hey Everyone
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post this, I'm honestly behind in all my stories.
Here's the next chapter, and Forgive any mistakes i may have missed.
enjoy
I don't own Naruto
Chapter 19
It was now 12 and it had only gotten hotter outside. For those outside, water consumption was being more consumed than usual.
Those who were indoors, however, didn't really allow the people to notice it due to the cool air blowing around, thus sparing them from the heat.
One in particular was so anxious to begin moving around was Rock Lee. He was told in a week he should be ready to be discharged since he had been exceeding the expectations of his recovery. He couldn't believe how less working out could improve his recovery rate, and he owed it all to the one who was willing to take his physical therapy seriously; Sakura Haruno. She would be coming in two hours to complete it for the day, but until then he was stuck in his bed.
So need to say, he was quite relieved when he had visitors.
"Naruto-kun, Shikamaru-kun, and Choji-kun, it is so good to see you" Lee exclaimed.
"Bushy-brows, how's it going; Sakura-chan told me you were improving" Naruto responds back with equal enthusiasm.
"Hai, but it is still frustrating; I can't train my normal routine, and if it weren't for the threat of a second week staying, I wouldn't remain on this bed" Lee said with a frown.
"Troublesome, just hold out for another week and then you can go do whatever the normal is for you" Shikamaru said.
"Of course Shikamaru-kun, I shall not disappoint" Lee says, punching the air.
"We brought some food to eat" Choji states, showing four ramen bowls out. Naruto dragged a table nearby and the four of them started eating lunch.
A healing glow was beginning to form around her hands, but the concentration was straining. The chakra control for this was ten times harder than doing water walking or tree climbing, and that hadn't been too difficult at all.
She pressed her hands near the fish, trying to keep her concentration, but after a few minutes the glow faded, and the fish remained unmoving.
"Kuso" Ino whined. She had been trying since being given permission by Tsunade-sama to form the healing palm. After a few hours, she had finally managed it, just to lose it before attempting to heal the injured fish as her training.
"Sakura, I can't keep it going for more than a few minutes. I already feel like I've drained the majority of my chakra" Ino complained, sliding to sit in a chair nearby.
Sakura just raised her head from the book she was reading about infections, and lifted an eyebrow at her. Ino just glared back.
"How long did it take you to get the fish healed?" Ino asked her.
"Well, Tsunade-sama says on average it usually takes 3 to 6 months to heal it for the first time" Sakura replies.
"Sakura…" Ino glowers.
Sighing, Sakura places the book down, "I got it within the first month, and then I was able to do it almost with ease the second month."
Defeated, Ino bows her head down.
"Hey, even Tsunade-sama was surprised; like I said it usually takes about 3 to 6 months to get right the first time. I have always had perfect chakra control, which is why it was just quicker for me to grasp. If you want some advice, I suggest working with some chakra control exercises when you are not here training. I will help keep that glow easier" Sakura says, giving Ino a smile.
"I guess that's all I can do. Why are you reading that book anyway?" Ino asks. She thought Sakura would be doing something similar to what she was doing with healing the fish.
"Well, you want to know the basics in order to help anyone on your squad should they get hurt, but I wish to become a master like Tsunade-sama in the Medical world. In order to do that, I need to read as much on anything related to the Medic field as possible. Unfortunately, this is only the fourth book I've began. Around two I need to meet Lee for his Physical therapy, then at four is training an hour with Tsunade-sama in Taijustu" Sakura says, and continues to read the book earlier.
Taking a closer look, she could see the concentration Sakura was putting to memorizing the book. Seeing her sheer determination both made Ino feel shame, then motivation. She stood up, and proceeded to practice the healing palm from earlier. 'If Sakura can do it, then there's no reason why I shouldn't either.'
Hanabi, Neji, and Hinata were all walking along a route passed the academy. Hanabi kept looking at the note in her hands, then looking up as if to see she was going the right way.
"Konohamaru-kun lives quite far from the compound doesn't he; It's even farther than the academy" Hanabi says.
Both Hinata and Neji had to agree on this; this was actually the first time they would be heading towards the location where the Sarutobi clan was. Most people thought of the third Hokage, or his son, or the grandson whenever you hear Sarutobi, but it's filled with more than over fifty people of the clan.
"Perhaps we should have left earlier from the compound; I had not anticipated the walk to be this far" Neji says.
"I too have not expected it to be far; Hanabi-chan, have you located his house yet?" Hinata asks.
"They all look the same to me" Hanabi whines, accidently releasing the note from her hands; the wind begins to blow it away.
"Ah" Hanabi yells, and begins to give chase. Both Hinata and Neji begin to follow after her.
They ran for about ten minutes before the wind (surprisingly in this heat) slowed down, and the note floated back onto the ground.
"I didn't want to get all sweaty again, but this heat is really not helping" Hanabi complains as she picks up the note.
"Tell me about it" says a voice to the side.
All three turn to see that it was both Moegi and Udon, just standing in front of a house. The door opens a few seconds later, revealing that it was indeed Konohamaru's house.
"Hey guys, you made it-whoa, Hanabi-chan, you okay, It looks like you're coming from a sprint" Konohamaru greets.
Puffing, she walks up towards him until they are barely a few inches apart, "I was trying to chase this note, a wind came out of nowhere. Plus it's really hot, I'm pretty sure they can back me up" Hanabi states, pointing to both Udon and Moegi, who nod for confirmation.
Rubbing the back of his head, he looks around to also see both Neji and Hinata looking just as dishevelled as Hanabi.
"Well, how about you all come in and I'll make some Ice tea? That means both of you as well; it's hot out here" Konohamaru moves out of the way for everyone to come.
"It's okay Konohamaru-kun, we don't want to intrude" Hinata says with Neji nodding in agreement.
"At least cool off before leaving; I've barely been out for a few minutes and I can already feel the heat" Konohamaru argues.
Hinata and Neji look at each other for a moment, and then proceed to Konohamaru's home.
Paper after paper, signature after signature, she was about to just break the desk in frustration when the door opened.
"Tsunade-sama" Shizune says.
Lifting her head up to see her, Tsunade just sighed, and made a movement with her hand that told Shizune it was okay to come in.
Shizune placed Tonton on the ground as she approached the desk.
"Shall I make you some tea Tsunade-sama? You've actually been in here since close to 6 a.m." Shizune offers.
"What I really wish for is some saki. I try my best to distract myself, and unfortunately, only this paperwork is what's working. Who cares of merchants crossing when Jiraya hasn't sent word if he managed to get into the village or not?" Tsunade says her hand curling into a fist.
"Actually, we had received intel from Jiraya-sama not too long ago saying he's entered the village, and now is waiting from his spies of word about the alliance. It might be awhile if that's the case" Shizune repies.
This jolts Tsunade with surprise, then a grin forms quickly, then frowns, "then that means the old pervert is going to be busying on something unprofessional while waiting. I wish I could have sent someone with him to keep him on track. Well that was defiantly good news to hear at least, I think I'll take that tea Shizune."
Nodding, Shizune heads out.
While waiting, Tsunade looks back at the paperwork, and starts to read the next one in line. It appeared to be a mission about transporting some items to a farm, then guarding the farm until its build and complete. It looked to be a C-rank mission, about two weeks long on average, and low C-rank at that.
'I wonder if I should' Tsunade thought. She figured that while Jiraya was waiting on his spies to gather information from the cloud village, she should perhaps send Naruto on a mission to keep him busy. There is a good chance that the two could be done at the same time, before Naruto begins his three year training under Jiraya.
'It's worth a shot' she figured. The only thing she would need to decide is who the other two would go with him. In any case she would send him the first thing tomorrow with the other two choices with him.
"Ah, that was most superb. Thank you guys for the meal" Lee says gratefully, placing his hands together as if in a prayer.
"No problem Lee, we figured to visit since none of us have missions to attend to, we'd hangout for a bit" Choji says.
"Troublesome, I would have been happy with watching the clouds under the shade, but it was even too hot for that" Shikamaru mutters.
"As much as I don't want to admit it, it was even too hot for training after it hit noon. I was out early for some breakfast with Sakura-chan, and then went to the rivers for some training, until I took a break. Not long after these two showed up, and I joined Shikamaru for cloud watching before it got too hot to bear. I'm guessing your therapy will be soon huh?" Naruto says.
"Indeed Naruto-kun. Within an hour Sakura-san should be coming to retrieve me, and we shall begin the physical therapy. I must say though after I'm released it shall take me awhile to reach the level I once was" Lee says.
"Well, after your release, we could spar sometime. I haven't had a real good sparring partner since…" Naruto chokes up on the last bit of his sentence, but everyone in the room understands.
"I would both be honored and grateful Naruto-kun. I believe Sakura-san has also stated that she would be willing to spar with me. Yosh, both of your youths burn brightly, and I shall do my best to burn along with it" Lee states with enthusiasm, his eyes gaining a fire look to it.
"Well I will be back hopefully before Sakura-chan does. I need to visit someone else in the hospital while I still can" Naruto states, getting up from his seat.
"Who are you going to see Naruto?" Choji asks.
"kurenai-sensei" Naruto simply says.
"Is it for some advice or help for your training?" Shikamaru asks. Always the sharp one.
"Yeah, since she is an expert in genjutsu, I figure if anyone can help me than she would be the one to" Naruto says.
Sighing, Shikamaru gets up from his seat, "I guess I'll come along then since Asuma-sensei isn't really here to visit. Stay with Lee Choji, I'll be right back."
Choji just nods, before pulling a bag of chips from the second bag next to the empty ramen bag.
Naruto and Shikamaru leave and make way towards Kurenai's room.
"Why would Asuma visit had he been in the village Shikamaru?" Naruto asks.
"They seem to have formed a close friendship with one another. Most of the time if they aren't on missions or team meetings, then they are seen hanging out together" Shikamaru says with a shrug.
Naruto didn't know that, but found it acceptable so he didn't bother asking anymore questions. He had only two things he was thinking of at the moment; what had she done to land her in the hospital, and if she could help him in learning some genjustu.
Once they reached her door, Shikamaru knocked on the door.
"Come in" Kurenai said. They opened the door and entered.
Kurenai-sensei looked surprised to see them, but a smile formed on her lips, "well hello you two, it's nice of you to visit."
"We were visiting Lee and figured to come see you as well. You feel better?" Shikamaru asks.
"Tons, tomorrow they shall be releasing me, especially after having Tsunade state that I was fine to the nurses. I am so glad that she's put Shizune in charge, otherwise it may have taken them longer to release me" Kurenai says with a sigh.
"Well that's good right? You'll be able to leave, and I know how terrible the food is here" Naruto says with a face.
Kurina holds a laugh that threatens to leave from her from looking at his face, "So Naruto, Hinata states that you've been looking for some answers for genjustu?" Kurina says.
Nodding, he grabs a chair nearby, and takes a deep breath, "Kurenai-sensei, can you teach me how to do genjustu?"
Well there we go, again I apologize for being late.
This week was busy, and I was burning up with fever for two days, I don't know if that's suppose to happen when you get a tetnious shot, but that's basically what happened.
Until next week, and i'll make sure to be on time this time.
Cheers