Chapter 5:
What the Heck do you know? Chivalry and Training.
"…."=speaking.
'…'=thinking.
"'Inner thoughts'"=images or memories within somebody's head.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or One Piece They are the property and brainchildren of Masashi Kishimoto and Eiichiro Oda, respectively.
Team 7 had been at the Baratie for 3 weeks now, and things were running very smoothly. Each of them were making some decent money from the restaurant, plus a few bonuses for their, special skills. Zeff himself hadn't needed to replace any tables or chairs, thanks to his dining room being far quieter under Kakashi's watchful eye. While Naruto and Sasuke had reluctantly proven to be good workers, and Sakura was vastly appreciated by the guests and staff. Although Zeff still refused to teach her how to cook.
Evan Kakashi found a small measure of normalcy. His job as the bouncer only required a sharp eye and otherwise involved staying out of the way of other people. He also spent time talking with Zeff about the East Blue, learning of the World Government, the man called Gol D. Roger, and more events that sounds to be more fact than fictionized. 'Somebody creating Earthquakes, Sea monsters large enough to swallow Islands, and legally sanctioned slavery?' Kakashi was laying back in his bunk, mulling over things so alien to him. 'All without chakra, and half of those claims are only legends, at most. It hardly sounds real, and Zeff himself mentioned half of anything drawn from here-say is from anyone who hasn't seen it for themselves to pass along accurate facts.'
One night, the four ninjas even learned about a Logbook kept by Zeff.
"So, you really wrote about everything, including ordinary and boring stuff, in this book?"
"Little brat," Zeff answered in an endearing tone, "aboard my ship, not one day goes by that can be called a 'boring' one. That's true here and it was true with my pirate crew. This book," Zeff caressed the cover with one hand, "is a detailed record of my one-year journey to the Grand Line. It's a treasure I hold deeper in my heart than anything on this earth. The only record of my crew that remains, that says we all lived and surmounted so much, together, until each of them were lost in a storm. Some of the best days of my life are in these pages. I read it, sometimes, to bring back old memories."
Kakashi grew curious at the older man's wishful words, while Sasuke had a peculiar look at it, contemplative. "Have you ever thought about going back? What made you decide to leave those days behind and open a restaurant here? You're still powerful and strong, even without your leg."
A sad look came to the man's serious eyes. His face grew hard, rigid, even cold.
"Because I lost the one thing, I cared for the most on this earth. My crew were my family. They were everything to me. And I'm the only one out of us still alive."
Sasuke had to suppress a shudder, pressing his lips tight and forcing his eyes forward. Silently, a hand came to one shoulder, while somebody else made a small gasp. Zeff ignored it, yet Sakura was stealing glances at Sasuke and held her hands together at her chin, tentative.
"There's nothing to compel me to return to those seas," Zeff continued. "My restaurant here is more than all I need or want outa life. And it's got nothing to do with my missing leg at all."
"Heck, I've only brought this up, should any of you desire to read it. And you might consider beginning one of your own. A crew logbook, keeping a record of the different days, encounters and more that you find on your way back to your home."
"Why'd we do that?" Naruto questioned. "The past already happened, and if you saw it, why look back on it? Especially over any bad stuff?"
"Plenty of reason, Bratt," Zeff stood up, but didn't set his book down. "Sometimes a way to look back on your decisions can lend answers to where you're going. Plus, the best to prevent the same mistakes from repeating themselves, is to record them. Me." His eyes travelled down to Naruto, then knelt to ensure the boy could meet his eyes. "I use this to look back on my life, ensuring those I met never wind up forgotten, and enjoy a peaceful respite when things get overwhelming. No matter what somebody does, it ain't no one's place to judge them. You understand?"
Naruto thought that over, then even turned his eyes to a corner and nodded back. Those answers gave Kakashi an idea, too. 'A record of our exploits, experiences and events, right here as they happen,' Kakashi thought over. 'It couldn't hurt. And would serve as a mission report if we do return to the village after some months.'
"Well then," the Jonin spoke up. "DO, each of you wish to keep one of your own? Or a single volume that only a few of us record?"
"I like it too, sensei," Sakura volunteered. Sasuke shrugged it away and strode off, while Naruto suddenly got enthusiastic about a voyage journal, too; not to Kakashi's surprise as his two Genin started speaking about how they met the Genie and got to the Baratie.
In the end, those details, but only in broad strokes not intricate details, wound up in a logbook Sakura claimed to be in charge of.
The pinkette had also begun to slowly grow some sense of professionalism at the restaurant. Through some positive and negative experiences there. One particular event left its impact on each of the shinobi, and some closer bonds with Zeff and Sanji.
"Hello there. Welcome to the Baratie, the finest sea restaurant in all the Blues," Sakura spoke to fresh customers, menus in her hands and her memory sharp.
"Your table is at the back of the dining room, if you would follow me…"
As the girl graciously led them through the tables, she heard the doors swing open again.
"Mardy, tables 13 and 20 are free. Use them for the fresh customers," she called to a waiter without missing a beat.
Once her party were seated, the pinkette strode back to the front desk. Passing the stairs before a commotion began.
"Ghhk! What did you make this from!"
Turning her head, she spied a bowl with meatballs and hot broth flying towards her, with the stair railing in between. The projectile struck the railing, breaking to pieces and sherds[1] scattered everywhere. "Owe!" two jagged pieces cut her, one across her forehead, the other her cheek, leaving long, shallow cuts.
"I'm paying for good food here!" somebody complained. "Not to eat meatballs made of tuna guts!" A fat man, wearing a pompous baby-blue suit and filthy napkin was the source of trouble.
"I demand better food! And having my meal free of-"
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto burst from the kitchen. Hearing Sakura's shout, the Genin noticed his teammate whipping blood from her forehead. In a heartbeat, he was beside her, trying to help the girl.
Kakashi was there just as quickly. Once he saw it was a small cut, he turned towards the culprit. But…
"What. Have. You. Done?" In a chilling whisper, Sanji set aside one order, slowly, with a shadow over his eyes.
"Ah! Someone decent that I can complain to. hear me, now this is-"
"What. Have. You. Done?" Sanji stalked forward. "What. Have. You. Done?"
Sanji's stood before the culprit, unveiling a murderous glare from beneath his hair. The cook seized the fop by the face, hoisting him off his feet with one arm.
"It took me 2 whole days of preparation to make that dish. Do you see anybody else displeased with my cooking? Now, that good food, it has sherds of tableware scattered in it. It's become dangerous to eat."
"But even worse," snarling, Sanji resembled a ferocious tiger. "That girl, Sakura-chan, has given this restaurant nothing but hard work and good decisions. Now, that young lady is hurt, especially one so sweet, kind, and dedicated. Her injuries were caused by you!"
His leg snapped up, and what followed, was a beat-down the devil would blush to watch.
"WHAT-KIND-OF-MONSTER-!" with every word a kick accompanied it. "HURTS-A-YOUNG-LADY!"
"Sanji!" Patty's voice rang through the dining room. "That's too far! This time-"
"Look at Sakura!"
"Huh?" the burly cook gawked, then eyes caught the girl, with tears swelling around blood streaking down her face.
Patty went silent, as did more staff walking out.
"That bastard threw his food away!" Naruto yelled, "It's bowl broke and the pieces cut into Sakura. It's all his fault."
"Why'd you hoggin' him, Sanji!" Patty charged, with one fist cocked back. He sunk it dead-center in the offender's chest, knocking all the wind out of him.
All the patrons watched, petrified or smirking at the unsavory man's comeuppance. Even Sasuke had come in to see the commotion.
"COOKS!" Zeff's roar echoed through the dining room. "You all outa know better. What's this filthy stain doing in my restaurant!?"
"We aren't done with him, yet, Geezer," Sanji hissed. "Yeah, this bum's owed a beatin' chef." Patty agreed. "Where's your care for Sakura, kneeling there in pain?" Zeff barked back, glaring at them, both cooks withered, guiltily. They noticed Kakashi was hustling Sakura upstairs, and the Jonin met Zeff's eyes, with the latter nodding to him. "You boys and I'll speak later," he ordered Sanji and Patty. "For now, tenderize that imbecile so I can fillet him properly!"
5 minutes later, the patron was flying out of the restaurant, with nearly every bone in his body, broken.
Sanji and Zeff nodded at their handiwork and subtly dusting their feet off. The former took out a cigarette, lit a fresh smoke, and walking back inside he found a boy kneeling at his feet.
"That…was…so…cool!" Naruto's head rose, his eyes sparkling like priceless sapphires, filled with awe and admiration.
"Please! Teach me how to do that! How to beat up other guys that hurt Sakura-chan. I wanna be great and strong like you, believe it!"
"Hm," Sanji replied, his curly eyebrow twitching. "You wanna learn how to fight, and protect a lady? Sure, I'll teach you-"
"Hey, little punk!" Zeff called over them.
"What, geezer!"
"What do you think you're doing, offering to teach a brat!? I'm the chef around here, 'less you forget. You get back into the kitchen, and don't go tutoring anyone, anything. That'll only happen under my approval. You hear me?"
Glaring in return, Sanji nodded then strode off for the staircase. Zeff was behind him. Both found Kakashi kneeling down beside Sakura, dabbling gauze over the cuts while a second Naruto stood beside him, handing out bandages and cleaning up the blood. The Cheff stomped over and gently tapped Sakura's chin to get a closer look. "Awww, that must sting, poor girl. I'm sorry. And smart on you both," Zeff complemented Kakashi and the clone. "An open wound like this in a kitchen, just a drop on one table would cost us a whole day's worth of meals."
"Girl, you take this day off, and keep those cuts clean. Brat," Zeff looked over at the Naruto beside him. "You wanna learn Black leg style? Be ready tonight, and you can be learning from eggplant and me."
"Really?" Naruto, the both of them, exclaimed. "Hh. You think I'd joke around about fighting?" With that promise, the real Naruto seize Zeff in a hug. It took a bit to unravel the boy, but Sakura's head wound was still bleeding, hence Sanji volunteered to guide her upstairs. While that happened, however, Zeff's iron grip seized Kakash by his collar, dragging the Jonin upstairs to the chef's office.
"Alright. Listen up, you lazy brat." Turning to meet his eyes, Kakashi grew tense at the aggression Zeff had towards him.
"Whadoya think you're doing with these kids? I thought I told you how dangerous the Grand Line was. Did you even listen to me?"
"Umm. Yes," Kakashi cocked his head, confused. "You mentioned how chaotic things could be, but I'm sure some additional training we've done will–"
With a crash, Zeff's wooden stump drove into the wall near the Jonin's head. "What training?!" Off-guard, and with splinters of wood flying, Kakashi made the mistake of closing his single right eye, and felt a solid blow land near his ear.
"You've been doing squat!" Zeff barked. "You honestly think you're ready for that sea!? For those kids to survive it!?" Another kick came, this one for the Ninja's arm. Then and another, another, another...after several minutes, Zeff was left panting. While Kakashi's face was slightly bruised, after dodging most of Zeff's kicks but still hit a few.
"You—hhhh…hhhh….-damn it, I'm getting old," bending over his tired knees, Zeff nevertheless still had a burning glare fixed on Kaakshi. "You-really think those-he…hhhh….those kids are ready for the Grand Line!?...hhhhh…hhhh."
After a few moments to catch his breath, the Head-chef stood tall, chastising the lazy Jonin.
"The chaos of that sea always dwarfs any war elsewhere. You may have been safe where you used to be, but that's changed, completely, you cyclops brat. Should you head to the Grand Line tomorrow, with those kids with you, the four would end up dead in under a week."
"Were it up to me, none of those kids would set foot on that sea until they were 18, at least! But I can tell asking you and them to wait until that long to reach home would only drum up too much indigestion. You want them to keep alive, you need to prepare them for the dangers coming up to face them."
Kakashi groaned at the lecture.
"I agree, your stories certainly mean the Grand Line is a dangerous place." He tried placating the chef. "But they shouldn't be any worse than what the Great Ninja Wars, or the Chunin Exams in our home could grow to. My Genin will be able to handle it." His voice held casual confidence. Before getting, displaced, a mission we did a short time before went badly. But Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke didn't break. Plus, they learn quickly. Should they be heading there alone, then I'd have my doubts. But that's not the case. I am here, and won't let any of them die, plus they can still grow along the way. So we will be prepared."
Zeff hesitated at that proclamation. A slight, deadly glint in Kakashi's eyes sent a message to the chef. Still, the man wasn't going to let things be. "Really?" Sitting back, Zeff did not change his gaze towards Kakashi. "Is that what happened to all of your old friends who died on your watch?"
The Jonin froze….…..his blood turning cold at the accusation. Growing into an icy blue haze, even spilling chakra-laced killing intent towards Zeff.
The chef didn't buckle, he wasn't even bothered by the presence. "I can tell you blame yourself for their deaths, Kakashi," the chef spoke. "Whoever they were. I don't know what happened, and I'm not asking to know."
"But if you take those kids to the Grand Line as they are now. Without any real fighting skills or the power to stand on their own. Then you'll only kill yourself trying to keep 'em alive, and leave 'em leaderless to make it back to their home."
"They need to prepare for what's waiting on that sea. Especially after neglecting to teach Naruto anything!"
Another kick came, this one to the floor, though, not at Kakachi. "You've been working that water walking power with them for weeks, but never thought to do that same with Naruto! What kind of teacher ignores their own students that blatantly!?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Well, the cooks have been crowding Naruto, every night, to see his sexy jutsu. Sasuke and Sakura are always embarrassed or angry at it, so instead of fighting the inevitable, I wanted to keep them separated to stop any fights from springing up. Plus, he hasn't asked me for any new skills, so I don't believe he has the motivation to train right now."
"Hmmmm." The Chef derogatorily snorted. "That excuse is flimsy, at best, you ask me, brat. Why not leave one of his clones to entertain my cooks, then take the real one aside and work with 'em? And Naruto's a kid. Of course he ain't got much discipline or dedication. And he ain't gonna grow it outa thin air. Those are traits a teacher needs to give him. Even pound it into his head."
"That brat Sanji always wanted to look at women when he was that age, so I had to whack several lessons about priorities into his thick skull! Now you have to do the same, and any excuses will only cause those kids to die."
Kakashi opened his mouth…then closed it. A moment later, he tried again. But the words to refute this case died in his throat. 'Teaching them good habits and discipline? My own teammates and sensei already had that when we came together, and back then I prided myself on being more dedicated and focused than anyone else. Might Guy, Asuma, Hayate, Yugao, all of them had good training, else they wouldn't have graduated from the academy, or passed the real Genin test. But…Naruto or Sakura. Lord Third spoke of how Sasuke is already studious. But I just assumed that—"
"Bring Sasuke-brat and Sakura out tonight when I start training Naruto." Zeff cut into his musings. "I ain't doing your job for you, brat. And there are a few things you all can learn that would defiantly benefit anybody.
The chef planted his stump on Kakashi's chest.
"Got it, you grey-hound, punk?"
Kakashi was quiet for some minutes. Then gave an answer.
0…...…..0
4 hours later, the restaurant was spotless; all from Naruto's enthusiasm to start learning. Zeff made good on his promise, raising the fins around his establishment to start teaching the boy.
Sanji was present as well, and Kakashi brought Sasuke and Sakura along, as promised. And Zeff started speaking, with his arms folded and looking straight for Naruto. "So. You wanna learn how to fight like Sanji can, brat?"
"Ya-Ya-Ya. I really do. He's so cool!" Zeff grinned. 'Kid's got enthusiasm. It's a start. And he'll need some decent fighting skills for the Grand Line."
"Well then. Pay attention to me, and so should Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi," the chef glanced at the other Ninjas. "Listen-up. I've been watching all of you for a while. Including how you ninjas use those strange powers, and the training Sasuke and Sakura have been doing at night. You guys all have one commonality that is crucial to your skills, and something that you always put at risk." Each of them turned their eyes at Zeff, however-
"WHAT! What Training!?" Naruto cried out in betrayal.
"Be quiet, brat." Zeff scolded him, joined with a light tap with his peg leg, on Naruto's crown.
"While you've been fooling around turning into a naked girl every night, your sensei was teaching the other two some new skills."
"Naruto." Kakashi spoke-up. "I'm the one to blame," he confessed, "for not telling you. Sasuke and Sakura were very, perturbed by, how popular your sexy-jutsu is with the cooks. So I decided to keep you each separate and prevent any hostile incidents like the ones in Hamna Village. But, it was unfair to leave you out of this training; so I will begin to teach you the same skills they were developing tomorrow. Alright?"
Naruto gapped at his teacher. It was one…of the rare…rare occasion when someone else gave any kind of apology to him in his life. While Sasuke and Sakura glanced down, slightly admonished at the memories of their talks with Kakashi weeks ago.
"O—Okay, sensei," Naruto mumbled. "Yeah, let's get started right now. No place worrying about something, not nothing, ya know!" the blonde replied.
"Now then," Zeff took back control of the session. "As I was saying. Each of you got some impressive skills and powers. Heck, maybe even more than what I've seen since there ain't been a real fight here at all since you arrived. But, from Naruto's shadow clones, to how each time you walk on the ceiling, all of you have to use your hands to make different shapes and put those powers to use, correct?"
"That's right," Sakura answered. Followed by a textbook explanation about chakra and ninjutsu. Which Zeff patiently waited through, since Sakura was a girl.
"Next time just jump to the hand-signs part, Sakura. All the extra crap was irrelevant here. Anyways," Zeff continued, unfolding his arms. "I get the gist that you depend on these hand-signs to use these 'jitsu' you talked about."
"Jutsu, Chef Zeff."
"The point is, you depend on your hands to use them," Zeff drew his own limbs to eye level. "But, if your hands were cut. If they get damaged, or worse, you lost a hand entirely, then all of your skills would be lost with them. Tell me. Can you use any of those powers with just a single hand?"
Three of the Leaf Shinobi shuffled, uncomfortably. While Naruto was scrunching his face, thinking about using certain jutsu and how two hands could be used.
"Hm. Yes, we can," Sasuke spoke up. Calling everyone's attention to him.
"It would be very difficult, to put it mildly. But some ninjas can weave hand-signs using only one hand. One adversary we encountered before, Haku, was able to do it. Still, you make a decent point. So what-"
"WHAAATTT! Haku Could Make Hand-signs With Just One Hand!?" A certain blonde, inattentive loudmouth cried in shock.
Sakura and Sasuke blinked, while Kakashi was more reasonable.
"Hhhh. That's right. We didn't tell you, did we Naruto?" The Jonin replied, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Well Haku really—"
"Enough!" Zeff proclaimed. "You're moving this lesson off-topic, brat. My point, your hands are important to use these powers that you've got. But, if any of you throw a punch or use hands to fight anyone, you put them in danger and risk sacrificing such skills far too recklessly."
"That is why Sanji and I are going to teach you the basics of my own black-leg fighting style."
"Now, you all know that I was called 'Red-foot Zeff,' once upon a time. This nickname had a reason behind it. I would only fight using my feet, and even now I continue to with my peg leg. Under no conditions will I use my hands for anything save my craft as a cook. The name 'Red-foot' came from how hard I would kick someone, staining my boots bright red with the blood of any adversary idiot enough to stand in my way."
The man's serious tone left the Genin stunned. Even Kakashi was impressed, recalling the power behind the man's kicks.
"However, all of that was done for a very specific reason," Zeff continued, raising his hands to the air.
"It was a means to protect these precious hands. I'm a cook. If I ruin my hands, there would be no way for me to do anything in a kitchen. Ruining your hands in battle is the end of one's life as a cook."
Dropping his hands to his pockets, the chef fixed each ninja with a hard stare.
"Is it hard to see how this condition applies to you lot as ninjas? If any of you throw an attack from your hands, you risk losing a finger or your entire hands against a skilled enemy. Even using a blade carries the same kind of danger to you. So, learning my way to fight, the Black-Leg Style, will be more than ideal for you all. Do you agree, Kakashi?"
As everyone turn to the Jonin, the man's eye retained a neutral appearance. He removed his hands from their pockets holding open palms before him and eyeing them both carefully. Then Kakashi moved his gaze to his own feet, shuffling one, then the other. This continued for several moments until Kakashi glanced at his students before facing Zeff with new respect.
"Fundamentally, you make a strong case Chef Zeff. The concept of fighting with solely one's legs would be quite practical. And it presents some new opportunities for training right now. However, there is one shortcoming that is more crippling for Shinobi than cooks."
"You may emphasize protecting your hands," Kakashi elucidated, "but can still move around and be a first-class chef with a missing leg. We do not really have that kind of luxury, and many shinobi careers have been cut short by the loss of a leg.[2] Even Ninjas who have only one hand or a single arm can still use weapons, or function in separate roles. Should anyone lose their leg, their ninja career has died."
"We favour stealth and mobility more than power. Your technique sounds like it'll leave our legs a little too exposed to be completely transferable to Ninja-arts."
Zeff's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Hmm. I can see you ain't as lazy or complacent as you seem to be, brat. Valid point, I'll tip my hat to them. But few things in life are ever perfect. Those shortcomings by risking your own legs are always present, but enough training and preparation can limit such risk. Something that holds true for nearly any skill a person learns. No different from a cook burning their hands in the kitchen, or losing a finger. Awareness and experience leave such options, manageable."
Kakashi silently mulled over Zeff's opinions and found he agreed with them.
"Alright. I suppose there's nothing that can be lost from trying to learn these Black-leg-style skills from you. If I could make one request, though. Could Sanji take Naruto and begin to train him personally. While Sakura and Sasuke stay here with us?"
Zeff nodded, while Naruto shouted in unfairness.
"Why, Kakashi-sensei!? Are you giving them special treatment just because of the extra training!? That's really unfair. If you'd told me about it, then I'd have been here even before them and ready to learn, believe it!"
The Jonin sighed, mildly frustrated at the boy's habit of jumping around.
"Naruto, I'm not being completely unfair," he tried mollifying his charge. "I figured I'm the only one who can train with Sakura out of everyone here without being kicked to a pulp by Zeff. Also, you are a little behind in the technical field when it comes to your taijutsu compared to them. So, training one-on-one with Sanji would go a long way to rectifying that deficiency. Plus," Kakashi took a slight risk, cracking a smile behind his mask. "one-on-one with Sanji. That would make you the centre of one teacher's attention, instead of being mixed in with the others."
Naruto's only answer was a shining grin. The Jonin was certainly learning more about his own students, but still not without faults.
Glancing back to the others, he noticed a frustrated glint in Sasuke's eyes.
'Hhhhhhh. Always stepping on someone's toes.'
"Sakura, Sasuke. While Naruto is off with Sanji. You can train on the water, practising the new skills each of you developed last week while learning this new style of fighting. Does that sound good?"
Once all of the Genin were placated, Zeff and Sanji displayed their skills to the ninjas. From front and side kicks, to twisting hand-stands, heel-strikes and swing-kicks. Even while cartwheeling around to get a different angle to strike from. What followed what as spar between Sanji and Kakashi to show live-combat application. The Genin were amazed, while Kakashi could easily envision using such skills in his own arsenal.
The genius was thinking, hard. 'These techniques could certainly be used in conjunction with hand-signs. Casting genjutsu over an enemy during a series of kicks, or finishing a combination of strikes with ninjutsu attacks. I could even use ninjutsu as an opening move, setting up an opponent for several kicks. Or using certain combinations to manoeuvre foes into ideal positions for a devastating attack.'
Once the demonstration was over, Zeff demanded each of the Ninjas start running laps.
"Run around the edges of the fins at a full sprint for 100 laps, kids. Plus an extra 150 for the sensei. Once I can see how strong your legs are, we'll know where to begin from."
As they began sprinting around the restaurant, Kakashi leapt down to the water to give the Genin extra room. Followed by Sasuke, and another shout from Naruto in disbelief. Sanji stayed on the blonde, driving him to keep running with a few kicks of encouragement. As they continued to sprint, Zeff kept a watchful eye on each of his charges.
Sakura began to slow down after the 15th lap, her basic levels of fitness quickly falling short, while the absence from any dieting gave the girl the energy to last longer than she otherwise would have. Meanwhile, Sasuke lasted for 20 laps, stumbling over the water after the first 10, before he began running low on chakra. From there, the boy leapt back onto the fins and continued to run.
Kakashi kept at a hard pace, as did Naruto. One had a lifetime of intense, dedicated training, while the other's ridiculous stamina and habits of running from Chunin and Jonin on a semi-regular basis were truly paying-off.
Sakura and Sasuke were amazed to see Naruto outperforming them, while the orange Uzumaki revealed in his accomplishment. Until the 50th lap.
"Hey come on, Sasuke!" the boy gloated, dropping into a jog beside the struggling Uchiha. "Can't the class genius keep going? Who's the Loser no—"
"NARUTO!" THWAK-SPLOOSH!
Sanji had knocked the blonde out to the water. Frowning at the boy's choice to slack off.
Once he swam back to the boat, the sous chef began to scold him.
"Don't slack off! Stick to the running, or the geezer will kick you even harder than I can!"
Naruto's complaints died at that threat, before he took off in a rush.
After several minutes, Kakashi finished first, followed by Naruto 30 laps later. The boy stooped over, panting, while Kakashi was simply breathing deeper than usual.
"Good. You've got some good legs and decent stamina Naruto. Now head off with Sanji, while I start Kakashi on the fundamentals, and your fellow ninjas finish their laps."
Sakura nearly stopped in surprise, amazed at Naruto's accomplishment. Before a few words from Kakashi encouraged her to keep running. The girl was still on her 56th lap, pushing hard but moving far slower. While Sasuke was on his 78th, and even more determined to finish.
Sanji called Naruto aside to work with him one-on-one, first stretching out the boy's legs to maintain their flexibility, then teaching him to basics of balance and coordination for the Black-leg techniques. It was a struggle as the boy would try adding his own moves and jumps; anything that looked cool or flashy. Only to meet a stern kick from Sanji to follow his words exactly.
While Kakashi remained with Zeff, going over the same fundamentals. Eventually, Sakura dropped to her knees, nearly exhausted after her 72nd lap, until Naruto's encouragement rang in her ears. Sanji joined in, the pair of blondes driving the girl to run slightly harder, with some determination.
'I…can…'t le…let Na..Narut-…uto do…be..etter…tha..an me…' the tired girl thought with spite, pushing through her screeching muscles.
Meanwhile, Sasuke was still pushing hard, with only 9 laps to go. But felt the strain from such continuous sprinting. Still, the Uchiha didn't stop, as he had deduced the reasons behind such intense running in a taijutsu style reliant on kicks and leg strength. Eventually, Sasuke finished and joined Kakashi, while Sanji kept Naruto practising simple front kicks and round-houses. His tutor even displayed surprise at how quickly the boy could respond to more tactile learning methods.
Eventually, Sakura was down to her final few laps, while Sasuke was struggling with certain moves. Even Naruto's movements were starting to slow down, feeling fresh muscles he didn't understand could hurt.
"Wh—wh—Why..why are m…hhh….my shoul-..hhh…shoulder sss…so hard? And my tummy…hhhh….it feels tight and hurts." The blonde panted.
"Hmmm. So, your abdominals are underdeveloped," Sanji observed.
"Listen up, Naruto. When somebody uses kicks, they have to twist their entire body to bring speed and power to bear. Your core muscles, the ones in the stomach below your rib-cage, are a crucial part of this fighting-style. They are your source of balance whenever your throw a kick."[2]
"Plus, to raise your legs, you use the lower-core muscles while the middle and upper ones control your balance. Basically, you're doing a half-sit-up each time you raise your leg."[3]
The sous-chef took a smoke from his cigarette before he continued.
"If you don't feel that kind of burn, then it means your kick is sloppy or wrong. Or you lean backwards too far and throw off your own balance. Start doing some leg-raises, then side-crunches to build-up your core. Plus, your shoulders hurt since there are tensing up from the exertions."[3] The teacher instructed.
"Uhhhhhhhhh," Naruto gapped in confusion. "I'd don't really get what you said. But I can do those exercises, sure."
The next moment, the boy dropped to the ground. Followed by sloppy leg raises. Sanji was quick to correct his charge, and soon Naruto's form improved.
Meanwhile, Sasuke was being knocked around and tutored by Zeff himself, while Sakura finished her laps and began to stretch with Kakashi out on the water.
"Sakura, I'm curious. Why didn't' you run out on the water at all like Sasuke and I did?" the Jonin asked her.
"Be..because…hhhh...sensei…hh…I don…hhh…don't have…hhhh…as much ch…hhhh…chakra… Doing that…hhh…hhhh….I wouldn't….hhhh…..hhhh….hhh…finished….Or…hhh..would hav…have needed…hhhh…to stop part w-…hhh…part way…" the unfit girl brokenly replied.
The answer took Kakashi by surprise. Before nodding at his student's explanation and decision.
"Good judgement. You recognized a weakness and didn't fall into it. And used your intellect instead of your ego."
By the time Sakura had finished stretching, Sasuke was battered, bruised, and could barely move. So Kakashi stepped forward with the next stage of his training plan.
"Alright. Sakura. Let's start you on learning some of these Black-leg techniques. Sasuke," the Jonin-sensei commanded.
"…I want you to step back and start a new kind of training. Active your eyes and try to keep track of Zeff's techniques. It'll be some good practice for the perception and adaptation methods of your Sharingan."
Zeff blinked, sharply. "His eyes? And what the heck is a 'Sharingan,' Kakashi?"
Belatedly, the Jonin realized he had never informed Zeff of the special eyes carried by him and Sasuke. This was followed by a brief explanation, with some extra reasoning from Kakashi.
"You just finished teaching Sasuke some fundamental skills. My thoughts were for Sakura to begin learning the same ones, while Sasuke traces them with his eyes. He wouldn't be copying the techniques and using them immediately, as that can take a large amount of practice and skill. And it wouldn't be unfair since they are both learning the same skills. Yet, Sasuke can get used to his Sharingan's more passive abilities, and understand the intricacies of these techniques better from observing how Sakura and I execute them."
Zeff frowned at the concept. But after some mental notes not to do anything himself for the Uchiha to possibly cheat from, he accepted the Jonin's explanation.
Sakura began to learn the Black-leg techniques, under Kakashi and Zeff's watchful instruction. With the pinkette driving some additional focus into how precise and accurate she was, out of concern for her crush copying certain mistakes by accident.
At the end of the training sessions, the moon was high in the sky, Kakashi was quite tired, two Genin were slumped over in exhaustion, and Naruto was just sore.
Each of the adults carried them to bed, before turning in themselves. Before some unusual company arrived the next day.
End.
Please Read and Review.
I sincerely hope everyone has enjoyed this chapter and the training that began. This has been a topic that I have wanted to explore for a while. The logistical importance of a Naruto-ninja's hands would truly make the Black-leg style very useful and logical for them to use, given how the entire jutsu could be sabotaged by any damage to their hands.
Now, this doesn't mean that each of them will learn that style to the same degree. As I do have plans for each of the ninjas to have their own interests and development. But, everything needs to start somewhere. And proficiency with this style would be very useful regardless.
Stayed tuned, as in the next chapter. It's time for Team 7, to meet the future King of the Pirates.
[1]-shattered pieces of a ceramic vessel, bowl or plate are called "sherds." Different materials than glass "shards." I am a professional Archaeologist, currently ¾ through a Master's degree. This distinction is important on professional grounds.
[2]-Might Guy has shown he can still be a viable fighter even after losing his leg during a mission with Kakashi (Naruto Novel: Ice in the Sky). However, using Guy as a baseline reference to measure all ninjas against is unrealistic and abstract, to say the least.
[3]-I have been practicing martial arts for years. Including Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Gojuryo and Boxing. These comments are drawn from personal experience. Core muscles are essential to generate balance and power in a kick, keeping one set crunched in while the other set remains straight. Correlating to a person standing upright, raising one leg high enough to strike while the other remains on the ground. Also, it often takes years to eliminate the habit of a fighter tensing their arms and shoulders needlessly during drills, sparring or in a fight. Wasting copious amounts of energy by keeping these muscles flexed needlessly.