A/N: Not much to say here. Just the usual thanks for the views and reviews. This chapter is kind of a set up for the next arc I have planned. And just so you all know, there will only be two chapters that cover the six week period of Rise and Kaze's separation. After that, I will be revealing the Genin teams. All that said, let's dive into the first chapter. Also, if you are interested in what the main characters look like at this point in the story, just check my profile for the link to my deviantART account. New artwork will be up by Wednesday.

Chapter Twenty-Four: I Miss You

Three weeks had gone by since Kaze had left Konohagakure to return home. Rise awoke in her bed on the thirty-first of October, Halloween. Every day since Kaze had left, she had been training with her parents and her siblings. Rise was young but she showed a natural affinity for Wind Jutsu, even moreso than her father. However, Rise's Chakra control wasn't as good as her mother's, so she had trouble with the Gentle Fist. It was on this morning that Rise awoke to a small falcon on her windowsill. She knew it was from Kaze by the small Sunagakure band around its leg. Attached to its chest was a small bag with a letter. Rise opened her window and let the bird in. Rise took the letter out and read it.

"Dearest Rise, I miss you terribly. My training is going well. I can use the Sand Coffin and Sand Clone Jutsus perfectly now. My father has been working me hard. How are you? Is your training going well? I miss your touch and your kisses, but this time apart made me realize how much I need you in my life. I look forward to seeing you in three weeks. Love always, Kaze."

Rise was in tears by the end of the letter, and she clutched it to her heart. She dug under her bed and she drew out a piece of paper and a pen and she began to write.

"Kaze, I miss you so much. I miss being in your strong arms. I'm glad your training is progressing well. Mine seems to have stagnated. I can use a few basic Wind Jutsu, but my mother is disappointed that my Gentle Fist skills aren't that powerful. My Chakra control is extremely poor. I think its because of what's inside of me. I can't wait to see you in three weeks. I love you, Rise."

Rise folded the letter and she tucked it into the pouch on the falcon's chest and the bird flew away. Rise smiled and she put the letter under her bed and she dressed quickly. Her mother knocked on her door and she called to Rise.

"Time to train Rise. Meet us out in the backyard."

Rise nodded and she exited her room and she stood in the backyard. Her father came out, dressed in his usual clothes. He stood in front of Rise and he looked her over.

"Today, I'm going to teach you a technique that I've used since I became a Genin. Rise, be prepared to be worn out quickly. You know how to use Shadow Clones correct?"

Rise nodded and she formed the Shadow Clone seals and her body split into three copies. Naruto smiled at his child and he nodded.

"Very good. Now, try and make several hundred."

Rise's eyes went wide and she looked at her father in confusion.

"Several hundred? That will kill me!"

Naruto shook his head and he yelled.

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Naruto's body split into roughly two hundred clones, and he grinned with each of them and spoke.

"Rise, you were born with the power of the Kyuubi. Your Chakra levels probably surpass mine. This shouldn't be so hard for you. Shadow Clones will likely be your closest ally, just as it was mine. Since you can't use Gentle Fist well yet, we need to teach you some form of Taijutsu."

Rise nodded and she focused all of her Chakra and she yelled.

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Rise's body shimmered and around her split two hundred and fifty more of her. Naruto released his technique and he smiled at Rise.

"Very good. Now, using all your clones, come at me with all you have. Try and land just one clean blow on me."

Rise nodded and she charged at her father.

Rise and her clones charged forward all at once, and Naruto knocked them all away with a Wind Jutsu,

"Head on attacks would get you killed in a real battle! Fight smarter Rise! You were second in your class. Show me some of the brains and not all your power!"

Rise nodded at her father and she formed another hundred clones. Then she wove seals and she closed her eyes. Rise let out a high pitched screech and Naruto froze in place. Rise's screech seemed to have frozen her father. Hinata heard the noise and she came out into the back yard and she covered her ears and she yelled.

"Rise! Stop!"

Rise's screech ended and Naruto dropped to his knees and he smiled at his youngest child.

"Where in the world did you learn that?"

Rise looked down and she shook her head.

"I... I don't know. Something just took over."

Naruto looked up at Hinata and he nodded.

"Rise, do you hear a loud voice in your head sometimes? Like an evil presence?"

Naruto asked his child. Rise nodded and she looked at her father and mother.

"Its the Kyuubi isn't it? I'm scared of what she'll do to me."

Naruto hugged his child and he whispered into her ear.

"The Kyuubi's weakened by love. You have Kaze, us, your brother and sister, your friends... Rise, you know you're a special child. Eventually, you're going to tame the beast, but until then, you have to keep your emotions under control. You know what you're like when you're angry."

Rise nodded and she hugged her father.

"I know. Can we do Gentle Fist training? I'm ashamed that as a Hyuga, I cane even use my clan's unique Taijutsu."

Naruto stood up and he stepped back as Hinata moved forward.

"Rise, I'm glad you love your heritage. I think if you train hard enough, you could surpass Uncle Neji and Lyn."

Rise grinned and she assumed the stance of the Hyuga.

"Now remember Rise. You have to project your Chakra into your opponent with your light strikes. Try and do it on the training log first."

Rise nodded and she tapped the tree with a strike and the tree split in half and became wet and damp at the same time. Naruto and Hinata both stood up and looked at Rise.

"She's a dual affinity!"

They both said incredulously. Rise looked down at her hands and she looked up at her parents.

"What happened?"

Naruto looked down at Rise and she whispered.

"You're a wind and water affinity Rise."

Naruto chuckled and he thought. Who could train her in Water Ninjutsu? I don't think anyone in this village is a Water affinity. Rise spoke through his silence.

"Can't Kakashi-sensei train me?"

Naruto's aqua eyes opened and he nodded. Of course. He thought and he stood up.

"Of course he could. He knows more than I do still."

Rise nodded and she smiled. She went back to her training as her parents watched her..

In Sunagakure, Kaze and his father had been training for three weeks. Gaara had taught Kaze much more than anyone else ever could, due to the fact they were nearly identical. Kaze was in the process of perfecting a technique he called the Sand Manipulation Technique. It allowed him to turn his body to sand for a period of time in proportion to his remaining Chakra. Kaze had mastered the Sand Coffin and Sand Tsunami, as well as Sand Armor and an original technique he called Sand Storm.

"Kaze, try Sand Manipulation one more time before we go home for the day."

Gaara said to his son. Kaze had grown his hair out to his shoulders, not having cut it in over a year. Kaze had really grown in the last two years. Kaze, in response to his father's request, formed the tiger seal and he focused. Kaze's body began to crumble and melt into the desert's own sand. Gaara smiled as Kaze completely vanished from his line of sight.

"Well done Kaze. Tomorrow, we'll focus on the last part of your training. Have you heard from Rise?"

Kaze reformed his body and he shook his head.

"I sent Raptor out this morning with a letter to her. He may be waiting for me back home."

Gaara put his hand on his only child's head and he hugged him.

"Kaze, you're a strong young man. I hope one day that you'll lead this village."

Kaze hugged his father and he whispered.

"I will, if the villager's deem me worthy."

Gaara smiled and he nodded.

"I'm sure they will. Let's get home before your mother starts to worry."

In Tsunade's office, Kakashi, Guy and Kurenai stood waiting to hear their team assignments.

"Kakashi, you'll be leading Rise Uzumaki, Serah Uchiha and Kaze. Their parents trust you to train their children. Guy, your new team is Hiro and Yukiko Hyuga, along with Kiana Nara. Kurenai, you're dealing with Nanjo Inaba, Yuzu Hirano and Ashari Akimichi twins."

The Jounin had received their instructions and were dismissed. Kakashi leapt into the sky and he vanished from their sight. Guy grinned. He would be teaching Neji and Tenten's twins. He ran down the road and vanished from view. Kurenai sighed. She had recently returned to her Jounin duties, but she still pined for Asuma. Even though he'd been dead for over ten years, Kurenai had never really moved on. She shook her head and she put on a fake smile.

Three weeks remained until the Jounin would start to train their Genin into the Shinobi they were destined to become.

TO BE CONTINUED...