Her Hate is Strong

"We can't wait any longer, Naruto," said Ebisu, pushing his glasses higher as they waited next to the pond for more water walking training.

"But she said she would be here to train with me. Maybe I should go look for her," said Naruto, getting ready to run off.

"Naruto, your job is to stay here and train, not go chasing after someone who didn't make it to the finals. Now get on the water, and we will test your taijutsu," said Ebisu as he walked out onto the calm water without making a single ripple.

Pausing for a second, Naruto made a couple of clones that ran off as fast as they could. Before Ebisu had a chance to say anything, Naruto leaped onto the water and attacked Ebisu using the basic academy style. The training commenced, with Ebisu using only one hand to block everything Naruto threw at him. A string of comments and suggestions on how to improve each move flowed out of him, as if he had said it all a thousand times before because he had; the academy style had so many holes that he had to reteach every student.

While the lesson was ongoing, Naruto's clones were running all over the village, searching for Sakura. One had decided to check the other training grounds, and the other ran to her house. Utilizing all the skills gained from years of pranking the village, Naruto was able to reach Sakura's window, and, finding the seal still broken, he slowly opened it to look inside.

The room appeared empty, and everything was in the same place as it was the last time he was there. However, the bed was neatly made, and the pillows were no longer scattered on the floor. Closing the window silently, he dropped to the ground and ran off, trying to think of where to look next.

As Naruto ran through the village, his hurried steps led him to the flower shop where Ino worked. Bursting in, Naruto attempted to ask Ino if she had any idea where Sakura might be. However, he was met with a still enraged Ino arranging roses in a large glass for the window display.

"What do you want, Naruto? I told you I was going to get you back for what you did to me, and I meant it!" Ino snapped, her anger evident as she pointed the trimming scissors at him.

"I-I'm sorry, Ino. I never wanted any of that to happen, but I really need to find Sakura. Do you know where she might have gone?" Naruto pleaded. Sensing the tension in the air, he stayed out of arm's reach. If there's one thing Sakura had taught him, it was that girls can hit hard.

Ino's anger softened momentarily as she could see Naruto's desperation. "Sakura? I don't know. Why should I help you? You are both on my shortlist, you know," she retorted, crossing her arms under what he knew was an ample chest. He had to blink his eyes to get that picture out of his head.

"Ino, please, can you just help," Naruto blurted out, seeing a flicker of an idea in Ino's eyes.

"I think maybe she'd be where Sasuke is. Do you know where he might be training?" said Ino, wishing she didn't care, but Sakura was her oldest friend. "Is something going on, Naruto?"

Ino's expression softened slightly. "You know, if she's in trouble, you can tell me. I hate her, but I don't want her to get hurt, you know," Ino said reluctantly, her voice a mix of anger and frustration.

Naruto was more confused than ever. One minute she wants them dead, the next she wants to help. Girls are strange in all the wrong ways, and he wished he had someone to talk to so he could understand them better.

"Thanks, Ino," said Naruto as he turned to the door. Pausing, he turned back. "You should talk to Sakura, I can't really say why, but you really should," with a little wave of his hand, he turned and ran out the door, the little bell ringing loudly signaling he was gone.

It didn't take long to find the training ground and his twin clone, who said he checked them all but didn't find Kakashi training Sasuke in any of them.

"We have to find her; who knows what happened last night after we left," said one clone to the other as they ran out of training ground three. It didn't take them long before they ran headfirst into Lee as he was in a race with his sensei. They were running down the path on their hands, blindfolded, with a log balanced on their feet.

With a loud scream, the lead clone smashed into Lee and Might Guy, exploding into a cloud of smoke, leaving the other clone to help Lee and Guy to their feet, pulling the blindfold off.

"Naruto, my youthful friend, I didn't see you there," yelled Lee.

"We were testing out the springtime of youth in a race around the village; you can join us," said Might Guy, blinding Naruto with his smile.

"Sorry, guys, I can't. I am looking for Kakashi Sensei. Do you know where I can find them?" asked Naruto.

"My eternal rival is training the young Uchiha behind the mountain," said Guy, pointing at the Hokage's faces that looked over the village.

"Thanks, Guy Sensei; good luck with your race," yelled out Naruto as he ran as fast as he could, not only to get away from the over-exuberant sensei but to finally find Sakura.

After some failed attempts to climb the mountain, Naruto decided to take the time to go around and avoid the ANBU, who were having fun dropping rocks on him as he tried to climb the cliff face. Unknown to him, he was getting too close to the secret entrance to an ANBU base.

It was the sounds of clapping and the occasional Uchiha-like grunt that told him he was on the right trail as he ran up a dirt path. Stopping to hide behind a boulder, he looked around to find Kakashi and Sasuke in a training match where Sasuke was learning to use the different types of fire jutsu his family was famed for.

Off to the side, higher on the mountain, Naruto stopped to see Sakura dressed in a new provocative outfit in the Uchiha family colors of dark blue and white. But it was clear Sasuke was not paying her any attention as he paused to take a drink of water before charging at Kakashi.

Using his stealth and natural talents to stay hidden, Naruto was able to come up behind Sakura before she had a chance to say anything as he sat down next to her.

"What do you want, Naruto? Don't you have your own training to do?" she said, dismissing him as she focused on Sasuke.

"I was worried about you when you didn't show up for training with Ebisu," said Naruto, brushing off her attempt to make him leave. In truth, he didn't even notice.

Turning to look at him, really look at him, her eyes flared, showing him the anger she felt inside—an anger not at him, but at the world. "Dammit, you know! I have to get Sasuke's attention. Now, leave me be," said Sakura, turning back to the sparring match with the fakest smile Naruto had ever seen on someone else.

Staring at the back of her head, he didn't know what to say or do to make her change her mind. He knew Sasuke wasn't going to be attracted to anything she wore. Sasuke was only interested in power to avenge his family. He had said it enough to both of them, making it clear that restoring his clan was the last thing on his mind.

"What are you doing here, Dode? Your training is too hard with that loser sensei, and you gave up," said Sasuke, looking up at them, but only seeing Naruto, as he had blocked Sakura out of his mind completely.

"Ebisu Sensei isn't a loser. You… You bastard," said Naruto, leaping down to confront Sasuke face-to-face.

"Is that so? Then prove it," yelled Sasuke, taking a swing at Naruto who ducked under the punch and kicked Sasuke in the gut, pushing him back. With that, the fight was on as the two squared off and didn't hold back. Sakura didn't know who to cheer for and watched silently, but deep inside, she hoped Naruto would knock Sasuke down a couple of times.

Kakashi was surprised that Naruto already had better control over himself, weaving and dodging every swing Sasuke sent his way, only hitting Sasuke when he had a clear opening. Little did Kakashi know that this Naruto was a clone, and he knew that one good hit would send him up in a puff of smoke, so he was being extra careful.

"Hold still and fight me," screamed out Sasuke as Naruto weaved around him. Doing a backflip, Sasuke formed the hand signs for fire bullets and sent a row of them at Naruto who jumped to the side, out of the way, landing behind Kakashi.

"Transformation Jutsu," said Naruto, transforming into Kakashi as he remained hidden from Sasuke's view. Leaping up, he tried to kick Kakashi, who easily dodged out of the way. Now with two Kakashis facing him, Sasuke was unsure what to do.

"That's him," said both Kakashi, pointing at each other with their trademark eye smiles, showing they were having fun with this little turn of events.

"Come on, Sasuke, do something," they both said, looking at each other and then back at Sasuke, who was still frozen in place. Pulling out a kunai, both Kakashis threw it at Sasuke, who dodged and shot a fireball as large as a house at them. Leaping high and to the side, they both landed, looking at Sasuke with clear disappointment in their eyes.

"Attacking a teammate is not acceptable," said one of the Kakashis. "You must look underneath the underneath," said the other, getting a wave from the first one. With a scream of frustration, Sasuke rushed forward, attacking the nearest Kakashi as he threw a kunai of his own at the other.

The skill in their movements made it clear which one was the real Kakashi, and Sasuke attacked the other one with all his might before pinning him to the ground. The transformation jutsu faded, and he found himself holding Naruto by the neck, pinned to the ground.

"I have you now, Dode," said Sasuke, holding a blade against Naruto's throat.

"You're still a bastard," said Naruto, kicking up, forcing Sasuke's blade to cut into his neck, bursting into a cloud of smoke. With his heart beating wildly in his chest, it took Sasuke a minute to realize the sound he was hearing was Sakura screaming, thinking he had killed Naruto, and Kakashi clapping his hands at the idea that they had been fighting a clone.

….

Back at the pond, Naruto's mind reeled with memories, their weight pushing him down on the surface of the water he trained upon. Images of his recent fight with Sasuke clashed violently with the words Sakura had uttered, her emotions etched deeply into his consciousness. Lost in this mental struggle, Naruto became distracted in his fight with Ebisu, his focus scattering like leaves in a gust of wind.

Taking advantage of Naruto's lapse in concentration, Ebisu seized the opportunity. Swift as a lightning strike, Ebisu executed a precise move, sweeping his feet out from under him and at the same time smashing a palm strike into his chest. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Naruto dropped into the pond, splashing as he plummeted beneath the water's surface, engulfed by its murky depths. The ripples settled, leaving no trace of him above the waterline. Naruto descended further until he hit the muddy surface and kicked his way back up.

"What happened, you were doing so good, and then you dropped your guard," said Ebisu, giving Naruto a hand to help him stand back up on the water.

"Sorry Ebisu Sensei, I had a clone looking for Sakura and he got in a fight with Sasuke and when all those memories came back I got confused," said Naruto rubbing the back of his head and grinning up at his new sensei.

"Naruto, you mean to tell me you can make solid clones?" said Ebisu knowing just how hard that was having seen many Jonin fail after making more than two clones and some even passing out after making one.

"Sure I can make lots," said Naruto, forming his trademark hand sign and producing a dozen clones all standing on the water in a circle around them.

Ebisu observed Naruto's ability with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "Interesting... Have you ever considered using these clones for training?"

Naruto blinked, puzzled. "What do you mean, Sensei?"

"Let me show you something. You possess an extraordinary skill. With these clones, you can train multiple times faster than usual. Each clone can experience what you do and then transfer that knowledge back to you when they're dispelled," Ebisu explained, sensing Naruto's confusion.

Naruto's eyes widened in realization. "Wait, really? I can do that?"

Ebisu nodded. "I think so, it's a hard technique, but I think you might be able to manage it. It's called accelerated clone training. I'll help you learn how to utilize it effectively." What Ebisu didn't tell Naruto was that many people who had tried using clones to train had failed due to the painful headaches it caused to the point of temporary blindness. He was thinking that the fox's healing power would somehow prevent the negative feedback that would kill most people using this many clones.

Now with a dozen or more clones to train Ebisu set about arranging them into teams, some training on water running, some on water sliding while others fought taijutsu matches under his guidance. The original Naruto was a little upset when he made him start to do handstands and lift rocks and fallen trees until he was told that only the knowledge would transfer not the muscle and he really needed to build his muscles. Once again it was the fox's healing power that saved Naruto from breaking his back or pulling a muscle and by the end of the day, Ebisu could swear Naruto looked a little toner when they started.

"Okay Naruto, recall your clones one at a time, and let's see the progress we've made today," said Ebisu, observing Naruto's clones dissipating into puffs of smoke. The training session had been intense, pushing Naruto to the brink of exhaustion. The water rippled as Naruto panted, sweat glistening on his forehead, evidence of the strenuous efforts that each clone was putting on him.

Ebisu nodded in approval as Naruto stood tall after the last clone was gone. "OK Naruto, come at me with everything you got, don't hold back," said Ebisu leaping to the center of the pond.

The first thing he notices as Naruto's movements are more controlled, his strikes sharper and more precise. Naruto's eyes gleamed with determination as he lunged toward Ebisu. Their fight began an intricate dance atop the water's surface. Naruto showed a flair for adaptability, weaving through the air and engaging in a rapid exchange of taijutsu strikes showing a higher level of control than before.

The air crackled with energy as Naruto executed a swift series of attacks, attempting to outmaneuver his new sensei. Ebisu, his movements more calculated and controlled, expertly parried Naruto's blows, showcasing his skills as a Jonin. Their fight was a display of pure taijutsu prowess, a symphony of kicks and punches interwoven with dodges and counters.

As the fight progressed, Naruto's speed and agility were evident, yet Ebisu's experience shone through in his defensive maneuvers. Despite Naruto's energy and improving technique, Ebisu's mastery seemed unshakable. Deciding it was time to put this to the end, Ebisu managed to counter Naruto's attack, then with a solid kick to the chest sent him skidding backward across the water.

"Good job, now let us call it a day and we can start over again in the morning, this time don't be late," said Ebisu as he walked off the water and collected his things.

Naruto ran over to Ebisu and gave him a bow like he had seen others do when he was spying on their training, "Thank you Sensei.", he said standing tall.

"Go eat a good meal and not just ramen, you need to build up your body for the training we will be doing the rest of the month before you enter the finals," said Ebisu as he walked off.

After eating more ramen than any human should be allowed, Naruto made his roundabout way back to his apartment. It was late, very late, and he was surprised to find Sakura sitting on the stairs waiting for him. Worried that something had happened, Naruto ran the last few yards, stopping in front of her as she looked up at the approaching footsteps.

"Naruto, I need to tell you something, and you have to listen to me, OK?" said Sakura, looking at her feet, not bothering to stand up or even to look at him.

"OK, Sakura-chan, whatever you want," said Naruto, bouncing from one foot to the other. He didn't like standing outside his own apartment this late at night; it made him a target for the drunks and crazies that wandered around.

Sakura took a deep, shaky breath as if she didn't want to say what she was going to say but was being forced to. "I…. I need you to stay away from me. You understand I have... well, you know what my father said. I have a mission, a family mission that I have to do. You can't be around... You understand me. I have to do this," she said, in a broken string of words that Naruto had to piece together before it dawned on him what she was talking about.

"No, Sakura-chan, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. I thought you loved Sasuke, but if you don't, then don't force yourself," said Naruto, daring to move a little closer but stopping right before reaching out to touch her.

Sakura looked up at him, the newest mark on her face clear to see. "Naruto, I said to leave me alone. I... I do love him. I swear, so... dammit, I have to... I want to do this so... why can't you understand and just stay out of my business?" she said, her words broken by the tears she was holding back.

"I am your friend, Sakura-chan. I can't stand by and let you get hurt like this," said Naruto, now daring to place a hand on her bare shoulder.

Her reaction was not what he expected. As his fingers touched her cold skin, she shot up and slapped him so hard he had to take a couple of steps back to keep his balance. Only for her to storm up into his face with fire in her eyes.

"I said leave me alone!" she screamed into his face, her voice echoing down the street and alleyways, causing a cat to yell as it knocked over a garbage can. He could hear the sounds of people opening their windows, and one old woman calling out for the village shinobi to do something about the demon.

"Sakura-chan, please, I only want…," he started to say, but she grabbed the front of his jacket. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and with fire in her eyes, she shook him, reminding Naruto of what her own father had done before tossing him to the side.

"I hate you… Remember that, Naruto, next time you try to get in my way," she said as she stormed off into the night, leaving a confused and hurt Naruto standing in the street.

….