DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto.

[Chunin Exam Arc] [Final Exam Training Sub-Arc]

I know it's been a long time since I've updated this story, but I've finally managed to write a new chapter, although it's kind of a short, filler chapter to explain a couple of things before I can move the story along. I will try my best to update this story in a timelier manner, but I can't say when the next chapter will be coming.

Chapter 39. Training V

Naruto watched from the bridge over the hot springs river as Hiroshi fell into the hot water for the umpteenth time today. It had been a week since he began this walking on water training. During this week, Himawari and Shiro mastered it and went on to begin their training with their family's ninjutsu.

Naruto couldn't understand why Hiroshi couldn't get this exercise down. He had planned on only working on this for maybe two days tops and he could begin to train Hiroshi how to use his Kage Bunshin more effectively.

Naruto shook his head and sighed as Hiroshi fell into the water once more. He had to admit to himself, the progress was slow but it was there.

"Alright Hiroshi," Naruto said, breaking the silence. "Take a break before you over do it. We've been at this for hours already."

Hiroshi pulled himself back up out of the water and sat at the water's edge. Hiroshi sighed as he never expected this exercise to be so hard.

"Naruto-sensei, I don't think I'm going to get this," Hiroshi said dejectedly.

"You will," Naruto said. "You want to know a secret?"

"What is that?" asked Hiroshi.

"I didn't master this execrise right away either," admitted Naruto. "I struggled myself."

Although it was a bit of a white lie because Naruto remembered after Ero-sennin punched him in the gut and he woke up later he was able to do it just fine in one day but he wasn't going to tell Hiroshi that, he just wanted to the boy not to feel so bad about himself failing.

After hearing Naruto struggled too, Hiroshi didn't feel too bad after all.

"Why don't you go back to the lodge and get some rest," Naruto suggested. "I'll be back later."

Naruto found himself knocking on Tsunade's office door. He heard her voice yelling from the other side of the door to come in. Naruto walked into the office and Tsunade was quite surprised to see Naruto as he should be with his students getting them ready for the final exam of the Chunin Exams.

"Naruto, what's going on?" she asked.

"It's Hiroshi," answered Naruto. "He just can't seem to get the water walking exercise down unlike Himawari and Shiro who got it in the same day. It's been about a week now."

"Sounds like a situation similiar to yours," stated Tsuande. "Jiraiya told me when he was training you for your Chunin Exams he found that Orochimaru messed with your seal which was messing up your chakra control. Once he removed the seal Orochimaru placed you were able to do it in no time."

"So that's what that Ero-sennin did to me that day!" exclaimed Naruto. "Here I thought I managed just wake up and miraclously do it on my own."

"I do have a confession to make," Tsunade said. "It involves Hiroshi's lineage."

Evening time had come as Naruto returned to the hot spring lodge that he was staying at to train Hiroshi.

"It's about time you returned Naruto-sensei, where'd you go?" asked Hiroshi.

"Sorry, my errand took longer than expected," Naruto answered. "This is going to sound weird but just listen to me, turn around.

Hiroshi didn't question Naruto and turned around. Hiroshi still had his shirt off since he had been training in the water. Naruto waved chakra around the center of Hiroshi's back and a seal appeared.

-Earlier in the Day-

"Since you're an Uzumaki, the seal should appear," Tsunade said.

"So this seal blocks his use of his linage ninjutsu but it allows him to use his mother's Doton and everything else?" asked Naruto.

"Yes," Tsunade said.

"Now I understand why he is limited usage of his Doton but I don't understand how he can use Kage Bunshin freely like I can," Naruto said.

"It's the seal, it's effecting his chakra control because it's blocking his father's hidden abilities," Tsunade said. "However, whatever you do, do not break that seal."

-Present-

"Sorry Tsunade-baachan," whispered Naruto.

Naruto peformed a few hand seals and the key to seal formed on the palm of his right hand. He pressed his palm against the seal on Hiroshi's back. As the seal reworked itself, this caused a rush that knocked out Hiroshi.

Naruto picked Hiroshi up and took him to his room and placed him on the bed. Naruto closed the door behind him and went to his room next door.

Naruto forced himself awake, still hating mornings. He showered and went to check on Hiroshi to see if he was ready for the day. Naruto knocked on Hiroshi's door but received no answer. Naruto opened the door and found that Hiroshi was not there. The bathroom door was open, and the light was off signaling he wasn't in there either.

Naruto left the lodge and went to the hot springs where they had been training for the last week and sure enough, he found Hiroshi in the hot springs, walking on the water and was excited and yelling.

"I did it! I did it!"

'It worked,' thought Naruto. "See, I told you hard work would pay off."

Hiroshi was startled by the sudden intrusion of his sensei but smiled widely because he finally accomplished something that he was struggling at all week.

"I don't know what happened," Hiroshi begun. "All I remember from yesterday is you returning and I fell asleep and when I woke up this morning and came down here for an early start and I just used my complete focus and I was able to do it."

Hiroshi ran to the hot spring river again and walked on top of the water without fail once again. He ran back to the pathway. Hiroshi just wanted to make sure he can keep doing it and it wasn't a fluke the first time around.

"That's awesome, I'm proud of you," Naruto said. "Now we can move on to the next portion of your training."

"What is that?" asked Hiroshi. "Are you going to teach me new jutsu?"

"Not yet," answered Naruto. "Teaching you a new jutsu will be the final portion of your training before the Final Exam."

"Ok, what are we going to work on then?" asked Hiroshi.

"I'm going to teach you how to use your Kage Bunshin more effectively," Naruto said. "First we need to return to our rooms and pack up all our stuff."

"We're not staying here anymore?" asked Hiroshi.

"Unfortunately no," Naruto said. "We are taking this next portion of your training to the Training Field inside the village."

Hiroshi nodded and ran off toward the lodge.

It was about noon when Naruto and Hiroshi returned to Konohagakure. Both their stomachs rumbled as soon as they stepped foot inside the village. They both looked at each other, sort of embarrassed.

"How about some lunch before we start?" asked Naruto.

"You bet!" Hiroshi exlaimed.

After lunch at Ichiraku, the teacher and student made it to the training grounds where Naruto officially became a Genin and part of Team Seven. Naruto looked around as nothing has changed here.

Naruto's training with Hiroshi began and continued through the afternoon and into the evening. Hiroshi was now exhausted, having used up so much of his chakra for constantly using Kage Bunshin.

Naruto was impressed how quickly Hiroshi learned effective ways to use Kage Bunshin and everything seems to be falling in place for Hiroshi now that he had fixed Hiroshi's seal yesterday.

"So what are we going to do tomorrow?" asked Hiroshi.

"We're going to come back here tomorrow and I'm going to test you on everything I've taught you so far," Naruto answered. "If I feel you're ready, I will teach you a new ninjutsu."

"Awesome!" yelled Hiroshi in great excitement. "What is it going to be?"

"Heh, that'll stay a secret," Naruto paused, "For now."

"Ah man!" Hiroshi stated, a little disappointed.

"Go home and get some rest, you'll need it for tomorrow," Naruto ordered.

Hiroshi grabbed his backpack and headed for the training field exit. He was about to leave and noticed Naruto was staying behind.

"Are you okay, Naruto-sensei?" Hiroshi asked.

"I'm fine," Naruto answered.

Hiroshi left the training field as Naruto sat down on the middle post he remembered being tied to when he first became a genin and having that final test with Kakashi-sensei.

Never did he imagined Sakura would get over that crush she had on Sasuke and fall in love with him but he is glad she did.

Naruto realized it was getting dark as he had been lost in thought for quite some time and decided he better get home and get some rest himself.

Hiroshi is sitting on the roof his house, staring at the full moon and stars in the night sky, just relaxing a bit before he headed off to bed all while thinking about his parents.

'Naruto-sensei his helping me get stronger and stronger and once I'm ready, I swear, Mom, Dad that I will find my uncle and kill him for what he did to you.'

Hiroshi was about to get off the roof and go back into his room from the window when he saw someone approach the front gate.

"Hiroshi, is that you up there?" asked a female voice, one he recognized very quickly.

"Himawari, what are you doing here so late?" yelled back Hiroshi, not answering her question.

"I came to see you," she yelled.

Hiroshi jumped from the roof to the ground and ran up to the gate. He didn't want to do anymore yelling and wake up neighbors or anything like that.

Himawari had a big, goofy smile on her face as did Hiroshi.

"How's your training going?" Himawari asked.

"It's going great!" Hiroshi remarked. "This morning I finally mastered walking on water and me and Naruto-sensei spent all day in the training field teaching me how to use my Kage Bunshin more effectively. He even said tomorrow he's going to test me on everything he's taught me so far and if I show promise, he's going to teach me a new jutsu."

"That's great!" Himawari said.

"How's your training going?" asked Hiroshi.

"It's going good, I didn't realize how much of an ass my father can be when teaching but I am learning," she answered. "Are we still on for that lunch date when we're done training?"

"Of course we are!" Hiroshi said, starting to fear the worst, "Unless you changed your mind."

"No, no I haven't, I was just making sure," Himawari said.

The two fell into an awkward silence for a moment before Himawari stated she needed to get back home so she can get some rest and continue training tomorrow and gave Hiroshi a small peck on the cheek and walked into the night. Hiroshi placed his hand on his cheek that she kissed and smirked.

Naruto, sitting on his apartment's balcony, stared at the moon and stars as he thought about where Sakura was at right now. Naruto missed her terribly but knew she was doing what needed to be done to help her team succeed in the Chunin Exams. Naruto moved back inside his apartment and grabbed his summoning contract scroll and a few other items he needed for tomorrow.

"If all things go well tomorrow, I'll be teaching Hiroshi the Kuchiyose no Jutsu. I hope you guys will be okay with this." Naruto said out loud to himself.

Translations:

Konohagakure: Hidden Leaf
Kage Bunshin: Shadow Replication
Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Summoning Technique (Although Kuchiyose's literal translation is "Drawing in to speak")