DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO (MAYBE IN SOVIET RUSSIA, NARUTO OWNS YOU HAHA)
Ch.32 - Sly Fox
A couple of days had passed, and Team 10 had returned to Konoha. However, Shino and Ino were still recovering and not yet at full strength to resume their duties. Naruto, on the other hand, had the advantage of his Uzumaki lineage and his connection with his tenant, which helped expedite his recovery.
Shino and Ino woke up in the inn, slowly regaining their energy. Asuma and Naruto were there to support them on the journey back to Konoha, ensuring they didn't push themselves too hard. The careful assistance prolonged their travel time, but it was necessary for their well-being.
After their long journey from Mori no Kuni (Land of Forests) back to Hi no Kuni (Land of Fire) and finally to Konoha (The Hidden Leaf), Naruto and Asuma took a well-deserved break to rest. The following day, both of them felt ready to resume their activities. However, upon checking for additional missions, they discovered that there were none available at that moment.
Not willing to waste the day, Asuma suggested that they train instead. Naruto enthusiastically agreed, eager to improve his skills.
- At The Training Grounds -
"For the last time, Naruto... Your hands are fine, they just look like they're on fire, so calm down," Asuma patiently explained to Naruto.
Naruto had been repeatedly canceling the Katon: Moeru Ken no Jutsu (Fire Release: Burning Fists Technique) out of fear, wasting unnecessary chakra. Asuma sighed at Naruto's antics, sometimes finding him smart and other times a bit of an idiot. He couldn't quite decipher what was going on inside Naruto's mind.
"Cast the jutsu again, and don't worry about burning your hands and arms. Trust me," Asuma reassured him.
Naruto nodded, taking a deep breath as he prepared to perform the jutsu once more. "Katon: Moeru Ken no Jutsu (Fire Release: Burning Fists Technique)," Naruto exclaimed, igniting his fists in flames. Anxious about his flaming hands, he hesitated.
"Hold it, Naruto. Don't cancel the jutsu. You've got this; it's just a mental hurdle," Asuma encouraged him.
Gradually, Naruto's racing heart slowed down as he realized that the flames did not harm him. Asuma was right; the fire wouldn't hurt him. Now it was a matter of concentration.
"Remember, this is similar to your Nebaiken (Sticky-Fist) style. Keep channeling chakra to your fists to maintain the jutsu. The more chakra you put into your arms, the hotter and stronger the flames will be. Any questions?" Asuma asked.
"Do I have to deactivate the jutsu to access something in my pouch? I assume the answer is yes," Naruto inquired.
"That's right. Just because your arms are immune to the fire doesn't mean other things won't catch fire. So, avoid scratching your body while the jutsu is active. Got it?" Asuma reminded him.
"Got it!" Naruto grinned, amused by the situation.
Asuma was impressed by the learning abilities of all three of his students, each with their unique approach. Shino and Ino were inclined towards conceptual understanding, while Naruto was a visual learner, thriving on a hands-on approach. At this rate, Asuma knew they would surpass him in the near future, and he was proud of their progress.
"Wanna put those flaming fists to the test?" Asuma suggested.
"You bet, Asuma-sensei!" Naruto pumped his fist excitedly.
"Just tap out if you give up, okay?" Asuma advised, to which Naruto grinned and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Alright, I'll count down from three," Asuma declared. Naruto readied himself for the impending battle.
"Three..."
"Two..."
"One..."
"Begin," Asuma declared. Naruto promptly threw a smoke bomb, disappearing from sight. He emerged from the smoke with two clones by his side. Observing this, Asuma thought that Naruto had applied the quantity-quality concept he taught them back in Mori no Kuni (Land of Forests).
"Katon: Moeru Ken no Jutsu! (Fire Release: Burning Fists Technique)" Naruto shouted, his fists ablaze. They moved in random patterns, attempting to disorient Asuma. Intrigued by Naruto's approach, Asuma smirked.
"It's on," he muttered to himself.
Asuma held his ground, waiting for Naruto and his clones to draw closer. He opted for a defensive strategy, observing how Naruto utilized his new jutsu, combining it with the Nebaiken (Sticky-Fist) style and the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique).
Naruto rushed towards Asuma, aiming a series of punches. Asuma anticipated his moves, effortlessly dodging and sidestepping the attacks. One clone used the other as a platform, performing a tornado kick.
Asuma reacted swiftly, catching the clone's leg. To his surprise, the clone's leg stuck to his hands due to the Nebaiken (Sticky-Fist) style. Undeterred, Asuma endured the burning sensation and managed to catch the clone's punch. Gritting his teeth, he pressed on, ignoring the pain.
The clone attempted a final strike with its other leg, aiming a kick at Asuma's head. Asuma used his arm's length to block the attack. Refusing to let the clone land any more hits, he delivered a knee strike, successfully dispelling the clone. Asuma then noticed one of the clones had gone missing, sensing a presence behind him. He swiftly turned around, only to find the clone launching a barrage of shurikens.
"This should be easy," Asuma thought, reaching for a kunai in his pouch. However, he soon realized the clone had performed a separate jutsu.
"Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! (Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique)" Naruto shouted, and the twelve shurikens transformed into a hundred.
"Never mind," Asuma muttered to himself. He quickly performed a series of hand seals—Tiger, Ox, Dog, Rabbit, Snake. "Futon: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)" Asuma's cheeks puffed up as he released a powerful gust of wind, blowing away all of Naruto's shurikens and dispelling the clone that threw them.
"Hey! That's not fair!" Naruto complained.
"How is that unfair? I didn't say I couldn't use jutsu. Quit complaining and keep fighting," Asuma taunted Naruto. Surprisingly, Naruto remained determined rather than getting provoked.
"Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique)" Naruto shouted, creating a horde of clones. They filled the training grounds, leaving Asuma alone in the center. "Katon: Moeru Ken no Jutsu! (Fire Release: Burning Fists Technique)" all the clones echoed simultaneously.
The clones charged at Asuma, attempting to overwhelm him with their sheer numbers. Asuma, however, knew that dispelling these clones would be relatively easy since Naruto had chosen quantity over quality.
Asuma dodged, weaved, and countered the attacks of Naruto's clones with skill. Gradually, he reduced their numbers, but more clones kept appearing. Asuma realized Naruto's patience would run out before his chakra did.
Facing an endless wave of Naruto's clones, Asuma maneuvered around the battlefield, avoiding capture. Dispersing clone after clone, Asuma realized that Naruto could keep this up all day with his immense chakra reserves. Yet, Asuma was fine with that because he knew it would take much more to defeat him. He was certain Naruto's patience would wear thin before his chakra did.
Amidst the chaos, Asuma noticed some clones encircling him. They began forming hand seals for the Katon: Housenka no Jutsu (Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu).
Preparing a countermeasure, Asuma erected four walls of earth with the Doton: Taju Doryhuheki (Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Wall) jutsu, effectively blocking each fireball. However, he left himself vulnerable from above and below. Asuma anticipated hands emerging from the ground to grab his ankles, but nothing happened. Looking up, he saw a group of clones armed with kunai. Asuma dispelled his earth-style jutsu to escape, creating an opening as the walls crumbled. The first few clones missed, but the rest pursued him. Asuma used taijutsu to deal with them, successfully dispelling most.
Asuma's senses were momentarily caught off guard as he detected an impending attack from behind. Reacting swiftly, he unleashed a powerful kick, propelling Naruto through the air until he collided with a sturdy tree. A resonating crack reverberated through the surroundings, and Asuma's realization dawned upon him with a pang of regret: his kick had been far too forceful, connecting with the genuine Naruto.
"Crap," Asuma muttered under his breath, hastening to Naruto's side. He knelt down, concern etching his features. "Naruto, are you alright? I thought you were a mere clone back there..."
Naruto's eyes snapped open, a mischievous smirk gracing his face as he grasped Asuma's arm. Unexpectedly, arms emerged from the earth's depths, latching onto Asuma's ankles and ensnaring him in an unforeseen trap.
"What the...?" Asuma exclaimed, caught off balance by the sudden turn of events.
"I-I haven't tapped out yet, Asuma-sensei, hehe..." Naruto retorted, determination gleaming in his eyes.
As their dialogue continued, Naruto's senses alerted him to yet another presence descending from above. A clone materialized, brandishing a kunai in its hand. Asuma's instinctual reflexes saved the day as he executed a flawlessly timed body replacement technique, causing the clone to impale a mere log. However, the peril was far from over, for a shuriken promptly found its mark, dispersing the arms that had snared Asuma.
Naruto, meanwhile, found himself gradually sinking into a treacherous mire of thick, neck-deep mud. An opponent had cunningly employed a jutsu, binding him within the clutches of the Doton: Sokonashi Numa (Earth Release: Bottomless Swamp).
"You sly fox..." Asuma remarked, acknowledging Naruto's cunning maneuver.
"Damn it..." Naruto grumbled, his struggle to extricate himself from the clinging mud proving arduous.
"Do not be too hard on yourself, Naruto. You have performed admirably. I must confess, your resourcefulness has left me impressed. Nevertheless, you could have sustained serious injuries in that precarious situation," Asuma remarked, his genuine concern for Naruto palpable.
"Y-Yeah... I knew it was a huge gamble, but it almost worked, hehe," Naruto chuckled, acknowledging the peril he had willingly placed himself in.
"Well, does it hurt?" Asuma inquired, his attention drawn to Naruto's evident discomfort.
"A bit..." Naruto admitted, the ache in his voice betraying his discomfort.
"Let us get you to the hospital for an examination. And if its nothing serious, how about we go grab some lunch together?" Asuma proposed, extending a gesture of camaraderie.
"Alright then, lunch is on me. Where would you like to eat?" Asuma asked, lending a helping hand to free Naruto from the clutches of the clinging mud.
"Is that even a question, Asuma-sensei?!" Naruto exclaimed, his excitement bubbling forth.
Asuma sighed, fully aware of Naruto's insatiable appetite. "Ichiraku Ramen it is," he conceded, a warm smile gracing his face as he realized his wallet would soon bear the weight of their culinary indulgence.
- At Ichiraku Ramen -
Seated at the counter of the modest eatery, Naruto eagerly anticipated the arrival of his all-time favorite dish: Miso Char Siu Ramen. It had been a while since he last savored the flavors of this delectable meal. During their mission in the Land of Forests, he had been reduced to subsisting on instant ramen, which only heightened his longing for a steaming bowl of ramen.
"One order of Shoyu Ramen and one order of Miso Char Siu. I made it just the way you like it, Naruto-kun, super-sized with extra toppings!" Ayame cheerfully announced.
Asuma, fully aware that footing the bill for Naruto's lunch would undoubtedly strain his wallet, brushed aside any concerns. He believed that Naruto deserved this treat after everything he had been through. Asuma had heard accounts from Kunio and Misaki about Naruto's exceptional leadership skills during their mission. Knowing that Naruto had taken charge and devised plans for their escape from the fortress filled Asuma with pride. He recognized Naruto's immense potential as a great shinobi. However, his thoughts were interrupted by a loud slurp accompanied by a satisfied exhale. Asuma turned to see Naruto already finishing his first bowl, leaving him astounded.
"How in the world did you manage to devour that bowl of ramen so quickly, Naruto? And it was super-sized as well, and I haven't even touched my own yet," Asuma remarked.
"You alright, Asuma-sensei? You better eat your ramen or it'll get cold" Naruto quipped, his mouth still partially full.
"I'm fine, though if Ino was here, she'd smack you for talking with your mouth full" Asuma remarked
"Well it's a good thing she's not here, but I do wonder how she and Shino are doing," Naruto expressed, a hint of concern in his voice.
"I'm sure they're doing fine. They just need a little time," Asuma assured him.
"But aren't they better now? I haven't heard from them since we arrived here days ago," Naruto questioned, seeking clarity.
Asuma let out a sigh and proceeded to explain the situation to Naruto. "It's not that they're physically unwell; it's emotional. Fighting against Kimimaro took a toll on all three of you. I can understand how that could be demoralizing, especially for those who believed they were making significant progress, only to realize they still have much to learn. Does that make sense?" Asuma clarified.
"I guess so. Should I go visit them?" Naruto pondered.
"I don't see why not. In fact, it could be helpful," Asuma encouraged.
"Alright! That's settled. Tomorrow, I'll visit them, starting with Ino!" Naruto declared, a foxy smile gracing his face. Asuma couldn't help but smile as well, appreciating Naruto's quick recovery from their recent mission. He hoped that Naruto's optimism would have a positive influence on his teammates.
"Another order of Miso Char Siu, oversized with extra toppings!" Ayame announced once again.
"Thanks, Ayame-neechan! And thank you too, Asuma-sensei! Hehe," Naruto expressed his gratitude before eagerly digging into his second bowl of ramen.
Asuma chuckled nervously as he clung to his wallet, silently hoping that Naruto's voracious appetite would be sated with the third serving of ramen.
(A/N: Hey there, so remember the part where Kimimaro stabbed Naruto's clone and it didn't dispel? Yeah... I forgot to add the part where Asuma taught him the concept of making durable clones, brain fart right there haha. I already fixed it so yeah. I also removed Kirigakure in the upcoming Chunin Exams, I misunderstood the wiki, I thought Konoha and Kiri were on good terms since Yagura was replaced with Mei back then but apparently not so yeah. Also, that's it for this chapter, Naruto trying out different kinds of jutsus but don't worry, I won't give him too much. I mean we all try different things and see what works and what doesn't, this is exactly that, Naruto's trial and error phase of what works for him and stuff like that. I also think I'll be separating the TLASC mini-series from this fic after a week but it is connected since I mentioned Team 10's return to Konoha in the beginning there, it will be mainly world-building stuff, I plan on doing a lot of it cause the Naruto world is so rich of unexplored things that we didn't see much of or didn't receive any explanation or something. Anyway, I hope y'all liked this chapter, my eye is feeling a bit better now haha. Show me some love, RnR if you'd like, and yeah, cheers! ^^)