body does?" He asked as he sat up and ran a hand through his hair "I mean it's so stressful I only started noticing you when you stopped noticing me, and now I can't stop thinking about you, my body goes hot whenever I'm around you and I can't stop it, how could you have not noticed" Sakura looked at Sasuke in shocked before she slide around until she was sitting on the ravens lap making him gulp.
"Who said I ever stopped noticing you?" she whispered before leaning down and kissed him full on the lips. Sasuke's eyes went wide and then with a groan they fell back onto the bed.
Naruto stared at the valley below while Gamakichi ate the pocky he had been given. As the sun began to set the blonde ninja touched the bandages surrounding his face and then smiled softly. Sometimes it felt like he was always trying to impress someone, either it be Kakashi or Zabuza it didn't matter.
"KIT YOU SOULDN'T LET SUCH TRIVAL MATTERS BOTHER YOU" Kyuubi said in an old and tired voice. Naruto grinned and nodded before rubbing Gamakichi's head making the little toad turn and grin up at him with pocky still full in his mouth.
"Gamakichi um you have a bit of candy here" Naruto said laughing as he wiped the chocolate covered candy from his friend's mouth. "How do you like the day?"
"I like it because I'm spending it with you" the tiny toad said before stilling and then drooping sadly "Pops wants me to come home something about me spending more time with you then the family"
Naruto nudged the tiny toad affectionately and smiled warmly "Don't worry I'll summon you again in a few days when your dad isn't as annoyed how does that sound?" Gamakichi nodded happily and then saluted before dispersing making Naruto laugh a little.
"HE HAS BEEN A GOOD FRIEND TO YOU" Naruto smiled and nodded before leaning back and sighing "WHAT TROUBLES YOU YOUNG ONE"
Naruto looked at the grass swaying on either side of him and then just looked at it sadly "I guess I want to be my own person"
"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN LITTLE ONE YOU'RE NOT MAKING MUCH SENSE" Kyuubi said in a confused growl as he settled down next to his little brother.
"Well just think of it my whole life o have been someone else and then I copied Kakashi because I looked up to him and then just to get back at him I started to wear a bandage mask like Zabuza its just...I want to be my own person" Naruto said as he looked at the orange sky which made his halo of blonde locks glow.
"LITTLE KIT, YOU ARE THE MOST SPECIAL PERSON I HAVE EVER MET, YOU HAVE A LIGHT THAT WON'T GO OUT NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU DROWN IT IN BLOODSHED, NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT FROM YOU, SO WHAT IF YOU COPIED YOUR SENSEI'S YOU DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE AT THE MOMENT, YOU HAVE YEARS TO FIGURE IT OUT SO DON'T RUSH IT LITTLE ONE" Kyuubi said in a kind and warm voice making Naruto nod and stretch out his body before jumping up and sighing.
"Guess I should go find Pervy Sage" Naruto grinned when he heard Kyuubi snicker and then jumped down into the festival where an old man was shocked when Naruto just randomly landed next to him.
Naruto gave the man a confused look before shaking his head and then smiled as he walked down the street. Naruto stretched his arms up and then looked around him then rubbed his good eye and sighed, it seemed like it was almost time for him to catch some sleep, sometimes his sleeping schedule sucked.
"Kyu how long till I can sleep do you think?" Naruto asked as he stared at the very slowly darkening sky with boredom.
"KIT, YOU WON'T BE SLEEPING FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER I KNOW IT SUCKS BUT HANG IN THERE" Kyuubi said in a sad tone of voice
Naruto groaned and hit his forehead and was just about to scream in frustration when he heard the same bellowing laugh that belonged to Jiraiya "Please tell me he's not where I think he is?"
Kyuubi for once stayed silent and just curled up into a ball and peaked at his little brother from between his tails. "That's it he's dead" Naruto growled as he marched into the whore house and glared at his teacher who had a scantily clad woman on either side of him.
When Jiraiya felt Naruto's killing aura he turned and gasped happily when he saw him "Naruto my little buddy where you been, and where's your little toad friend?" he asked loudly making the two girls giggle.
Naruto sighed and walked up to Jiraiya and grabbed his ear "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?" he shouted making a man in the dark corner spill his sake on him.
"You brat" Naruto looked up and saw an angry man in a white trench coat with a sake stain on it glaring at him "this was an expensive jacket"
Naruto sighed and was about to attacked when Jiraiya stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him "Let me show you the Jut-su I'm gonna be teaching you" Naruto nodded and stepped back to watch.
When Jiraiya parted his feet and held out his left hand Naruto was confused but when the spinning orb of chakra formed in his hand he was left in awe at the jut-su's power. Even Kyuubi seemed to have fallen silent at the sheer power flowing from the jut-su. "Rasengan!" Jiraiya said before slamming the spinning orb into the man's stomach sending him twirling into a nearby water balloon stand.
"No way" Naruto whispered and then looked up at Jiraiya who looked all smug and happy "That was more powerful then..."he trailed off.
Jiraiya looked down at Naruto and nodded seriously "Yes this move is more powerful then Sasuke and Kakashi's chidori, but it also means it's harder to learn and takes more discipline to learn"
Naruto gulped and nodded, Jiraiya smiled fondly at Naruto and then asked the man for as many empty water balloons as he could get, once he had them and started leading Naruto to a small clearing he sighed and looked up at the sky Minato he may be the only one who can truly master this jut-su and make it his own please forgive me
"Okay as you saw the jut-su before this is an extremely strong jut-su A-ranked bordering on S-Ranked Jut-su, in fact this jut-su was the fourth Hokage's own creation" Naruto's eyes went wide and he felt his excitement flare up.
"AWESOME! I'm gonna learn this in 3 days just you watch" Naruto said making Jiraiya laugh
"Three days that's a good one kid, it took the fourth 3 years to create the jut-su what makes you think you'll learn it in three days" Jiraiya said mockingly.
Naruto glared at Jiraiya and then crossed his arms "Just tell me what I have to do"
The toad sage smiled and then nodded before picking up a water balloon and grinned "Okay the Rasengan has three steps to it, this is the first" he said before focusing on the balloon and then right before Naruto's eyes it was as if the water had ants or something in it as it began to spike in different directions and the burst opened and spilled it's water out onto the ground. "in the first step you have to rotate your chakra into the water to make the water balloon pop" Naruto nodded and then picked up the water balloon and grinned before pushing his chakra into it making the rubber balloon expand in a smooth circle but didn't become spiky and look like Jiraiya's had. Frowning Naruto took a deep breath and began to move his chakra again only to groan when once again the balloon only expanded.
"This might be a little harder than I thought" he said scratching his head and looked over at Jiraiya who merely smiled at him and then sat down against the tree.
Kakashi hummed as he looked out at the village. It was slowly being rebuilt but at the same time it was nowhere near what it used to be. It reminded him a lot of the relationship he shared with Naruto, why the young blonde had thanked him and given him a grateful smile when he took Sasuke away from where Itachi had ambushed him, he knew that the blonde was nowhere near close enough to trusting him again. When Naruto had glared at him that day he had felt as if he had crushed the boy, he hadn't meant to do anything of the sort, but he had nothing to teach the blonde, he couldn't teach him anything worthy enough to take down the Hyuga and in the end Naruto had found Jiraiya who had not only made him strong enough to fight and defeat Neji but also take on Gaara and get him to surrender. Kakashi winced when he remembered his brutal reunion with the Toad Sage.
Flashback
Kakashi sighed as he slowly walked back to his empty apartment. After training Sasuke for a good week in Tai jut-Su the Uchiha was slowly getting it, although a bit too slowly for the scarecrows taste. For supposed genius Sasuke took a long time to master the basics of the style he was teaching him and slightly irritated the silver haired Jonin because secretly he was still a little mad about what he said to Naruto, he could have been teaching someone who he knew and could teach him accordingly but Naruto wasn't six anymore and he didn't have anything more to teach the blonde.
"KAKASHI!" the silver haired ninja froze as he heard the bellow and looked around him and saw Jiraiya storming towards him with hell's fury in his eyes.
"Why hello Jiraiya it's been awhile" he said smiling at the older ninja who just glared then without any warning punched him clear in the face sending him sprawling straight to the ground.
"I met him Kakashi I met Naruto" The scarecrow gulped as he heard the fury laced in each word the toad sage said "And after a bit of prodding I got to find out how the kid has been doing for his last twelve years, and not only do I find out that he was an ANBU officer for more than half his life but that his sensei and the one he looked up to rejected him by telling him he couldn't deal with him" Kakashi winced as his hateful words from earlier were thrown back at him "Imagine how shocked I was when I heard who his sensei was?"
Kakashi picked himself up and looked away guiltily "You don't think I haven't been able to find him to apologize I feel sick that I told him that" the silver haired ninja said making Jiraiya sigh and rub his forehead.
"Well it doesn't matter anymore he found someone else to teach him" he said looking at the upset Jonin who looked up in surprise.
"Really who please Jiraiya I need to know he's in good hands" Kakashi said his eyes wide at the thought of Naruto training with someone like Gai who would try to put him in that disgusting green jumpsuit.
Jiraiya chuckled a bit and held his hands up in surrender "I've decided to take on the boy as my student" Kakashi looked at Jiraiya in shock and then shook his head "The kid's got talent managed to summon Gamakichi on his first try, befriended him pretty quickly too"
Kakashi smiled warmly at the thought of Naruto learning to summon and then he frowned and gave Jiraiya a searching glance "Are you the reason Naruto hasn't been seen in the village for a while?"
Jiraiya shook his head and shrugged "Nah, that's all the kid, he doesn't sleep very often in fact I've only seen him sleep once, he just trains night and day, but it's worth it, he's getting better faster"
Kakashi nodded and then gave Jiraiya and sad look "Tell him I asked about him"
"I will, but I'm not promising a miracle or anything"
Flashback
Sighing the silver haired Jonin perked up when he heard his female student's cheery laugh. Sometimes he was amazed at how easily Naruto had been able to shield the pink haired girl from a lot. But then at the same time Naruto goes and asks Sakura to live with the sand trio for a whole month, and what does she go and do, she runs off and lives with them without even questioning Naruto's motives. He loved that Sakura trusted Naruto so much but at the same time he thought that maybe it was a bad idea to send Sakura to live with them and seduce the psycho red head who had almost killed Rock Lee in their battle. But he couldn't say anything now; it was over and done with now. As the laughing got louder he was surprised to see Sakura wasn't alone but was with Sasuke who had his arm draped around her neck where it rest against her chest comfortably. Sasuke was looking at the pinkette smirking as she laughed at something he said, and to Kakashi it looked as if they were lovers, but that was impossible: Sasuke had the emotional outlook of an ice cube.
"Kakashi Sensei!" Shaken out of his stupor Kakashi looked down and Saw Sakura was looking up at him waving slightly.
The scarecrow jumped down in front of his students and was a little shocked when Sasuke smirked at Kakashi with a look that said I'm-getting-some-and-your-not. What shocked him even more was the more womanly aura Sakura was releasing; it was obvious that the two of them had taken a big step and slept together or they were going too...and soon.
"Why hello you two how have you been?" Kakashi asked him one revealed eye crinkled up into a U giving the impression he was smiling.
Sasuke pulled Sakura close to him and nipped her ear and then smirked "Oh we've been good, productive even" he said in a cocky voice making Sakura smile a little and nudge him with her elbow.
Kakashi had to stop himself from choking on his own spit at his normally emotionally stunted student displaying such a level of lust and affection. "You two haven't you know" he said coughing.
Sakura laughed and shook her head "No, we not stupid Kakashi, I mean I know Sasuke wants to restore his clan and all that but seriously...were thirteen"
Kakashi scratched the back of his head and shrugged "Hey I lost mine at thirteen" he said in offense and Sasuke gave him an awed look while Sakura made an uncomfortable face.
"Sensei...bit too much information" she said in an unsure voice. Kakashi blushed suddenly and ducked his head before clearing his throat and beamed at his two students.
"You two play safe now" Kakashi smirked when suddenly twin screams of "YOU SICK PERVERT!" coursed through the air. Sometimes Kakashi couldn't imagine his life without his three students.
He knew for a fact he'd never take another team after this one, he couldn't it just wouldn't work, no one could replace his team, he was both lucky and unlucky to have Team 7 under his wing, he was lucky because there wasn't a better bunch of Genin he could asked for but at the same time he was unlucky because he knew that if he took on another team he would be comparing them to him, like: He isn't as talented in Nin Jut-su as Sasuke, Oh she isn't as Smart as Sakura, why can't he be as fast as Naruto was, and he couldn't do that to innocent students, the simple fact was that no other team would live up to his expectations, Team 7 would be his first and only team.
"KAKASI MY ETERNAL RIVAL!" the silver haired man sighed and turned to face Gai who was...was he skipping, towards him.
"Yes Gai?"
The loud ninja gave his 'eternal rival' his Gai pose before his eye began to water "Kakashi where is your bright but hip student Naruto, he has missed five days of training!" he bawled making Kakashi cringed at the thought about Naruto hanging around Gai too much.
"Naruto has gone with Jiraiya on a mission, he took him out because...of the incident" Kakashi said and Gai's face sobered up straight away, he had heard about Itachi entering the village as an attempt to capture the blonde genin.
"I see well then I'm glad Naruto is out of the village, if he's hanging around I don't think Naruto would be able to keep his Kitsune side hidden" Kakashi nodded and then ran his hands through his wild hair.
"This village has treated Naruto as nothing more than a weapon and now it's back fired" he whispered "and it's my fault"
Gai gave Kakashi a pitying glance and then moved the confused Jonin to a more secluded place "Kakashi you had no idea when Itachi first joined ANBU that he was gonna end up murdering his whole family, and what's more you didn't know he was going to come after Naruto again" Kakashi nodded sadly and then looked out at the sunset and sighed Wherever you are Naruto...stay safe.
Naruto glared at the water balloon in his hand and then winced as pain shot through his hands like fire in his veins, it had been two days since he had started the water balloon test and for two days he had been able to recreate what Jiraiya had done so easily. It frustrated him so much that the perverted hermit could do it so easily but he couldn't even get pass the first part, and then added to the fact that Kyuubi had no idea how to help him at all made him even more frustrated. Sighing he picked himself up on shaking arms unaware of the gaze that rested on his form below. Jiraiya frowned as he watched as Naruto struggled to pick himself up and then clenched the water balloon and began to spin it once again.
"I'll give you one thing kid your persistent, even when you fall down you pick yourself back up" the toad sage whispered But can your chakra pathway's handle it, no matter how much chakra the gods and Kyuubi have pushed into your system this could destroy you if you push it too far.
Naruto collapsed onto his knees and began to pant hard as the pain in his hands overwhelmed him and he dropped the balloon again as he screamed in frustration. "Hey kid call it a night" Jiraiya ordered making Naruto jump and then nod wearily.
As he walked back to the hotel Naruto ran through all the problems that he was having with the first step in the Jut-su. Why does my balloon expand and stretch but it doesn't explode like the Pervy sages did, why? Naruto groaned silently when he saw his bed and flopped down exhaustedly.
"LITTLE KIT, IT'S TIME YOU SLEPT...I MEAN IT NOT DOZE I MEAN SLEEP" The great fox demon said in a intimidating voice making Naruto grin at his older brother tiredly before nodding and falling into a deep sleep.
Jiraiya looked at Naruto in shock at how quick the young child fell asleep before he picked up one of his hands and winced when he saw the swirling burn mark on his left hand and the large burns covering his right hand.
"God kid what did you do to yourself" he whispered before he got up and turned the lights off and gave Naruto one more backwards glance before walking out of the room he had research to do.
After four hours of dead sleep Naruto woke up to a light fluttering against his face, and when he opened his eyes he saw a cute white and orange cat sitting above him meowing quietly. Confused Naruto sat up and saw the cat jump over to his water balloon and then watched mesmerized as the cat began to push the water balloon from each paw making it spin. The suddenly the water balloon popped and after starring at the spot for a few seconds a large smile spread across the blondes face.
"Kyu, I have an idea" The demon nodding as he figured Naruto's plan.
Jiraiya was shocked when he felt a large spray of water dumped on his face. When he looked up he saw Naruto standing above him cheekily smiling down at him with water dripping from between his fingers.
"Morning" the blonde said smiling happily as he looked down at his surprised teacher "What's the next step"
Jiraiya looked at Naruto and then down at his hand and then crossed his arms "Show me how you did it"
Naruto nodded and then picked up another water filled water balloon and then began twirling his chakra like he had been taught to and then used his left hand he began to paw at the balloon in different direction in an extremely fast pace making his hand almost blur and then with one final paw the balloon exploded and water spilled all over the floor. Jiraiya chuckled and shook his head before smiling at Naruto This kid has made the Rasengan his own, maybe not how it supposed to be used but still only this kid could be able to change the fourths jut-su
"Okay kid your ready to move onto the next step" Naruto jumped up and cheered "After breakfast" Naruto visibly deflated at this and pouted something fierce but stayed silent. Jiraiya couldn't help but chuckle as he reminded the blonde that he needed food to keep his energy up. After that small little comment Naruto had quietened down and had followed him down to the restaurant where the young woman serving the food was quick to serve them when she saw Naruto who she had developed a small crush on while the blonde was staying there.
"Here, I made this for you" she said her blushed spread across her face making Naruto smile at her "Hope you like it"
"Thank you, I'm sure we will" Naruto said smiling at her brightly before attacking his food with vigour. Jiraiya smirked and shook his head before he poked Naruto in the forehead making him look up owlishly. "What?"
Jiraiya laughed and shook his head again "Are you even aware that the young girl who just served us has a huge crush on you?" Naruto cocked his head to the side and then looked over to the girl who quickly turned her face away from where she had been starring at Naruto.
"Huh I never noticed, it's just I guess I'm not used to seeing girls react like that seeing as in the village I'm only seen as a friend or a brother to the girls" The blonde said in a surprised voice as he stared at the girl before smiling warmly and waved at her "Shame I don't feel the same"
Jiraiya shook his head at the boy before lacing his fingers together and gave Naruto a searching look "So how'd you figure it out?"
Naruto looked at Jiraiya before smiling "I watched the cat" Jiraiya gave Naruto a totally confused look before shaking his head and putting his hands up and waved them in an I-don't-wanna-know manner.
Naruto shrugged and started to scoff down his food when suddenly he lost all feeling in his right hand and dropped his chopsticks making his eyes go wide in shock. Jiraiya watched silently as his young student worked frustrated with his chopsticks to try to get them to stay in his hand.
'Has it become too much for him, has the strain finally gotten to him, and am I pushing him to do something beyond even his abilities?' Jiraiya thought sadly as Naruto finally gave up on his chopsticks and began to eat with hands.
"So Pervy Sage when we starting stage 2?" Naruto said between mouthfuls of rice.
Jiraiya's eyebrow twitched and all the compassionate and kind thoughts he had about taking it slow on Naruto flew out the window "As soon as your done" he gritted out, why glaring at the kid who just gave him a happy grin.
"Awesome!"
Jiraiya watched sadly as Naruto collapsed once again when he couldn't make the rubber ball he had been given explode like he had done a few days earlier. At first he had thought that the blonde would get it through pure skill, but it was obvious to the Toad hermit now, that why Naruto was a genius in some ways when it really came down to it, the only way Naruto really got anywhere was through hard work, and if he ever wanted to master the Rasengan he'd have a lot of it heading his way. "Good Luck Kid" he whispered before he turned and walked back to the village.
"It hurts so much, and the worst thing is I can't even make the darn thing squeak" Naruto panted before he stared at the rubber ball in his hand with annoyance and then sighed as he stared at the clouds floating overhead. He could still remember the first time he had ever done something like this.
Flashback
Weasel and Ookami were both reading silently as Kitsune sat on his bed and stared out the sky through the tiny window his room provided. It had been nine months since he had joined ANBU and two months since Itachi Uchiha\Weasel had taken over his guardianship and in those nine month he had done nothing but spill others blood.
"Kitsune is something bothering you" Naruto didn't even bother looking around to see who had spoke he had become accustomed to his new guardians voice fairly quickly and the flat monotone voice defiantly belonged to the Uchiha.
"Yes" He said shortly making both ANBU officers close their books and look at him closely, not once had Naruto ever been bothered in the base, he loved each of the officers and found their company thrilling.
"What is it?" Ookami asked kindly
Naruto looked over at them and then back out at the window "I want to see the clouds but I can't" Ookami and Weasel shared a look and the Uchiha cleared his throat and shook his head.
"Ah I don't think that would be a good idea" he said in his normal emotionless voice making Naruto sigh and Ookami shake his head.
"Normal kids get to go out and play and go to ninja school and all that other cool stuff but I don't wanna do any of that stuff I just want to go and watch clouds" Naruto said looking down sadly as he was denied the one thing he had selfishly wanted for the first time in almost a year.
Ookami smiled from behind his porcelain mask and then nodded "Your right you don't ask to do any of those things, Weasel stay with him a sec" Weasel nodded in confusion as the elder ANBU officer quickly left Naruto's room and then returned a few minutes with a black hooded cloak.
"Kitsune take off you mask" Naruto looked at Ookami in shock but did as he said and then almost immediately he was swamped in the large cloak with the hood drawn up so that it obscured his peripheral vision. "There you go"
Weasel nodded when he realized what his superior was thinking, "I will go changed" Ookami nodded and bent down and began to fiddle with Naruto's cloak a little more so the only thing you could see from his face were his two piercing blue eyes.
"Naruto I need you to do me a big favour okay" Ookami said in a pleading voice, Naruto looked up at him with curious eyes "I need you to stay silent when your around other villagers, when your alone with Itachi you are free to talk all you want but when you are around others please I begging you...stay silent" Naruto who didn't really understand nodded and then hugged his commander who hugged him back just as tightly.
"Is he ready" Itachi said from the doorway garbed in his usual Uchiha garb.
Ookami nodded and took Naruto by the hand and gave Naruto to Itachi and nodded at him once "Bring him back before 6 okay he has another mission" Itachi nodded and lead Naruto out of ANBU base and through the village where he got strange glances from the villagers who didn't know who the strangely garbed boy was. Itachi didn't stop until they reached a secluded clearing with a great view of the sky, when Naruto saw how clear the view was he was overwhelmed with happiness. The view from his ANBU window was always blurry and too small to actually see anything and by the time he left to go on his missions the sky had darkened as night would have fallen.
"What now" Itachi asked in a bored voice as he didn't know what to do next. Naruto shook his head and laid down on the grass and put his hands on his stomach and just stared up at the clouds and sighed in content. Itachi hesitantly slide down next to his charge and looked up at the sky.
"You must have a lot of patience" Naruto looked over at this guardian in confusion "To sit on your bed all day every day and stare out that tiny window just so you can get a glimpse of the sky which you find so appealing" Naruto nodded and Itachi took that as a sign as to continue "you need to apply this same patience to pain" Naruto turned onto his side and blinked at Itachi once "I've seen you take very painful wounds and you seem to stop fighting after you sustain them and just wait until the pain goes away until you can fight again, when you are put on a solo mission you won't have the asset of a team backing you, so you need to learn to push through your pain till you reach the point where your pain becomes numb and you can't feel it anymore"
Naruto rolled back over and fell into a thoughtful trance in which he stayed for several hours until Itachi took his back to the base.
Flash back
Naruto's eyes widened and he flipped himself onto his feet and grabbed the rubber ball and gulped when he glanced at it "Funny how the man who's hunting me down is the one who most probably has given me the advice I needed to move forward huh Kyu" he whispered
"HUNTING YOU DOWN ASIDE THAT BOY KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND HE WAS GOOD TO YOU...FOR A WHILE AT LEAST" Naruto sighed and nodded, he couldn't argue with his big brother because at one point Itachi had been his whole world so he would be lying if he said Itachi didn't hold some place in his heart even now.
"Okay let's try this shall we" he said in breathless voice. Then with a small grunt he began pushing his chakra into the ball and then grit his teeth when a wave of pain wracked his body, but continued to push on, unaware the Jiraiya had come back and was watching him in awe. "Focus and power" Naruto continued to chant in his mind as the pain continued to lash through his body at muscle ripping levels. But when he thought he wouldn't be able to handle it anymore the rubber ball exploded sending him flying through the clearing and right into Jiraiya's arms who smiled down at him when the dazed Genin looked up at him.
"Pervy Sage?" Naruto weakly whispered in confusion
Jiraiya smiled warmly and nodded "You did good kid, you did good, but you can rest now, I'll talk to you later" Naruto nodded and faded into his mindscape where Kyuubi was waiting for him
"REST NOW LITTLE ONE, SLEEP WELL, NO NIGHTMARES WILL HARM YOU TONIGHT" Naruto smiled tiredly and let himself collapse next to the great fox demon who curled his tails around him and nuzzled him tenderly, "YOU PUSH YOURSELF WAY TO HARD SOMETIMES LITTLE ONE, BUT I GUESS YOU WOULDN'T BE MY Naruto IF YOU DIDN'T"
"WHAT!"
Jiraiya took his fingers out of his ears when Naruto's voice finally lowered and then cleared his throat as he looked at the angered genin "Yes I have found where Lady Tsunade is hiding out and we will set off today" Naruto took a calming breath and Kyuubi continued to remind him that he couldn't kill his sensei even a pervert toad hermit like Jiraiya.
"You are aware that you're in the middle of my training right" he said between gritted teeth.
Jiraiya nodded but then put a hand on his students head "Yes but just think about it, on the way there you can talk to Gamakichi you haven't summoned him in a while have you?" Naruto's face turned to one of joy and he immediately ran through the hand signs and a few seconds later the small toad was standing before the two toad summoners.
"Naruto?" Gamakichi asked in awe as the two stared at each other and then after a moment the tiny toad launched himself at Naruto and grabbed his jacket and leapt up until he was lying on his head and was clutching his blonde hair. "It's been so long I thought you'd forgotten about me"
Naruto shook his head lightly and picked the frog up and cuddled him to his chest "No I've just been trying to master a really hard Jut-su so I haven't had any chakra left at the end of the day to summon you I would have called for you sooner but I haven't had the energy" the blonde said smiling down at the toad who smiled back at him.
Jiraiya smiled and shook his head "geez when Gamakichi gets too big for Naruto to hold I wonder it Naruto will start riding his head like I do...most probably it is a sign of affection between summoners and their summons for them to have physical closeness" Jiraiya said as he watched Gamakichi leap back onto Naruto's head and nestle himself into the blondes hair where he laid happily.
"Okay let's head off" Jiraiya said as the three of them left the village and started off towards their next destination.
Sakura waved goodbye to Ino who waved back excitedly as she ran off with Shikamaru and Chouji. Even though Team 10 were being more active none of the genin teams from the last two years had even come close to comparing to Team 7's own mission rap sheet. For the last two weeks since Naruto had gone on his mission with his personal sensei, she and Sasuke had been keeping their relationship as secret as they could, although it was hard especially when they were making out on her bed and they only just sensed her mother walking towards her door in time. Thankfully her mother had left her alone for a week and she and Sasuke could have a little privacy, although she was still a little nervous about taking the last step unlike Naruto who had told her the day after the chunnin exam finals that he had lost his on a drunken night stand and that he didn't regret it one bit. He had told her it made him feel more mature and that he was getting older, but at the same time he didn't want her to rush it because the first time really hurt apparently. Sakura was shocked out of her musings when an arm draped itself around her shoulders.
"Hi there" Sakura smiled and leant into Sasuke and looked up at the Uchiha who was giving her a small smile himself although some would say it was a smirk.
"Hi yourself" she said back, sometimes she couldn't remember when she became immune to Sasuke's smirk or how she stopped becoming weak in the knees around him. Everytime she asked herself this question the only answer she would get was that Naruto had happened to her.
Sasuke smirked and pulled her against him and nuzzled into her neck making her breath become shallower. "We should go back to your house" he whispered and Sakura nodded before taking his hand and raced off towards her house.
As she fiddled with the lock Sasuke groaned and pushed against her and nuzzled her neck affectionately. Sakura gasped and then pushed the door open and then was pushed against it when it was slammed closed. Sasuke attacked her mouth making her giggle and kiss back making the raven groan in pleasure.
"Wait you mother" Sasuke groaned as he pulled away panting, Sakura shook her head and pushed herself against the raven more fully.
"Nope, she's not coming home for a week" Sasuke's eyes widened and before the pinkette really knew what was happening the raven and picked her up and raced towards the bedroom where he fell on the bed with her below him. "Being a little forward aren't we Sasuke" Sakura mocked
Sasuke growled teasingly and then kissed her again, but suddenly the mood shifted and it was if the room had become too hot but at the same time the two of them weren't close enough and suddenly their kisses became a little less tame. Sasuke groaned as Sakura sucked on his tongue and then buried one of his hands in her hair and let the other one travel down her body. Sakura gasped and suddenly she was wearing too many clothes and so was Sasuke and before she knew what she was doing she pushed Sasuke back and pulled Sasuke's shirt over his head and then quickly brought their lips together. Sasuke made quick work of the dress she was wearing and threw it in the opposite direction and then continued to run his hands up and down her body making the pinkette groan into his mouth and if asked the raven would swear not even Naruto's pipe playing was a beautiful as that sound.
"Wait" He said pulling away slightly, "are we really going to do this?" Sakura looked at Sasuke for a second and then quickly sealed their lips why he hands undid the buttons on Sasuke's pants slowly. Sasuke took the hint and slowly took off his girlfriend's bike shorts which left her in her dark blue lacy underwear. Sasuke smirked and quickly made short work of the bar and then gasped as he felt Sasuke pulled down him boxers along with his pants. When he removed her panties he gave Sakura a searching look and when he didn't find any fear he kissed her forcibly and thrusted in at the same time electing a cry of pain from the pinkette. Hearing Sakura whimper in pain made Sasuke still even though it was hard for him as she was unbelievably tight, and then after a few minutes when Sakura wiggled her hips he found the courage to move again. Slowly as if a small fire being kindled all the awkwardness and pain-on Sakura's part-faded and was soon replaced by pure passion and soon Sakura was moaning Sasuke's name which in turn only made him push harder and faster and after a few minutes both of them came hard. Sasuke pulled out and pulled Sakura to his chest and kissed her damp forehead. "That was amazing, you were amazing" he panted.
Sakura giggled and kissed Sasuke's chest affectionately "You weren't too bad yourself handsome"
Sasuke rolled his eyes and then pulled the covers over Sakura and himself before he pulled Sakura close to him once again 'Oh God did I just have sex'
Naruto glared at the bar Jiraiya had pulled him in front of and then turned at the Toad sage who was acting totally innocent, ever since arriving in the gambling town the Pervert ninja had been dragging the blonde youth to every open gambling hall and game saloon, it turns out Naruto was very good at most of the games and many times Jiraiya had left the halls a whole lot richer, and now it was night time and he was dragged Naruto to stand in front of one of the nicer looking pubs in the city.
"Pervy Sage I've allowed you to drag me to every open gambling hall in this town all day, not to mention you made me dispel Gamakichi so I couldn't talk to anyone, to make matters worse instead of training me you made me play every game the was pushed our way and now you intend to get me drunk?" Jiraiya looked into the cold eyes of his student and scratched the side of his nose nervously
"No whatever made you think that? I just thought you want to eat something seeing as we came up empty in this town even though we searched all day" Naruto sighed and motioned for the elder man to walk in and when they entered the pub Jiraiya froze in front of doorway and just stared and when Naruto followed his line of sight he saw a beautiful blonde woman with brown eyes and a small purple diamond in the middle of her forehead staring at Jiraiya just as equally shocked,, and then it hit Naruto who this person was.
"You're Tsunade aren't you" he said simply cocking his head to the side.