Disclaimer – Kishimoto owns Naruto and the characters therein.
I've borrowed the names of Tenten's family from the story New Beginnings, New Fate (ID 3747052)
Regarding Naruto's progress, when he gets competent help, he learns incredibly fast. In canon, Kakashi was not a good teacher, hence slow progress.
Also, since we're in the first week of the story (and I'm on holiday), I'm doing faster-than-planned updates this week. Enjoy!

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Memories Of Others

Chapter 3

Equipping Of A New Genin

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"There he is!" Hinata said and Kurenai blinked.

"He seems… nervous."

The subject of their conversation turned as they approached and Kurenai's eyes widened slightly as she realized what was different about him. Naruto wasn't wearing his normal orange jacket while his trousers were dark blue civilian-wear, totally unsuited to combat training.

"Kurenai-san, Hinata…" Naruto said in greeting, one hand rubbing the back of his head. "Ummm, hi?"

"Naruto." Kurenai said in return. "You seem… less relaxed than yesterday."

"Yeah, I… kinda found out something…" Naruto admitted, "But I'm not a perv or anything like that! I just didn't know it would happen and by the time I worked it out, it had already finished and so I…"

"NARUTO!"

Naruto stiffened to attention at Kurenai's shout. "…hai?"

"Just… tell us briefly what happened. No excuses, no opinions, just the facts."

"I kinda got Hinata-chan's clone's memories when she dismissed it yesterday…" Naruto half-whispered. "And I didn't realize Sakura could be that mean. You totally aren't a timid little mouse. Heck, you're awesome at…"

"Wait a minute." Kurenai said slowly. "You're saying you got the memories too?"

"Too?" Hinata and Naruto chorused.

"Hinata got the memories when her clone dispelled." Kurenai explained slowly, her mind flicking through what the newest revelation meant.

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"…so don't try it with anyone unless they know about this and give permission. Alright?" Kurenai sighed and Naruto nodded. "Okay. Now… those clothes won't hold up to any real training, so…"

"About that, I was hoping Hinata could help me pick out new ones." Naruto interrupted, pulling out a frog-shaped wallet stuffed full of ryo from one of his pouches. "I mean, I don't want to hurt her eyes every time I make loads of clones and Hinata sees colors way better than me, I didn't even realize that my trousers and jacket were different shades until I got her memories of it. I spent an hour last night trying to see for myself, but I couldn't."

"Women can see more shades of color than males." Kurenai agreed. "Hinata, do you want to…?"

Hinata nodded. "I'll be happy to help, Naruto-kun."

Naruto promptly engulfed Hinata in a hug. "Thanks, Hinata-chan… Hinata? Ack! Kurenai-san! Hinata's collapsed again!"

Kurenai managed not to giggle at Naruto's panic.

"You remember what we did yesterday when Hinata collapsed?" She prompted and Naruto nodded.

"Sure thing… um, can you support her for a moment? I don't want to accidentally copy her while she's out cold…"

Kurenai held Hinata's limp form as Naruto created two clones who promptly placed Hinata on the original Naruto's back before dispelling.

"Alright. Now, since you're a shinobi now, you can shop at the shinobi-only shops." Kurenai said with a smile. "They tend to have good-quality items optimized for shionobi, since the owners have their own experience to draw upon. We'll start with Higarushi's, they do a good Young Shinobi line of reinforced clothing."

"Cool."

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"…and this is where we are going get most of your new stuff." Hinata heard as she regained consciousness to find herself being carried on someone's back. For a moment, she thought that she was being carried by Kurenai, but the hair against the side of her face was all wrong for that, yet somehow very familiar.

"Wow, cool place." Naruto's voice said and Hinata frowned mentally. It wasn't Kurenai who was carrying her and Naruto was nearb…

Hinata's thoughts hiccuped to a stop as she realized that it was Naruto who was carrying her for the second time in as many days, but before she could do anything, Naruto was speaking again.

"I think Hinata just woke up. You awake, Hinata-hime?"

"I… I am." Hinata squeaked and Naruto half-knelt, allowing her to get her feet back on solid ground. Hinata took the advantage of Naruto facing the other way to shoot Kurenai a small glare, to which the older Kunoichi responded with a bright smile, her eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Higarushi's." Hinata read from the sign above the door.

"They're very good for the basic stuff." Kurenai supplied. "Combat trousers and tops, sandals,kunai, shuriken, ninja wire, tags, all of the basic things that any well-equipped shinobi required. Come on."

Kurenai led the way into the shop and they were greeted by the young teen-aged girl behind the counter.

"Welcome to Higarushi's Weapons and Supplies. Can I help you?"

"Basic outfitting." Kurenai said, pointing to Naruto and the girl stepped out from behind the counter, circling Naruto as she looked at him with a measuring eye.

"I'd say… size four, medium length for the trousers. Those sandals still have a bit of wear in them, but I'd advise replacing them in about four weeks or so. For the top… size four as well… what's your fighting style?"

"He's a brawler." Kurenai interjected.

"Mesh-enhanced, then, to protect against slashes." The girl stated. "You want sections fourteen and thirty-two. I'd recommend at least three of each, maybe four."

"I'll get them." Hinata offered as she scampered off.

"So, weapons." The girl continued. "Let's see what you have."

Naruto pulled out a kunai and the girl flinched.

"What? I only got them a week ago." Naruto protested.

"DAAAAD!"

"What is it, Tenten?" A deep voice replied from the back.

"We need a full set of Kunai and Shuriken!"

"What?" Naruto protested as Tenten's hands seemed to blur, pulling out all of his lovingly-polished weapons and lining them up on the counter.

"I've got the clothes." Hinata said as she returned. "What's going on?"

"That's what I'd like to know." The deep-voiced man said as he stepped through the door, then his eyes latched onto the weapons on the counter.

"Ouch! Who on earth uses that?" he rumbled, picking up a Kunai and examining it. "This is bad, metal crystallisation, badly forged, no real edge, badly balanced… this would barely count as a training Kunai!"

"I paid five thousand ryo for those." Naruto grumped and both man and daughter flinched.

"Kid, you were robbed." The man stated. "The last time I saw a Kunai this bad was Tenten's first attempt at making one when she was seven, and that was before I'd taught her how it was really done. Normally a full set would set you back two thousand ryo, but if you give me the name of the moron who sold you these and let me have them as scrap, which is all they're good for, I'll halve that price."

"I got them from Shima's Shinobi Weapons." Naruto said slowly and the man nodded even as he scooped the weapons into a bag.

"Okay. In future, you need anything ninja-related, you come here and I'll treat you fair." He said. "Name's Kyougu, Higarushi Kyougu, that's my daughter Tenten."

"Gloves!" Hinata exclaimed and everyone looked at her in confusion, causing her to blush.

"What do you mean?" Kurenai asked gently.

"I… was thinking about what Naruto-kun needs." Hinata mumbled. "He blocks a lot, so something like metal-lined gloves…"

"Got just the thing." Kyougu said after taking a long look at Naruto's hands. "Wait a moment."

Kyougu vanished down one of the shop aisles, then reappeared.

"Finger-less gauntlets with overlapping metal plates on the outside." He explained, handing them over. "Open design, more bracer than gauntlet, but the metal inserts on the knuckles help you punch."

Naruto finished donning the gauntlets and took several swings, causing Tenten to flinch.

"Who taught you to fight?" She winced.

"Mizu…ki…" Naruto said, realization dawning mid-word. "He screwed up my style, didn't he? Damn him, he said it was a special style only I could use! I spent hours every day trying to make it work!"

"You'll need to inform your Sensei that you urgently require taijutsu training once you've been assigned to your team." Kurenai noted. "I saw how you fought against Hinata, your stance wasn't like anything I've ever seen before."

"Another thing to try and fix." Naruto grumped. "Why the hell did I even think the Academy was useful? Iruka was the only decent teacher there."

"Now you know of the problem, you can solve it." Kyouga stated. "The most important thing any shinobi needs to know is themselves. No lies, no delusions, just the basic truth about themselves because if someone else knows you better than you know yourself, they'll be able to manipulate you to their will no matter what you want."

Naruto gave a slow nod. "So how much for all this?"

"Two thousand ryo."

"What?" Naruto gasped. "But… the clothes… the weapons…"

"Two thousand ryo." Kyouga repeated. "You've been screwed over enough. It's time to help get you straightened up."

"Just accept it." Kurenai advised.

"Ummmm, thanks." Naruto said with a smile, then he picked up a pair of trousers and one of the armor-mesh-lined T-shirts from the pile. "Ummm, do you have somewhere I can get changed?"

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The bell above the door tinkled and the woman behind the counter looked up.

"Welcome to Silken Leaf Fashions." She chirped. "Ah, Kurenai! Here for another dress?"

"Not today, Kunikata." Kurenai said, nodding towards the two genin who had followed her in. "I'm escorting Naruto, he wants something that looks good but will stand up to combat."

Kunikata rose from behind the counter and limped round. Both genin stared at the prosthetic that had replaced her left foot and the woman smiled.

"Long skirts are not good for Kunoichis." She said in explanation and Hinata nodded in understanding. "So… any specific requests?"

"Orange?" Naruto asked. "Um, not bright orange, more darker orange 'cause orange is cool but too much can hurt the eyes and… and I'm shutting up now."

"I'd recommend putting the Uzumaki Clan crest on the shoulders of your T-shirts…" Kunikata mused. "And if you want orange… maybe a Haori? Add some inner pockets for storage and a mesh layer, it'll help to reduce injury in combat…"

Hinata nodded as Naruto glanced at her.

"Hinata-hime probably has a better idea than I do." He admitted. "However, I'd like to include this as well."

Naruto pulled out the clan-tag that he normally wore on the shoulder of his jacket and Kunikata nodded as she took it.

"Easily done, I can simply mount it on the cord that holds the Haori in place. Let me get a few measurements and I can have two complete within the hour. Leave the T-shirts as well and I'll add the crest to the shoulders. Left, right or both?"

"Left please." Hinata requested and Kunikata smiled.

"Left?" Naruto queried, then he shrugged. "I don't see a difference, so… sure. Left."

"Come back in two hours." Kunikata ordered.

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"While we're waiting, there's a few things I think I should check." Kurenai said once they'd returned to the training field. "Naruto, how well can you read?"

"Not very." Naruto sighed. "I had to teach myself, there's quite a bit I still don't understand."

"Hinata?"

Hinata blushed, but nodded. "I'll help… but it's almost time for me to go back home…"

"Maybe if you left a clone..." Kurenai mused and Hinata brightened.

"Okay." She smiled as she placed her hand on Naruto's shoulders, then she eeped as Kurenai gently pushed her into Naruto's arms.

"We don't know how much contact it needs, so let's play it safe." Kurenai explained. "Naruto? One set of clones, please."

Hinata closed her eyes as the wash of chakra flowed through her, shivering in pleasure.

"Hinata, you cold?" Naruto asked and Hinata shook her head as she stepped away from him.

"No, I was just thinking about something."

"Clone-Hinata, here's my house key. Take clone-Naruto there and start going through some of the basic books on my shelf." Kurenai ordered. "Naruto, I'd recommend practicing with your new Kunai and Shuriken… in fact, go back to Higarushi's and ask if they can help you with that. Tenten is a weapons mistress-in-training, if memory serves, and they have a training yard out the back. I'll escort Hinata to her home, then come and pick you up so that you can pick up your new clothes."

"Okay." Naruto grinned, then he hugged Hinata. "thanks, Hinata-hime. Today would have sucked without you."

"Y… you're welcome…" Hinata managed as Naruto released her and raced off. Kurenai waited for a moment to ensure that she wasn't about to faint, then touched her shoulder to get her attention.

"Let's go." She said. "You'll see him again tomorrow… and you'll get memories of teaching him later."

Hinata smiled.