Chapter 7: Shadows Come Alive
Naruto stood at the door, impassively looking at the even more impassively looking Shimura Danzou. He once again ran the discussion to come through his mind. He knew enough of the man to be wary around. Danzou was called a war hawk by many, but the truth was he was also a patriot, a zealous patriot who would do anything for his village. Literally anything, even sacrifice thousands of others, he would do it in a heartbeat. That is not to say he looked forward to it; willing sacrifice of allies was unnencessarily wasting resources, and that's what the council member saw everyone as. Resources to be exploited and expended in the service of Konoha.
"Greetings Namikaze-san... may I come in?" Came the rough voice from the man.
"Of course, follow me. Please forgive my attire, but I was training."
"It is of no concequence. Instead it is... admirable that one trains as hard as you do Namikaze-san, considering you have only recently returned from your first mission as a Konoha chunin..."
"Thank you for your compliments, but it wasn't hard, not even a wound. Please, have a seat while I bring us some tea to enjoy."
The aged man limped to the couch and sat down perfectly, an exemplar of lorldly perfection. Naruto, the ever-gracious host brought him tea and served him. Danzou noticed it was his favourite type of tea.
"I see you know my preferences Namikaze-san..."
"But of course. It is good to know things, even something as... inconcequential as one's preference of tea or arrangement of seats could make or break a possible agreement, if not relationship. So, why would the retired leader of an entire branch of ANBU, the ever infamous yet respected ROOT, visit my lowly home?"
The threat was not subtle, but well concealed. Naruto knew of Danzou's actions and he wanted him to know it. He wanted Danzou to stop beating around the bush and come clean. So that, when that happened, Naruto could speak clearly to the man.
"I see you know of my past deeds." Spoke the councilman, but noticed how Naruto's eyes glared at him. He decided to cut to the chase. "Impressive, you actually know the truth, did my old rival, Sarutobi, tell you?"
Naruto sighed as he sipped a bit of tea. "Not much, no. Merely allowed me to look over some ANBU files and told me there were some things I could look into on my own. I researched on you, and I was quite impressed. To manage all that is... quite impressive. You have my respect for that."
"In that case... may I extend an invitation? That of mutual benefit and cooperation."
"I... have to refuse. I respect you, but that does not mean I like you. You are a patriot, Danzou-san, a zealous patriot with only the good of his village at heart, and I can respect that, I do respect that. Also, you are an intelligent, cunning man and, once again, that is something I respect. However, I do not agree with your methods of doing what you do, regardless of how necessary they are. No, while I hold no enmity towards you, neither do I particularly wish to serve you. Though, should the need arise, I would cooperate with you, what you seek and what I seek are, I'm afraid, quite different..."
Danzou hummed as he contemplated his answer. The boy was slippery and smart, he knew exactly what to say to him to separate himself from the war-hawk, all the while praising his ability. "Is it sedition on your part Namikaze-san? I see only Konoha's welfare after all... Do you not seek the same?"
"With my life, Councilor-san, it is of great wonder I have no thoughts of Konoha's destruction in mind. After all, even though you do not believe in emotions, you understand how they work, correct? For a young person to suffer such ostracism and hate, it is a wonder my mind was sane by the time the seal purged the Kyubi..."
Danzou could only nod, the boy was right. While Danzou would have preferred the boy to be entered into his ROOT branch, there was a reason he hadn't pushed for it or outright kidnapped him. His group selected either individuals with talent but not too much power or those who had already proved their mental stability. As a newborn, Naruto possessed a great deal of power and ROOT was not known for teaching morals, in other words, his mental stability would have been questionable at best and non-existent at worse. And with someone with Kyubi's power inside... No, that would not have been acceptable, too risky. To take him in later though, Danzou had thought about it, but the foolish citizens of Konoha couldn't look further than their own hands, blinded by whatever they thought was 'honorable' and 'just'. They ostracized the boy, persecuted and hated him, and in turn, the boy would have been too unstable to enter his forces. Even if he had stripped the boy of emotions, or rather while doing it, the child's mental structure would collapse and become madness. Ambitious Danzou was, an idiot he was not.
"I see... so, what is your aim?"
"A very simple, dear thing to all, yet truly attained by few. What I desire Danzou-san... is freedom. I want to be free of the constraints of a hateful or hypocritical place. I want to be free of having to do as others say. I want to ride my horse like the wind, make my own way in the world. Alas, I cannot do that. Not without several influential people backing me. One of them... being you Danzou-san..."
"Me?" He said surprised. "Why would I help someone cut ties with Konoha?" It was a question he really wanted an answer for.
"Because Danzou-san, cutting ties means not completely abandoning. If I can be free, I can also watch out for Konoha. I could be the missing link, carrying out assassinations when even you couldn't involve yourself. That does not mean I would ever become your servant, or even contractor. No, that would not be freedom, would it? But, I would consider, and even be willing, to remove certain people that threaten Konoha, if they truly deserve it. I'm sure you've heard of the destruction of a mercenary ring, a mere week or so ago? They were not as good as one might think; these assassins did not believe anyone would want to assassinate them..."
Danzou nodded impressed. There had been many killed and yet noone could find a link or clue. "I see... having one of your... longevity and unique characteristics would be... very advantageous... Elrad Duali-san..."
To his pride, Naruto didn't even bat an eyelash at the name. "So you know that detail... I know you are not a fool Danzou-san, so remember not to spread it anywhere yet. In time, I will reveal the truth, but for now I am just Namikaze Naruto, an exceptionally good assassin without chakra... I would be saddened to have to remove people from the world for merely knowing a name they shouldn't yet... I hope your ROOT are as tight-lipped as you, lest we have trouble on our tails..."
Danzou smiled at Naruto, a smile of accepting someone not as a servant but as an equal, a rare smile indeed for the man. "Of course, it was merely a warning Elrad-san... As you make as good an enemy as an ally, so do I. It is in our mutual benefit that we do not move with hostility, is it not? I know you are more loyal to Konoha than you would admit, now. It is good to see the fools outside these walls couldn't curb your spirit."
Naruto huffed slightly at the mention of Konoha's greatest part of the populace. "Indeed, it is very, very fortunate..."
The pair discussed a bit more and in the end, Danzou had to leave. He was a busy man, but now he was quite pleased as well. While the Namikaze had no intention of becoming one of his tools, he was not mutinous. Unless Konoha did something gravely idiotic, he would remain their ally, even after leaving.
In turn, Naruto sighed in relief as soon as the man left. Danzou might be a weak relic of the past, but there were two kinds of old men warriors. Old men who died fast and known as 'an old man'... and those who were so good that they were called 'that old man'. And, despite Naruto knowing that by the time he left, he would be strong enough to take even a Kage-level shinobi on, he was well aware that Danzou's power was not so much in his own skill, but rather in the fact he had cultivated a network of allies more extended than any Daimyo ever had. He was one of those old men... He was dangerous and if Naruto wanted to leave in peace, he'd need him by his side. Who knows, maybe by the time he left, Danzou would have changed. A distant chance, but one he could aim for.
For now though, the elf decided to go back to training. Mikoto would always complain he just went through the same motions over and over again, but she didn't see things as he did; every time he changed something in the forms of his enemies, even if they were taller or shorter by a few inches would change the outcome of the battle. So Naruto would go through each and every kata of each and every style he had learned, each time calculating for minute changes that, in the obsessed elf's mind at least, changed the fight completely.
Three years later, Naruto stood before the Sandaime Hokage. His chuunin vest, colored a dark marroon color, barely concealing his weapons. And there were tens of them, maybe even dozens. Kunai, shuriken, be they as a spike or a star, throwing knives, long knives, a pair of kodachi, a whip, a pair of hand crossbows, senbon, explosives, paper form and not, alchemical creations of most any type, his trusty shortstaff... Naruto had used sealing and magical items from Firavel's store to become a walking armament. It was a joke amongst the shinobi of Konoha that there was no inch of Naruto that wasn't hiding or concealing a weapon. It wasn't true of course, but Anko would gleefully and suggestively disagree.
In the three years that have passed, Naruto had perfected several techniques, be they purely physical or utilizing the sublime ki he had pushed himself beyond insanity to acquire. He used it mostly in the form of physical reinforcement or shadow-based and shadow-originating attacks. Though, he had acquired some abilities that would be considered downright magical and even imposing on some clans' techniques. Naruto had been very prudent to not leave a witness to their existence, knowing that many would use it as a reason to put him under their command. Of course, he also considered the link between shadow elves and the Nara clan, but at best it was a possibility of common power origin rather than something concrete.
Mikoto had come closer to the shadow elf as well. Using her bakery as a hideout from his ever-increasing fangirls, as well as getting a chance to talk with someone who, if not understood him, at least he could speak with freely, had enabled the two to talk a lot. Mikoto was still grieving for her murdered clan, but she had moved on a great deal, she no longer suffered night terrors, though she was glad to notice that there were few nights that Naruto didn't sneak into her room to make sure. She began showing more cues to her affection, dropping the suffix from his name, hugging him back often, offering him help in more than one ways, she tried to be near him and she knew the elf also realized it. She could easily understand his hesitating however, he was virtually immortal compared to her. He would live for ages while she would grow old and die in mere decades. Heck, he would be considered a mere adolescent by the time even her bones would be dust. How could he then claim a relationship with her, when he would be bound to leave her behind? It was exactly that honorable commitment of his that Mikoto sometimes wished it didn't exist. Then again, she was quick to realize, she wouldn't have liked him nearly as much if it wasn't him.
On the other side was Anko. She was a troubled person. Even though the trauma from Orochimaru had long since healed, as much as it ever would that is, it still had left her a bit... unstable. The truth is, quite simply, that she had hid herself so much behind a mask that she became her mask. She lost track of where 'real Anko' and 'badass Anko' was and meshed them into one. Considering that Naruto had suffered as much, if not more, as her, she held on to him as some sort of idol, a beacon of sanity against her own insanity. Yes, the woman knew she was insane, she knew that many of the things she did she really didn't want to do, she knew that her hobbies were often self-imposed punishments, but she couldn't stop them. She couldn't stop doing it, she couldn't follow the 'right path' because of her own weakened sanity. But Naruto... the boy, elf, whatever... he could, and in him doing it, she pulled herself out of whatever mire of insanity she had long since thrown her soul into. Just being near him, just seeing him, and the woman could feel herself calm, feel her very soul purge and clean, she could feel her sanity overcome her insanity. So, if the only way to ensure she'd be near him forever was by becoming his girlfriend, wife, concubine, she would do so in an instant.
The last loyal male Uchiha, namely Sasuke, had grown a lot as well. Between Mikoto helping him, Inoichi counceling him and Naruto beating the ever-important lesson of humility in him, he had matured far more than otherwise possible. He still wanted Itachi dead, but not because it was some twisted form of revenge for his brother's betrayal, but because it was his duty and the fact that Itachi had to be brought to justice, lest he threaten others. Sasuke still considered his family to be honorable and just, but he also knew that he had a much greater ideal to live up to; that of a true Konoha, where all would be equal and differentiated only by their talents. Where one clan would not be better than the other to merely blood traits or large coffers. And he would be the first to set that example, by bringing in his excommunicated brother, alive, and humbly apologizing for his transgressions. He would show them that Uchiha had a position of respect because they were the ones best suited for it, not because they bribed or forced their way there. It was his own form of honor.
At the moment however, the shadow elf that had changed several lives was awaiting for his meeting with the Hokage. Around him, several jounin and chuunin were talking animatedly, awaiting for the new gennin teams to be announced. The boy smirked, unseen. He had managed to manipulate events to get Kakashi out of the village for a bit. Even though he was a respected jounin, and very skilled when necessary, Naruto doubted he would teach his team anything. And with his team having the last Uchiha, since it was only him that could train the boy, the elf had to make arrangements; get the man out of the village so he could train the team enough for the man's tactics to work on them. Otherwise, Kakashi's hands-off teaching methods would hinder and possibly kill them. And that he would not allow. Not only would all his efforts into training the boy go to waste, but Mikoto would be heartbroken.
Finally, the aged Kage walked in the room, several folders in his hands, followed by one of Naruto's old Academy teachers, Umino Iruka. The scarred chuunin nodded to the boy in respect, the Namikaze had earned it. He was chuunin in name only, several bingo books already listed him as jounin-level. He had earned every drop of his skills with sweat, blood and tears against odds that made the teacher cringe. To have almost literally clawed his way up from the village outcast, parriah and most despised person to one of the greatest chuunin the village had. He had at least earned the respect he was now receiving.
If only it hadn't taken the boy's cheerful nature and childhood away to do it. Iruka could swear that these eyes that sometimes looked at him from the Namikaze's face were inhuman, no human could ever be that... impossible to read.
"So," Began the village leader, shaking Iruka from his musings. "here are the Academy graduates. Some of them have already been sorted into teams according to their talents and skills, but most of them are pretty much up to discussion. Before you start, Uchiha Sasuke is going to be placed under Kakashi, the only other bearer of the Sharingan in this village so pick another one. Which begs the problem, where is Kakashi?"
Naruto took a step forward. "His presence was necessary for a mission Hokage-sama, remember? If it would please you, I could take over the team until Kakashi-senpai returns however. We all know how... off hands he can be. It may be best that I, or someone else, were to teach the boy and his team for a little while, get them to the point where Kakashi-senpai's off-hands teachings actually work rather than crippling them. There is also the fact that I am far closer to the team's age than any other in this room, it would be easier for them to connect and trust me."
A random jounin spoke up, interrupting the Namikaze. "Hey, why should you get the honor of teaching the Uchiha?"
"Exactly because of that, fool. Because it is not an honor to me, which means that not only will I be more fair towards him and his team, but also I am not afraid to punch the boy around to drive a point home. Besides, whoever gets to teach Sasuke must have no other team to teach and spend as much time as it takes for Kakashi-senpai to return before even considering to take a mission. And, if my calculations are correct, this could take a few months. Admittedly, amongst us all, I am the most qualified for that; neither am I a needed jounin-sensei, which means that I can in fact not teach a bunch of children without significant reduction to the village's future shinobi population, but also I have the funds and means to properly support myself throughout the stretch of time I will be unable to take on a mission. Even you would admit it makes sense."
Sarutobi sighed and thought about it, ignoring the sputtering jounin in the back. "Well, Naruto-kun does make a point. Besides, he has already proven that jutsu are not everything, something that young shinobi need to learn as fast as possible. It would be a good influence for his team. Very well, notion approved, Namikaze Naruto is now named temporary chuunin-sensei of Sasuke's team..."
"If I may Hokage-sama?" Said Naruto. "I am not a teacher as much an instructor. I am not going to teach them techniques or fancy moves. I am going to teach them enough to actually benefit from Kakashi-senpai's teaching methods. Naming me a teacher is too much, sir."
The old man chuckled at Naruto, he managed to make his position seem far less important than it really was. Clever boy. "Very well. Is there anything else you may want to add Naruto-kun?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. I would also like this probationary teaching of mine be studied and researched upon. If it works out, it may be a good idea for a similar system to be used for other teams as well. It would make little sense for jounin to be taken out of mission capability for several months until their gennin are up to par. If instead, we could get a few chuunin to provide them with mission experience..."
"But that's what the Academy is for; chuunin teaching future gennin!" Interrupted Iruka, rather miffed.
"No, the Academy is a great place to learn theories and safely practice. As a way to get actual experience, it is pathetic. I have already, in fact, filed a suggestion where Academy students would be made into groups of three and doing D-ranked missions, with the teams rotating every few weeks, so the best teams are formed and the gennin have some actual experience, but the council overrode me. But the point remains; having a jounin do D-ranked missions is wasteful, especially while we have several dozens of good chuunin doing things as 'important' as gathering trash or patrolling the houses of the 'esteemed' members of Konoha's 'great' council."
Yes, it was a known fact that Naruto disliked the Council. While he admitted it was necessary, he also believed they had far too much influence. The council should be for the people, not the people for the council. Everyone and their mother now had a seat there and received heavy financial benefits at the cost of Konoha's welfare. Finances for doing absolutely nothing. Nothing except infighting and trying to set the other up for a fall anyway. More than a few of them had even tried to take his clan rights from him under the 'justification' that he wasn't a true Namikaze heir since he didn't have any chakra. Unfortunately for them, Naruto's extraordinary stealth skills had allowed him to get enough dirt on them that sent them to prison without a trial.
With most of the talking gone, the meeting progressed rather quickly. After all, most jounin, who were still rather unknown in the shinobi world and trying to make a name for themselves at the level of other legends like Kakashi, had been trying to get Sasuke on their team, so they could say they were the last Uchiha's teacher. It was sickening to the few true jounin in the room, such as Aoba, Kurenai, Hayate, Asuma and Gai. In fact, it was almost insulting.
Naruto got the folder of the team and opened it to see the composition of the team, though he shouldn't be outside his calculations. He had gotten Sasuke and a civilian-born girl Haruno Sakura. Apparently there hadn't been enough new gennin fresh out of the Academy.
But why would the old man leave one person less, two if he counted the civilian girl as being weak, in a team as important as Sasuke's? Unless... Of course, that clever, scheming old man! Sakura had probably entered the Academy to be with the Last Uchiha; it was the new trend after all. Which would mean that her first encounter with the real, bloody, shinobi world would leave her broken enough to be taken out of the team. Meanwhile, he would also have lined up several other, proper this time, candidates to fill in for second and third team members, probably older gennin who lost their teams or were flunked in the Chuunin Exams to other's faults.
Yes, that way, coupled with placing an overprotective jounin-sensei such as Hatake Kakashi, he would ensure Sasuke's safety. The other team-members would seek to protect the Uchiha scion as they would have known the pain of loosing your team and Kakashi had never let a comrade die if he could help it, not since his first jounin mission anyway.
And now, to go give that boy a 'nasty' surprise.
Just as Iruka walked out the classroom, every prospective ninja in there ignored everything he had told them and turned to create ruckus, excited their 'hell on earth' was over and they could start exciting things now. Well, almost everyone, Sasuke stared blankly ahead, his mind deep in thought but not out of a particular trouble. He knew that whatever was going to happen would happen. Freaking out because of it was pointless, it would only give a bad image to your future teacher. Besides, he had more important things to do.
Like humming. Humming sounded a pretty good way to pass the time. Making new melodies and flow and just changing the tune and pitch of your hum in random-seeming but still somehow melodical ways.
Then his eyes suddenly snapped open and dove to the side.
The reason being rather simple; a kunai had been thrown right where his head was!
A few strands of hair indicated that his dodge was almost too late. His right hand reached out and he bounced off the wooden table, just milimeters away from the face of one of his many fangirls and he flipped through the air before landing low like a cat, one of his own kunai somehow slidding out of the long sleeves of his shirt. He was quite proud of that shirt, or rather what tricks it hid.
While the rest of the class was still in stupor at what had happened, Sasuke looked around frantically, for him.
"Where are you looking at Sasuke?" A calm, regal voice came from behind him and the boy spun to block, though not before retrieving another kunai for his other hand.
"Naruto-onii-sama!" Said Sasuke sounding almost incredulous, shocking many a classmate with the respect he showed. "What the hell are you doing, attacking me all of a sudden! Couldn't you even warn me before?"
"Would an assassin warn you? Besides, I'd been standing on that window for several seconds. Has your awareness been reduced? Do I have to train you again?" He asked, an eyebrow raising slowly.
To the entire room's shock, Sasuke went ashen pale. "No! No! Anything but that! I'll be more aware from now on!" It sounded as if he was scared for his life as he slipped his kunai back up the sleeves of his shirt. Dark blue shirt and pants, lined with pockets. Over them, a black vest with the Uchiha insignia, it took lined with various pockets. No visible weapons or noticeable bulges, but he carried several dozens disposable weapons, wore light armor beneath it all and had implemented several of Naruto's inventions. Kunai launchers, hidden over the arms, with the weapon's ring tied with ninja wire, useful for throwing it and changing its direction while also making recovering much less of a pain.
What he didn't know, of course, was that the 'inventions' were based off blueprints dound in Firavel's book. They needed a bit of altering, naturally, but it was no big deal. Getting the boy out of his original 6-year-old clothes and into something more practical, like shinobi boots that supported the leg and provided for even more room for hidden weaponry, had been infinitely harder.
Even Naruto had changed his attire, removing the chuunin vest now that he was away from possible inspections and therefore not having to stick to dress regulations nearly as much. His color palette, consisting of marroon, dark purples, grays, silvers and blacks hadn't changed. What he wore though had; soft leather boots, tucked under high-quality loose pants and a shirt only buttoned up halfway over a simple shirt and a medallion of a silver moon crossed with a sword. On his left shoulder he kept a half-cloak that concealed his arm and gave him a mysterious look. Not to mention held several secrets of its own, such as seals, a metal byweave and even sharp blades at the lower hem, things that made it a weapon or shield if the need arose. His thick belt, previously used to carry various weapons, now was hidden beneath a wide, weighted sash, that he could easily dispose of.
"Anyway, what are you doing here of all places nii-sama?" Asked Sasuke. "I'm waiting for my sensei, as well as a reason as to why I only have one team-mate rather than two."
Naruto nodded at the boy as he hoped off the desk with nary a sound, not that many would notice seeing as how several girls realized he was the fabled 'Namikaze-sama' and were trying to decide whether they should stick with 'Sasuke-kun' or change targets to the older male. "I'm here for you and one Haruno Sakura in fact. Kakashi-senpai is off in a mission, I was selected to train you until he returns. As for your team, it will be completed later on, probably with an older gennin. Besides, now..." Here Naruto's eyes turned mischievously evil and made Sasuke gulp. "now I can train you as I originally intended."
Spotting his older teacher, Iruka, entering, Sasuke raised his hand almost timidly. "Sensei, is it too late for me to resign from becoming a shinobi?"
"What are you talking about Sasuke-kun? Of course it is!"
"But it's not too late to resign is it?" The look of shattered hope in Sasuke's eyes was almost comical.
"Of course it is, why are you acting like that?" Asked the weirded out teacher.
"Because!" Shouted Sasuke as he seemed to slink away from his 'older brother figure'. "Because nii-sama is insane! He's going to kill me! I mean it!"
"Oh come on Sasuke-kun!" Said Sakura. "I'm sure you're just exaggerating, Namikaze-sensei seems quite... nice?" She finished quentioningly once she actually saw the look of torturous malice and almost audible promise of pain and suffering that emanated from Naruto's eyes. "... or not... B-but he can't be that bad can he?"
"Me? Bad?" Questioned Naruto innocently, though his aura of evil still lingered on him.
"Yes, you! You crazy brother!" Shouted Sasuke. "You trained me in awareness by launching kunai at me without warning or sneaking into my room while I was sleeping!" He exclaimed. "And then... then you had that psycho, Anko, 'train' me in evasion! I almost got eaten by her snakes!"
"I know, I told her to do it." He said ignoring the incredulous looks. "But you survived didn't you? Besides, how do you expect to grow if not by being placed against enemies who are slightly stronger than you and then breaking your own limits by adapting? And here I thought you were serious in your desire to becoming the strongest."
'How can I become the strongest if I'm dead?' Sasuke asked himself, but he knew that an argument with Naruto was a lost cause, almost by definition.
"Now, I believe you and your team mate are ready to leave?" Said the chuunin, quickly adopting his usual more aristocratic speech pattern. "We're wasting time and we have to get to our training grounds."
"N-nii-sama?" Asked Sasuke. "D-don't tell me, you were serious about training me seriously?"
"Of course. I wouldn't lie about something like that. Until now Mikoto always limited me on how... intense... my training would be. But now you are a ninja and it is my responsibility to train you and Haruno-san over there to be as strong as possible."
As the two gennin followed their new teacher out, Sasuke could only think one thing; 'Oooh...crap...'
The reason was obvious to the Uchiha heir. Naruto's 'lax' training methods included the boy strengthening his calves by balancing only on the balls of his feet on a stair or rock, meaning his entire body weight fell on his feet and in particular some of the least-trained muscles in the entire body. Of course, to 'maintain balance', Naruto had Sasuke place his arms at a 90degree angle on the elbows, palms up... and then placed weights on his hands. Which meat that, while a good training for Sasuke, it also hurt like hell.
And lo and behold, Sasuke's fears came true. The reason being that they reached one of Naruto's external training facilities.
As soon as the group of three entered the warehouse, they noticed how dark it was, since Naruto had shut all windows. Then, the chuunin went to the side and flipped a switch.
Loud 'clacking' noises answered the switch as lights were turned on and both Sasuke and Sakura gulped.
Fires roared, blades scythed out, spikes rose up and huge stones ground in the most terrifying 'run' they could imagine. "Welcome to my Training Room number 5. This is actually the mid-setting, we'll start with the low setting. It removes the fires and spikes."
'We're gonna die...'
"But that's wait for another day. For now, we must train your bodies first."
Half an hour later found Sasuke doing situps. They were hard, since he wasn't used to them at all, so he tried to complain. He really, really shouldn't have. Because the moment he opened his mouth, Naruto seemed to realize something.
"Ah of course! I forgot! You can't keep your balance like that. Stretch your arms forward Sasuke and keep the palms up." When the poor, poor boy did that... Naruto placed a pair of steel orbs on the palms. "There, counterweighs, better, right?" That infuriatingly naive smile on Naruto's face made Sasuke want to strangle his older brother, he was mocking him! Him, an Uchiha! His own little brother! Then he found a pair of leather bands on his arms, just before his shoulders, with a curved spike under. "And that's to remind you not to drop your arms. Work diligently hard now, alright Sasuke-kun?" Now that sickly-sweet smile made poor Sasuke gulp.
When Naruto turned to look at Sakura, the poor girl almost turned tail and ran, but her chuunin trainer grabbed her by the shoulder. "If you want to run that much, wait a bit, got to place your weights on first." Several clicks later and Sakura was loaded with weighted bands on her legs and feet. "Alright, now you can start running. Oh, and make sure to dodge the shuriken!"
Sakura wanted to question 'what shuriken', but she got her answer quickly enough... when Naruto began throwing the archetypal ninja weapons at her...
In various places all over Konoha, several newly-minted gennin had the strangest feeling... like they suddenly weren't so envious of a certain pair of people...
A/N: Sorry for the delay and the chapter's low quality, what with all the time skips. I apologize but I had to cut the chapter in four, five pieces as I got drafted for army service, which I hate. It killed my Lady Inspiration and I can't even get some leave to write! Because, even when I do, there's five-year old kids screaming about DotA, LoL, HoN, CS and every other 'in' game (including MOHAA, yes some people dug it out from somewhere and it's become a usual game again, somehow). I hope I'll manage to squeeze one more chapter out before shore leave ends...