Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, or anything other than my OCs.
Kakashi stood stiffly before the Memorial Tablet. It was not an unusual activity but there was just one unusual guest glaring at his backside. Kakashi knew without turning around. The young heir of the Saizo Clan was glaring daggers into the back of his head as he awaited a response.
The copy ninja never taught his famous lightning blade to anyone but Sasuke. It was for a good reason. Plus, no one cared enough to beg and plead with him to teach it against his will. There were plenty of other possible moves a person could learn and there were a plethora of other teachers to learn from and yet Kai was set on learning the Raikiri from Kakashi. If there was one thing the older jonin respected, it was Kai's self-awareness. He knew exactly what he wanted.
Unable to handle the discomfort, Kakashi glanced back at the young ninja over his shoulder, "I'm still thinking about it."
"And I'll be right here when you decide." The blond declared, "So you can start teaching me right away."
"If I decide not to teach you, you wasted all your time just sitting here." The copy ninja muttered, "Why don't you go do some other training while you wait?"
There was a pause in the conversation that made Kakashi turn to fully face the young ninja with a curious gaze. The hot tempered Kai was sure to respond to a suggestion like that with malice and yet, Kai was still and stoic.
"There's no one else I can learn from." Kai's eyes were burning with certainty, "As a ninja, I believe that I can only learn something from someone in a position like yours."
"A position like mine?" Kakashi knew better than to take the bait and yet it was happening, "What do you mean?"
"A person who stands in a position ahead and above me."
The copy ninja was more than surprised to hear the young heir of the Saizo Clan lower himself in front of another person. The arrogant jonin of just a few weeks ago was nowhere to be seen. Kai was a changed man.
"So I want to learn from you; the ninja that has earned the respect and trust of so many."
"You've never thought of me that way before. Why the sudden change?"
The corner of the young man's lips curved upwards just the smallest bit, "Because you've earned the respect and trust of a woman I want to stand next to. I used to feel like I was already standing next to her but in recent times, I feel like I've actually been chasing after her from behind all this time. So I want to learn from you, a person that stands in a position ahead and above me, a person who is standing that much closer to her position."
"Kai, I'm not teaching you the Raikiri so you can impress Kori." The older man sighed at the flustered bout of denial that came from the young shinobi, "But I think I know you a little better than that at this point. Why the Raikiri? There are plenty of other techniques to learn and there are plenty of other things you could do with your talent. You've never asked me to teach you much before, so why now?"
"I told you." Kai smirked, "I want to stand next to them. My team, my comrades, my friends are striving to reach new heights and learn new techniques. They've gone so far as to leave the village and risk their lives in places they've never been before. I want to earn the right to continue to be their teammate. Our most recent failure has shown me a lot of truths and I want to find more truths. So yes, I can learn any technique but I don't want just any technique. I want the Raikiri so that I can protect my team without hesitation! And I'm asking you to teach me now because I haven't asked you before! An opportunity I've lost in the past won't come to me twice but I've been lucky enough to have always had you hovering around. I won't miss this opportunity without a fight!"
The passion in the young shinobi's voice was enough for Kakashi's strict mind to waver to a time that has long since passed. The original purpose of the Raikiri was to protect friends and loved ones. That purpose was just screaming out from Saizo Kai's entire being. There was a split second where Kakashi was starting to think Kai could more effectively use his technique to its full potential with his mentality.
The white-haired jonin let out a long sigh, "I won't let you back out halfway. I expect you to be serious, even if my training breaks you."
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle to himself at the small revelation of the normal, day-to-day Kai's attitude, "I'll send Pakkun to you once I've decided a location but don't forget your promise. Once your team returns, I'll thoroughly test your ability to use the technique safely. If you can't, I'll have you swear on your position as the heir of the Saizo Clan that you'll obediently keep the technique sealed away."
"I would never go back on my own promises so don't go back on yours. I'll be waiting for Pakkun then!" Kai declared as he hurried back into the village to prepare for their training session.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Snowy Peak was a terrible place. Hyuga Kori had determined it almost immediately upon leaving Konoha. With a name like Snowy Peak, she should have known it was constantly buffeted by blizzards and icy winds. She was poorly prepared for the cold temperature of this legendary training ground.
"Kori-sama." Rokuro circled her, unfazed by the freezing winds, "We must continue to climb before dark."
"Why couldn't he reverse summon me to the top of the mountain?!" The Hyuga wailed as she looked up at the daunting peaks ahead, "You couldn't tell me to bring a jacket?!"
"You must climb the mountain to meet the Sage of Tigers." Rokuro claimed, "That is if you want to learn our techniques. It's a rite of passage. Anyone who cannot survive the climb is abandoned. Come along now."
"This technique… What is it anyway?" She had to wonder what kind of miraculous technique could be worth all the cold and soreness of climbing a mountain range like this one.
"It's a set of techniques specialized to each of our ambassadors. I'm sure there's something you have that your peers do not. We will enhance that."
"... You mean my Byakugan?"
Rokuro snorted, "Kori-sama, your kekkei genkai will pale in comparison to the Sage Arts we will teach you in your time here."
"You're being so vague with me, Rokuro."
"I apologize. I will explain from the beginning." He padded comfortably alongside his less comfortable master, "Like I said, you were able to summon me due to your innate amount of natural energy. You probably have unknowingly used senjutsu chakra up until now."
"Senjutsu chakra?"
"Senjutsu chakra is a mix of nature energy with your own chakra. Senjutsu chakra is used in the Sage Arts. And I didn't say much in front of your brother but the reason your Byakugan remains unsealed to this day is most likely because your innate energy protects it. If one is to seal your Byakugan, they would have to seal your nature energy first."
A shudder went down her spine and she was certain the cold had nothing to do with it. She paused in her long trek and glared at the white tiger, "You knew and you didn't tell me?"
"It's only a guess. I had no way of being certain. Forgive me, Kori-sama."
Her continuing steps were heavy but she knew why she was here. She was here to get stronger not to deal with her own emotional scars, "I understand. So my senjutsu chakra… How do I get rid of it?"
"You cannot." Rokuro looked disgusted at the very thought, "It is part of you. It is a gift many would kill to obtain. Senjutsu chakra is unique to each individual because it is a blend of one's own chakra with nature energy. It makes you who you are. If that power protects your kekkei genkai then it has already established that your kekkei genkai is part of what makes you who you are."
"Well if I can't get rid of it then what do I do with it?" She grumbled, feeling torn between the conflict of her clan and the will of her own body.
"You seem to have already been using it." Rokuro prompted her to move up the icy slope faster, "That's how you called me."
"... But I don't know how…"
He purred, "That's not of importance. We will be happy to teach you how to continuously add it to your techniques but you seem to have been doing it already. Your adequacy in ninjutsu is attributed to your use of the senjutsu chakra."
"What?" The young Hyuga had never thought that her ninjutsu was enhanced by some other strength. She had learned it on her own and she had learned through hard training and endless practice, "That's not possible."
"Anything is possible with senjutsu chakra. You're aware that chakra has types, correct? Your typing seems to fit well with our Sage Arts. Suiton (Water-Style) jutsus are heavily enhanced by our particular speciality in Sage Arts. I will demonstrate." Rokuro only paused for one or two moments before the flicker of his tail returned, "Watch carefully."
The white tiger's tail swung to the left and then to the right before pausing. The snow began to shift and gather beneath Rokuro's mighty paws, elevating the beast to a new height. Just as it had come, the snow flattened out once more. A second later the snow began to circle between the two of them and roll into a sphere and then another. The two spheres shifted to stack up on top of one another.
"Snowman." The tiger purred, delighted with his own demonstration, "The control of snow makes us so much more superior to those snakes or toads."
The Hyuga didn't know whether or not she should be scolding his arrogance or applauding the strange demonstration. Certainly the snow had moved on its own but how would that help her in combat?
"This is just one among many of our traditional arts." He continued, ignoring the odd look on his master's face, "Heightened senses, impossible strength, speed beyond measure, and more can all be yours to wield if our training is successful."
It sounded like a shady advertisement but she had come this far with hopes held high. There's no way she could turn back at this point, or so she told herself, as she continued with him to the top of the mountain.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
"There you go!" Kankuro threw his arms up in celebratory glee at the motion of the two puppets his student had finally managed to move towards opposite targets with great skill, "You managed in two days! You're definitely not some genius but you're not slow either!"
Toshizo laughed awkwardly, "Thanks? I think."
"It's praise. It's praise." The puppet master grinned, assuring him it wasn't a passive aggressive slandering session, "Now let's slim down those chakra lines. You've got to focus and increase the pressure so you don't lose control."
Kankuro jumped at the nearly instantaneous shrinking of the lines connecting the puppets to their master.
"This part I can do." The younger ninja grinned, "But considering that I practice my arts with Kori-san I figured the thickness of my chakra lines didn't really matter much… Since she can see them all anyways… But I do understand it's necessary to fool normal opponents!"
"Y-Yeah…" He grumbled back, slightly taken aback by the sudden display of mastery. Feigning disinterest, he acted as if he was perfectly unaffected and changed the topic, "Anyways about that letter… Any replies yet?"
"Well…" Toshizo scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "I sent one like you said but I think I messed up. Kai-san isn't one to respond to letters that don't concern his own benefits so I sent one more. I'm sure I'll get a response this time so please just wait a little longer."
The puppet master nodded, what else could he do? But he was sure Gaara would not be happy about his unfavorable answer.
"Well whatever. Let's just get to the next part."
"Yes sir!"
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Kai stood tall before the copy ninja, "Sensei, will you really teach me the Raikiri?"
"I've told you my conditions already so yes I will teach you but I expect you to keep your promise too." The older male waited for him to nod, "Teaching this to Sasuke who wields the sharingan and teaching this to you is a completely different experience. I'll also be taking a completely different approach. Take up a kunai. Blindly charge at me with the intent to kill. As fast as you can, no restraints."
Kai was not good with weapons but, at face value, the instructions seemed simple enough. No questions asked, he drew and began his run in the same moment. Any other ninja would have been taken off guard but Kakashi was not just any other ninja. In his blind run all he saw was his target, not his target's reaction. In one swift move, the more experienced jonin snatched up the arm holding the blade and in one clean movement ducked around and behind it so that he could pull the younger male's arm behind his back.
"And that is the weakness of the Raikiri. You can't react if your opponent reacts. This is all you've got."
Straining in Kakashi's hard grip, he hissed, "'Why can't I just charge slowly?"
"Then it would be no different than what you could do with a normal knife. You should already know the merit of lighting type jutsus is the speed creates the power. This technique was made to compete with shinobi faster than Kori." The copy ninja put it the only way he knew the stubborn boy would accept, "If you go slowly, your chances of victory over something with that kind of speed is nearly zero."
Finally released, Kai huffed, "Well you make a good point. Fine. I can do it your way."
"You're a fast study so I'm sure you'll understand soon enough." He chuckled, "Let me show you the Raikiri up close."
Kai watched at full attention as the copy ninja began his signs. The chakra surged forward, crackling lightning molded into a condensed handful. The raw power was a struggle to contain for even Kakashi and then Kai knew it was all the condensation of pure power that made it impossible for him to charge slowly. Kakashi's speed was lightning fast.
If he had blinked he would have missed it but he stared on in wonder as the older male rushed forward and slammed his technique into a boulder with enough force to put a hole in it. When the man pulled his arm back, Kai could see the hole had gone elbow deep. It would easily pierce human flesh at that speed.
"Umm!" Someone called out and both males turned at the small feminine voice.
"You…?" Kai took a moment to recognize her as Toshizo's crush, "What are you doing here?"
"Umm… I was asked to deliver an important message." She mumbled, scurrying forward to hand her a scroll, "From Sunagakure."
The blond went from slightly worried to extremely irritated from just that one scroll, "Seriously? He sent me a letter from Sunagakure to ask me about Kori's stupid letters to the Kazekage?"
"Yes."
The Saizo turned and glared at Kakashi as if the copy ninja was to blame.
Kakashi chuckled, shrugging, "Tell him she's gone. She left the village yesterday to train at Snowy Peak."
"Yes sir." The girl scurried away without looking back, obviously scared of the deadly glare from her peer.
"You couldn't have been more obvious." The copy ninja cracked a smile underneath his mask when the blond mumbled incoherent insults under his breath. Watching Kai like this, he almost thought that this is what Asahina would have been like if she was male. It was a strange thought he shooed away before it could become too awkward.
"I can't believe that stupid Toshi."
"What?"
"He's keeping in contact with her… I thought he was too afraid to even talk to her just a while ago." The blonde grumbled, kicking at an innocent pebble with too much force, "I hate him."
"Just because you're a chicken doesn't mean everyone is."
Kai turned on the older man with full on surprise on his face as if to say 'did you really just say that to me?'
Kakashi simply shrugged and urged Kai to give the Raikiri a go.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Pure hatred clouded Yui's thoughts as she watched the Sand siblings converse through the window. Her mastery of lip reading basically let her listen in without a problem.
"Would you focus, Kankuro?" Temari demanded, her hands reaching for a nearby stack of papers, "We have so much work to do and you're over there thinking about a girl?!"
"She's not just any girl!" The puppet master complained, "You know Kori's special!"
"If it doesn't bother Gaara then why are you so bothered by it?" She huffed, "You would think she's your lover."
The Kazekage finally looked up from his documents, "Kankuro. Temari. Stop arguing and read. If you have no such intentions then at least leave me in peace."
"Oh come on! Don't act like you don't care." Kankuro sighed, "Am I the only one who thinks this is why she doesn't reply to you?"
Gaara's eyes shifted once more from the documents to his older brother.
"Now you're listening?! Jeez."
"You already said you asked Toshizo to find out for you so stop slacking off and get to your work!" Temari barked, glaring when her brother grumbled some complaints at her but the argument ended there in favor of work.