Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Day 167

It was Sunday and I was feeling bored, I was pretty much done with chakra control exercise and so was Kaori, we had started doing practice battles over water. Our whole jutsu catalogue was just basic academy jutsu.

I thought she would know Nara clans signature shadow bind jutsu by now, but apparently I was mistaken. Shikamaru really had been a genius.

I was feeling quiet unsatisfied with our current jutsu list.

I was trying to remember something useful from my anime and manga knowledge .

Can we start with nature transformation? I hardly knew anything except for wind nature transformation that Naruto went through.

Shape training? Naruto trained with a rubber ball for rasengan, but will it be helpful? I don't think either Kaori or me had enough chakra to waste , to learn rasengan in months time like Naruto, shape training in general may help but I was looking for quicker results, by the time we graduate we should know at least one jutsu more than the basic three.

I kept on thinking throughout my day , as I cooked and cleaned

Great fireball jutsu ! I suddenly remembered Fugaku teaching Sasuke.

If a young Sasuke can do it, then I guess it should be doable for us too, as long as our chakra nature was fire.

Tomorrow let's buy chakra testing paper. I didn't know if they were sold over the counter or how much they cost but I will face that issue tomorrow.

Day 168

After classes I ran out , I told Kaori I will meet her in training ground.

Store was not far from academy

" Welcome to hattori ninja supplies, how can I help"

The shopkeeper was friendly looking middle aged person with a moustache and big belly.

" Umm... Do you have chakra testing paper ? " I asked bit hesitantly.

" We do " was his immediate reply.

" I will take two , how.. how much is the cost "

" They cost 1000 yen, but may I check your ninja identification"

Hearing about the cost was a relief but his next words killed my hope

" I am an academy student "

" Ah then I am sorry to say, I cannot sell you the item, you need to be at least a genin for me to buy chakra paper "

He said with finality

Disappointed I came out of the store, I didn't have any connection who could help me buy this, least of all I didn't had any convincing ability to ask a random stranger.

Disappointed I slowly walked towards training ground, thinking about it . Perhaps I should just do trial and error, but it was risky. If I was not fire natured , the jutsu will not work and if I continue to push it, I might accidentally mess up my chakra.

" Hey where have been? " Kaori appeared suddenly in front of me.

" Ahh... God make some noise, please " I was ...bit startled .

" So ? " she asked again ignoring my outburst.

I sighed and explained the whole situation not telling her that I was thinking about doing trial and error. She would kill me for that.

" I think I know someone" she said after some time.

" Who? I don't think your parents will help " I asked curious but her face turned very grim like she was remembering a very bad memory.

" Umm..Kaori .. Kaori "

" Huh " she responded as if startled

" Are you ok ? " I was getting really concerned.

" Just remembered something " she said sighing

"You know we find another way, maybe I can first try the jut.."

" NO.." she yelled suddenly

" We will get those damn chakra papers, just.. just be with me tomorrow when I talk with that troublesome person "

" Sigh... troublesome, go away " was how Shikaku greeted us.

My guess had been correct, Kaori was related to Shikaku, they were cousins. Shikaku was a year older then her.

I was back in Nara compound for second time, we travelled even deeper inside compound to reach Shikaku's home.

" Nii sama, I have not said anything yet " Kaori said.

I could see her trying to control her anger

Shikaku responded by turning to the other side while still lying on his bed

" Nii sama, please help us with getting chakra papers " Kaori continued.

" Please Onii Sama ."

" You are academy student, you don't need them, go away " Shikaku answered.

" Let's have proper conversation nii sama get up " Kaori started pulling Shikaku.

" I don't want to " Shikaku resisted

I was just standing there watching this unfold not sure what to do.

" Fine fine you troublesome women, stop pulling me I will get up" Shikaku finally relented against Kaori's persistence.

Kaori gave me a thumbs up, smiling like she had won a great victory, not sure about that but trusting Kaori I gave a shaky thumbs up. She was the expert here.

" I will give you two minutes convince me or I am going back to bed " Shikaku said firmly to her , then glanced at me. I bowed greeting him.

" Hello I am Kaori's friend , my name is Satoru "

He nodded at me , looking between me and Kaori then sighed again.

" Nii sama... " Kaori started explaining but was stopped by Shikaku.

" Let's hear it from the person ,whose idea it actually is " he said looking at me.

At this sudden situation my mind became blank, I had not thought of anything, letting Kaori take the lead.

Shikaku was still waiting looking at me, I decided to voice my honest thoughts

" I am worried that I am ... we are too weak Shikaku san, just knowing academy jutsu, it's not enough " I recalled the type of missions team 7 did after becoming genin.

" We are ninja or we will be by the end of this year, our future is not guaranteed, we don't know what kind of missions we will take or what we will need to do to survive, all we can do is prepare, prepare now, when we can " I tried to bring as much sincerity and seriousness as I could in my voice to make him understand that I was honestly worried.

Third ninja war, I was not clear when it breaks out but it will in the near future, I have never heard of satoru in canon, nor was Kaori mentioned ever. I was hoping, it was because we retired or were unimportant, and not because we were dead.

" Please help us Shikaku san " I said finally bowing.

A hand grabbed my shoulder, I looked up and it was Kaori,

" Satoru kun I didn't know you were so worried" she said , her eyes wet.

" We will learn new jutsu, I will find a way , I will not let you die. "

Kaori turned to Shikaku with eyes full of anger

" Onii sama, will you help or not ?"

I think I overdid it.

" Troublesome " Shikaku muttered.

But it worked.

A/N: Please visit pat^re^on / johnblack6826 for advanced chapters