Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Once we reached the training ground, Kenji went through all three academy jutsu, or tried to do all three, the best he could do was transformation and the horrifying creature that we saw made Kaori throw up. Perhaps Kenji had invented a new jutsu that T&I (Torture and Intelligence ) department should look into.

Well at least he was not as bad as Lee, I could work with that. It was just a case of not doing chakra control exercise, at all. He couldn't even do leaf sticking exercise, when questioned about it, he replied.

"I didn't think it was important, sticking leaves in your hand, is that actually doing anything, doesn't leaves stick to your hand if you pressed hard enough?"

His logic was so sound that, for a moment I was unable to reply. In the end I made him do it with threats of leaving him on his own. He was still reluctant but seeing no other option he started practicing leaf sticking.

And I must admit once he made up his mind, he practiced diligently without complain. After three hours we called it a night, with a promise to meet here again, tomorrow after school.

"Wait Satoru san!" I was about to leave when I heard Kenji. I stopped and waited for him to speak but he kept hesitating.

"Kenji san I need to go home and cook, I would appreciate if you would hurry." I was being courteous since Kaori told me who he was, when he said his family was rich, he was actually understanding it.

Apparently they were very rich, rich that should be spelled with capital 'R. His family owned most of convenience store in Fire nation, including the ones in Konoha.

So I was trying to be polite and maintain good relationship, but I was hungry and he was still not talking.

"Look is it important enough that you ask today? You can ask tomor.."

"You never said what you wanted in return" he cut me off finally saying what he wanted to.

"And please don't say nothing, it will be uncomfortable for me and I will not be able to concentrate on training." He said seriously.

"I could give you ten..."

"Lets just be friends." It was my turn to cut him off.

"Wha..t? " He was confused, I felt embarrassed but I soldiered on.

"My only friend is Kaori, here." I said pointing to a widely smiling Kaori.

"So I am low on... umm... friends. So let's be friends." And I extended my hand forward, utterly embarrassed and feeling like a fool. If he leaves me hanging, I will dig a hole on this very ground and bury myself.

But soon he extended his hand too, with a serious face he said.

"Deal, we are friends from now on." We shook on it and that was that, he could take my help as a friend without feeling burdened.

On the way back to my room, Kaori spoke up " I think you did good Satoru kun."

"Kenji ? I was in hurry and I didn't want to overcomplicate teaching chakra control" I said.

"Yes, but I saw his smile when you asked him to be friends. I think it was his first time, of someone asking him to be friends instead of asking for his money." She said quietly.

I looked at her downcast face. Did she had similar experience? Because she was from clan? Is that why she had no friends before we met?

My thoughts were interrupted when she suddenly turned around and said loudly.

"You know, he was about to offer hefty sum before you cut him off."

Really? I had half listened, as I was in hurry and thus had just asked what came first to my mind.

Damm, more money wouldn't have hurt. And we already shook on it.

"Whatever I don't care, I just want to eat and sleep." I said bit grumpily which made Kaori smile bigger.

Day 246

I watched Kaori's shoulder, as she moved forward, she was going to throw right hook, I watched the trajectory and parried it away and tried to attack her now undefended right side, but she used the momentum of parry and rotated and immediately I had to block the round house kick that came towards my head.

I tried catching her leg but the kick was strong enough that it pushed me a bit and I lost the timing. But I went on attack and moved forward. I aimed to swipe her front leg as she was still putting her back leg on ground.

But she used her single front leg to jump and flip over me. Damm.

Before I completely turned around her hands lightly tapped my temple.

"Surrender?" She asked.

"Yup." I replied.

We both sat down after that, we have been going at it for past two hours. I had improved but Kaori was still ahead of me. Out of ten matches I could win two or maybe three on a good day. Each time I thought I had caught up, she just levels up.

I watched as Kenji ran up to a tree but after few steps slid down.

It was slow going for Kenji in regards to chakra control, but he was persisting. He had finally started on tree walking exercise few days ago. Most days he was busy with this only, stopping sometimes to ask Kaori or me for few pointers and then practising chakra control again.

But on days he was bit bored, he would join me and Kaori for taijutsu. And that had been a revelation, perhaps I was bit biased but I never thought Kaori would lose against Kenji, so one-sidedly, but she did.

She had around same win/lose ratio against Kenji as I had against her. But Kenji was gracious about it and would ait down and point out to her what she could do better. I would listen in as well.

On the days Kaori practised her clan jutsu remained at clan compound I practiced my fire jutsu, which Sandaime informed me, have been named blue fire jutsu by chakra repository department. Truly a department for genius.

I was called to Hokage office some time ago, there Sandaime had informed me that no one had been able to replicate my jutsu yet despite going through notes I provided. So they wanted to check me to see if there was something different about my body. I had been bit nervous if there would be any mind probing but again it had been an unnecessary fear.

A guy looking like doctor or med nin had just taken my blood. It came out nothing special, just that I had high affinity for fire, higher than normal. Sandaime had just nodded at that and said he would test the jutsu himself and a few weeks after that I had been informed that Sandaime has been successful in recreating it.

Thus my jutsu was officially included in konoha's jutsu repository, I got an official looking scroll that proves that. My jutsu was listed as A rank.

But what made me happy and jump with joy was the amount deposited as a result of that. Apparently based on your invented jutsu rank, you received monetary reward and A rank was the second highest. I felt like a rich man.

"Are you thinking about money again?" I was brought to present by Kaori's question.

" No...no, I was just checking on Kenji's progress and thinking what can we do to further help him. What made you think that?" I said honestly, because I had thought that before and that counted.

"Liar, you get this sleazy smile whenever you think about money, anyone who knows you can point it out."

I gave up after that, we practiced a bit more and then went out separate ways, let's have something good again tonight. Since I got the money I had been eating quiet well.

I had money, friends and good food, I was happy.

A/N: Please comment/review, would love to hear from readers. Also please visit pat^re^on / johnblack6826 for next three advanced chapters