Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be seeing Naruto meeting up with Satsuki and Hinata to tell them about Yūgao taking him to Takumi Village to get a new sword, before they run into some familiar and new faces, as well as seeing Hanabi again. So, without further ado.
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After meeting Yūgao and learning that they'd be going to Takumi Village to get him a new sword, Naruto had soon left the training ground to find Satsuki and Hinata. Wanting to tell them where he'd be going in a few days, and that he would likely be gone for a while.
Luckily, the Uzumaki soon found both his teammates, the girls seeing him as well before the three approached each other.
"Hey. How was it at the hospital?" Naruto asked, wondering how their training with Kabuto was, and if they'd learned anything already.
"It was good so far, we didn't really train much in Medical Ninjutsu besides the basics, along with learning about the duties of being Medic-Nin." Replied Hinata with a smile, eager for the chance to learn more Medical Ninjutsu, knowing it'll be very useful with her Byakugan.
"I wasn't able to learn much, though. I still need to work on my Chakra Control before I can start practicing Medical Ninjutsu." Satsuki added, still not liking that she had to wait to get started on learning Medical Ninjutsu, but was pleased at the scrolls she found in her clans compound to train in.
"That's good, and I'm sure you'll be able to get your Chakra Control good enough, soon, Satsuki. Did anything else happen?" Said Naruto as the three began walking together.
"We did meet Kurenai, the Jōnin Sensei of Team Eight, they've even completed their own C-Rank Mission. While Sakura's also begun learning Genjutsu from Kurenai, since she already has near perfect Chakra Control." Satsuki said, with the whiskered ravenette humming in thought at this.
"Kurenai and I also spent some time together, since she was my caretaker during my time in the Academy. I told her about our last mission and was really impressed at what we were able to do, and relieved that we all made it back safely. She also was interested in everything you did, Naruto-kun; even being interested to meet you." Said Hinata, making Naruto looking at her with a raised brow.
"…I'll keep that in mind." Naruto said, not really used to people wanting to meet him or want anything to do with him at all.
Though he supposed if Kurenai did approach him, it could be a chance to see if he could learn some Genjutsu. Or at the very least learn how to better spot and dispel them, given his Chakra Reserves weren't ideal for being able to cast illusions.
"I also found this, and thought you might like." Said Satsuki, pulling out a copy of the Ittōryū Scroll and tossing it to Naruto, with the Jinchūriki catching it and saw at what it was.
"Ittōryū? Is that a Kenjutsu Style or something?" Asked Naruto, curious about learning a new Kenjutsu Style, while Satsuki nodded in response.
"Yeah, it's something I found while looking through my clan's Jutsu Library to find anything that I could train in. I also found one called Nitōryū to learn for my swords, while I figured that one would be better suited for you." Satsuki replied, making Naruto nod in thanks while pocketing the scroll.
"Thanks, it'll definitely be useful, even better that I'll be getting a new sword soon." Naruto said, with Satsuki and Hinata looking at him at this.
"You're getting a new sword? Did you have one commissioned to be made?" Hinata asked, guessing he must've done so after leaving the Hokage Tower.
"No, Yūgao-sensei came to me while I was training and told me that she got the Hokage's permission for us to travel to Takumi Village in the Land of Rivers. It's a village of blacksmiths known for the unique weapons they create, making it a good place to go get a new sword. We're supposed to leave in a few days, giving me time to prepare and tell the few friends I have, where I'll be going." Naruto said, surprising the girls before nodded in understanding, glad he'll be getting new sword, even better if it'll be a unique and stronger one.
Though they were also saddened he'd be gone for a bit, before shaking it off, knowing he'd be back eventually with his new weapon.
"Well then, how about we get some training done before you go. You could at least start learning the basics of the Ittōryū to be even better once you have your new sword." Satsuki suggested, with Naruto and Hinata nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, it'd be nice for us to train together some more before you leave, Naruto-kun." Hinata added with a smile, liking the chance to train with her teammates before the Uzumaki leaves.
"Okay, then let's go." Said Naruto with the trio heading towards the training grounds to find one they could use.
"Oi! Aniki! Satsuki-neechan! Hinata-neechan!"
Hearing the familiar voice and titles, the three Genin stopped and looked to see Konoka running towards them, along with seeing two other kids running alongside her.
The first is a boy with short brown hair and dark eyes, a seemingly constant drip of snot hanging from his nose, and circular glasses. With him wearing a simple blue shirt which was zipped up the middle, a pair of brown pants, Ninja sandals.
And the second is another girl with orange hair tied up, with red elastics, into two very large pigtails, a perpetual blush on her cheeks, and dark purple, almost black, eyes. With her attire consisting of a red tank top over a pink t-shirt, grey pants, blue Ninja sandals.
With Naruto, Satsuki, and Hinata also noticing the three kids were wearing goggles, Konoka's being slightly hidden by her hat, seeing they were the same as the ones Naruto had.
"Konoka. And who are your friends?" Naruto asked, looking at the three children, raising brow when they suddenly jumped and posed.
"I'm Moegi the cutest girl in the Academy!"
"I'm Udon, I like math!"
"And I'm the leader, Konoka Sarutobi! And together we're…"
"The Konoka Ninja Squad!" Said all three children as they posed together, with the Genin having different reactions to their introduction.
With Satsuki looking at them blankly before sighing and pinching the bridge of her nose while Hinata smiled, finding the introduction adorable. And Naruto also looked at them blankly with a small twitch in his eye.
'…I feel the need to hunt down and destroy a group of teenagers in colored spandex.' Naruto thought, blinking in confusion at where that came from before shaking his head.
"So, I take these are friends of yours from the Academy." Naruto stated, with Konoka nodding with a smile.
"Yeah! These are Moegi Kazamatsuri and Udon Ise! And check it out Aniki, we have goggles just like you, now!" Replied Konoka while showing off their goggles.
"And you three look very good with them. It's also nice to meet you both, Moegi, Udon." Hinata said, smiling at them, which they returned.
"It's nice to meet you guys, too. Konoka talks about you a lot and says you're all really strong, even helping her with her training." Said Udon, sniffling slightly, while Moegi nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, and we really wanted to meet you three! Konoka also said you and Satsuki were really pretty, and that Naruto was the coolest!" Said Moegi with a teasing smile at her friend, making Konoka blush slightly.
"Did she? Well it's certainly nice to hear you think we're really pretty, Kono-chan." Satsuki said with a smirk as Konoka's blush intensified.
"W-w-we-we-well i-i-it's tr-true! N-n-no-no-nothing else, really!" Konoka stuttered before yelping when Naruto flicked her forehead.
"Don't worry Kono-chan, we think you're pretty and cool too." Said Naruto, smirking at the young girl.
"Aniki! Come on, stop it!" Whined Konoka while trying to hide her red face, with Naruto chuckling lightly while Hinata giggled and Satsuki smirked.
"Alright Konoka. So, since your friends wanted to meet us, does that mean you three would like to join us for some training?" Hinata said, with the tree children immediately nodding and smiling in excitement.
"Yeah!" The three kids said with Konoka being eager to train with them again, while Moegi and Udon were excited after hearing and seeing how their friends improved since training with the three Genin.
"Then let's go, we were just about to go get some training done, so your timing is pretty good." Said Satsuki, motioning the three to follow them to the training grounds.
Though unknown to the group, they were being watched by Hanabi. The Hyūga Heiress having originally spotted her sister and her teammates, and intended to ignore them. Only to stop when she saw Konoka, Moegi, and Udon run towards them, feeling angry and jealous when she saw them interacting with Hinata, even more with how happy Hinata seemed to have them join her and her teammates.
'Fine! What do I care?! She already replaced me with someone else! Who cares if she wants more siblings to help forget me! She's the worst sister, anyway!' Hanabi thought, still feeling jealous and anger that Hinata was choosing to spend more time with other kids than she ever did with her.
Especially with how her leaving the Hyūga Clan had affected the young heiress much more than she expected it would.
*Flashback*
Hanabi gritted her teeth as she repeatedly struck the training post again and again, using more force with each palm strike, not caring about the growing pain in her hands as she did so. The Hyūga Heiress only able to hear her father's words echoing in her mind with each strike.
"Again Hanabi! You must show hesitance or restraint in your strikes! Power, precision, and speed are necessary to use the Jūken to its full potential! Now again!"
'Is this hard enough?!' Hanabi mentally screamed while delivering a palm thrust, causing a large crack to appear in the post, but even then Hanabi didn't stop striking it.
With the young girl starting to lose focus of where she even is anymore as she kept striking the tree again and again. Her mind instead focusing on how much more difficult her training has become ever since Hinata had left. Her father pushing her harder than ever before, not wanting the Main Family to look weak after how he couldn't even stop his oldest daughter from leaving.
'A daughter that should be doing this and not me! It's supposed to be her destiny to be heiress, not mine!' Hanabi thought angrily, remembering her grandfather's words about destiny after seeing her father use the Caged Bird Seal on Neji.
"All of us are born into this world bearing our own destiny. And everything we do is for the sake of the Hyūga Clan."
'What does it matter if people will just leave the Hyūga Clan?!' Hanabi thought as the crack in the post grew larger as her thoughts unwilling turned towards her sister.
"Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?" Hanabi muttered repeatedly, wanting to know why Hinata would leave the clan behind, why she'd leave her behind.
Unable to help, but think of when she spied on her sisters training when she was still the Hyūga Heiress, when she'd come to her room the night after and still play with her, despite being tired and hurt. How she wanted to be strong just like Hinata, but also kind and caring too, leading to her training on her own. Only for the day to come when they were forced to fight each other to decide who would be the Heiress of the Hyūga Clan.
'And she lost! She was supposed to be strong; it was supposed to be her destiny to be heiress! But she still lost!' Thought Hanabi with her breathing growing heavy.
But even then, Hinata was always the comforting presence she could turn too, even with how she acted coldly towards her. Though it still didn't do much to lessen the hurt and disillusionment she felt at now being stuck with a title and position she never asked for. But Hinata still cared about her and wanted to spend time together, try to comfort her when she needed it, despite how coldly she treated her.
'Until she replaced me with someone else! Decided to leave to be with her new friends! She doesn't need me, and I don't want anything to do her at all! I'm perfectly fine on my own, I don't need her or anyone else!' Hanabi thought before she suddenly stop hitting the post, looking at her hand with wide eyes at seeing at some point she'd started punching it rather than delivering palm thrusts.
Seeing her knuckles were now bleeding, not to mention the pain she could feel in her palms. Looking back at the post, Hanabi saw the damage done to it, along with specks of her blood staining the wood.
Not even knowing what she was doing anymore, Hanabi turned and ran back inside the compound, breathing heavily without care of if anyone saw her. The brunette not even knowing where she was going, only that her body was taking her somewhere. Until finally she ran into a room and slid the door closed with a loud bang. Panting as she pressed her back against the door, Hanabi slid down to the floor while trying to calm herself down and focus her thoughts.
But when she looked up and saw just what room she'd run into, Hanabi felt something just snap inside her mind at seeing she ended up running into Hinata's old room. Before feeling her entire body start to shake at the sight of the now empty room, thinking of the times she and Hinata spent together in here before their fight, the last time she saw Hinata in here.
Hanabi couldn't stop herself from screaming in pure agony, pain, hurt, and anger, with everyone in the compound hearing and jumping at the sudden scream. The girl not caring anymore who heard her or even about the tears she could feel in her eyes.
"WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?!" Hanabi screamed before suddenly lunging forward and began tearing the room apart.
Ripping apart the bed and pillow, sending stuffing flying everywhere, before going over to the desk and grabbing the chair, throwing it against the wall. With her then tipping the desk over and hitting it repeatedly, breaking the legs off and throwing them around as well. Before turning her attention to the bookshelf, running over and grabbing, tipping it over as well, before stomping on top of it until it broke beneath her.
Hanabi didn't stop tearing the room apart and smashing everything she could get her hands, until she stood in the center of the now destroyed room. Holding her hands to her head and screaming as loudly as she could, before the brunette soon collapsed to the ground in exhaustion and the emotional overload.
*End Flashback*
When she'd woken up, Hanabi had found her father standing over her, now in her own room and learning that she'd been unconscious for nearly an entire day. Before she has then been brought before the entire Hyūga Council, where they had proceeded to chew her out at her behavior, how it was unfitting for a member of the Main Family. Especially given the aftermath of her breakdown had been seen by several members of the Branch Family. With her act being something that could weaken them in their eyes, after how her father allowed a failure like Hinata to leave the Hyūga Clan without branding her with the Caged Bird Seal to protect their secrets. Calling into the question their family's ability to continue leading the Hyūga Clan.
While Hanabi normally would be ashamed at her behavior and swear to make up for it and do better, after what she went through, she didn't even care. Not caring what the elders or the rest of the clan thought of her, not caring for the concern shown to her by some of the Branch Family members, nor caring about those that she knew secretly enjoyed her torment, Hanabi just didn't care.
She still apologized and swore to do better, but only out of instinct, as she didn't actually plan to, but still put on the act of a perfect little heiress. While on the inside, Hanabi could still feel like she'd breakdown at any moment, but did her best to keep it bottled like she always has since becoming the Hyūga Heiress.
Only for it to prove much harder than it was before, feeling like she's now trying to fill up a broken jar, no matter how hard she tries she couldn't hold back her emotions. Especially when it came to Hinata and the new replacements she has for her.
'What makes them better than me?! They don't look like anything special nor do they have any talent!' Hanabi thought with a scowl before deciding to follow Team Seven and the other children.
Wanting to prove, most to herself, that the replacements her sister chose were nothing compared to her.
*With Team Seven and Konoka Ninja Squad*
"So, Moegi, Udon, did you two meet Konoka in the Academy?" Naruto asked as they made their way towards an empty training ground.
"We met not long before we all entered the Academy." Replied Udon, with Moegi and Konoka nodding in agreement.
"Yeah! We all met at the park and spent the entire day playing together, we've been friends ever since! And were all really excited when we were enrolled in the Academy!" Moegi added, happy that they were all in the same class together.
"But some of the classes are really boring! Like learning flower arranging and learning other cultures, which just seems useless! And then Iruka-sensei's lectures just keep going on and on, forever!" Said Konoka, hating how most of their classes are boring and hardly let them learn any Ninja Techniques.
Only to yelp when Hinata flicked her forehead this time, surprising the brunette given the Hyūga was normally the nicer Genin.
"You shouldn't ignore your lessons, even if they don't seem useful, even if they're not all about fighting and learning Jutsu. Also, I'll have you know that flower arranging and learning other cultures are very important, especially for Kunoichi, as we'd be the ones most likely sent on infiltration missions since we're able to look less threatening than Shinobi. And learning about flower arrangements and other cultures allows us to help blend in better with different societies, making it less likely for Kunoichi to be discovered. It's also useful to learn about different types of flowers and plants since they can also be used in making medicines and poisons, something that'd be useful to know when outside of the village." Hinata explained, wanting to them to understand how such knowledge is important.
Plus, part of her felt a little insulted at Konoka's words of flower arranging being useless, given her own hobby of pressing flowers and learning more about different types of flowers.
"She's right about all of that, and that it can be interesting to learn about other cultures in the world, giving you more knowledge of things outside the village. As for Iruka's lectures, think of it as learning patience, something that will help you on missions that won't have you doing a lot of fighting." Said Satsuki, making the students gain thoughtful looks before nodding, with Konoka doing so a little reluctantly.
"Yeah, yeah, okay. I'll try looking at the classes differently." Konoka said, still preferring if they had more lessons on Jutsu and fighting, only to yelp again when Naruto flicked her.
"What was that for?!" Said Konoka in annoyance at being flicked again.
"I've already said it amuses me and that your pouting face is adorable. Even better when you get embarrassed about it." Said Naruto with a smirk, making the young brunette blush and look away, before glaring at her friends when they started laughing.
"So besides being Ninja, is there anything else you two wanted to do after becoming Ninja?" Naruto asked while looking at Moegi and Udon, with Satsuki and Hinata doing the same, curious to learn more about Konoka's friends.
"Um…maybe when I'm older, I thought about becoming a teacher at the Academy since it does seem nice to teach students and help them become Ninja, especially since I really like learning new things and I could probably still learn a lot by teaching at the Academy. Or maybe even join the…um…the…the Cryptanalysis Team! Yeah that, maybe I could join that since we learned about it, it seems like it'd be really fun joining that to help solve problems, deciphering codes and messages, and everything seeming like a puzzle to be solved." Replied Udon, liking the idea of becoming a teacher at the Academy or joining the Cryptanalysis Team to decipher secret codes and messages.
"That's a good goal to have, wanting a chance to help guide new generations at the Academy, or helping to decipher codes and messages. But either goal means you'll really have a lot of work and studying to do to be able to qualify for either role. Though you seem like you're already pretty smart, so I'm sure you'll have what it takes one day." Said Satsuki, with Naruto and Hinata nodding in agreement, making the glasses-wearing boy smile at her words.
"What about you, Moegi? Do you just want to be a Ninja or join another division?" Asked Hinata as she looked at the orangette.
"I want to be one of the best Kunoichi in the world! And also the prettiest idol too!" Moegi said while striking a pose, while the Genin looked at her in slight surprise.
"An…idol?" Hinata said, not expecting that, with Moegi nodding happily.
"Yep! I don't want to just be really strong; I want to be super beautiful too! And there's never really been a Kunoichi who was also an idol before, so that'll make me the first!" Said Moegi, making the Genin think it over for a moment.
"Well…it's certainly a unique goal." Satsuki stated, the bluenette nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, it is. Though I'm sure it's one you'll be able to reach Moegi." Naruto said, with Moegi looking at him surprise.
"Really?" Moegi asked, given how everyone else, outside of Konoka and Udon, thought it was stupid and made fun of her for it, with the whiskered ravenette nodding in response.
"Yes. It's definitely not a profession one would expect a Kunoichi to have, but that also makes it perfect, given it'd make enemies underestimate you. Thinking that you focus more on your looks than your skills, along with helping to throw them off guard when you show how capable you are. Not to mention it'd be useful in helping blend in and wearing a disguise on missions. So, yeah, I believe that you'd be able to do it, making you an even better Kunoichi in the process." Said Naruto, making the orangette smile brightly at his words.
"Thank you, Naruto-niichan! And yeah, I'll be the best Kunoichi and idol, I can be, when I'm older!" Said Moegi, feeling happy and touched at his confidence in her dream.
'Konoka was right…he really is cool!' Moegi thought while looking at the Uzumaki in admiration.
"I'm sure you will. It helps that you certainly have the confidence for it, and like you said, you are the cutest girl in the Academy already." Naruto said, smirking at Moegi, with her blushing at this.
"R-really?" Moegi asked shyly, since that's just how she introduces herself along with Konoka and Udon.
"Yeah, you have unique features with your hair and eyes, helping you standout more. I'm sure you'll grow into a beautiful woman as well." Replied Naruto, with Moegi's blush intensifying, while Konoka's eye twitched.
"Though you'll also have Konoka to compete with as well." Naruto added, making the brunette smirk at her friend.
"Yeah Moegi! I'll be an even stronger Kunoichi! Maybe even be an idol too, since I'm in need of a new goal since I don't want to be Hokage anymore." Konoka said, with Moegi narrowing her eyes at her friend before smirking.
"Are you sure about that, Konoka? I wouldn't want to worry about hurting your feelings by upstaging you." Moegi said, with the Sarutobi scoffing.
"Alright that's enough, besides we're here." Naruto said, stopping them before things could escalate, as they arrived at an empty training ground, making the three children perk up before looking at the Genin eagerly.
"So, what're we going to learn first, Aniki?!" Konoka asked, eager to see what they'll be training in today.
"How about giving you three a little head start for when you become Genin." Said Satsuki, with Naruto and Hinata nodding in agreement.
"What kind of head start?" Asked Udon, with the Uchiha pulling out three pieces of Chakra Paper.
"This is called Chakra Paper; it's used to help Ninja find out their Elemental Affinity in order to master them. Obviously we won't actually be training you three to master your affinities, that'll be up to your Jōnin Sensei. But it'll be something useful to know later on, allowing you to better focus on Elemental Ninjutsu you're aligned with. Just channel some Chakra into the paper to see what your affinities are." Satsuki explained before handing them the Chakra Paper.
Nodding, the three students channeled some Chakra into the paper, with Udon's getting wet, Moegi's got wet before crumbling into dirt, and Konoka's was cut in half before igniting.
"What does that all mean?" Moegi asked as they looked at their Chakra Paper, or what was left of them for her and Konoka.
"It looks like Udon has a Water Affinity, Moegi has both an Earth Affinity as well as a Water Affinity too, while Konoka has a Wind Affinity and Fire Affinity." Satsuki said with a nod, seeing that they had good affinities that could cover each other very well.
"Alright! I got two awesome affinities, with them being way cooler than earth or water!" Konoka said, smirking at Moegi, who stuck her tongue out at the brunette before smirking when Naruto flicked Konoka.
"Yes, you have a Fire Affinity and Wind Affinity, with the former being useless against Moegi's Water Affinity. Just because you have affinities that are good for attacking, doesn't mean they're all-powerful. While having an Earth Affinity and Water Affinity means Moegi would be capable of not just attacking, but defending as well. Along with being capable of hiding underground, changing the terrain of a battlefield, and manipulating any form of earth around her. While her Water Affinity is just as useful since it'd be strong against Fire Style Ninjutsu, as well as capable of slowing down or even trapping opponents. The same applies to Udon's own Water Affinity." Said Naruto, with the orangette's smirk growing while Konoka looked down.
"But that also doesn't mean your own affinities aren't still powerful, I have a Wind Affinity as well, which is supposed to be really rare in the Land of Fire, making it a good surprise to have against opponents. Having a Fire Affinity to go along with your Wind Affinity makes it even more powerful if you combine them together for even more powerful attacks. You could even combine Wind Style Ninjutsu with Water Style Ninjutsu, giving them both more range, coverage, and power." Naruto said, making Konoka look up happily before smirking at Moegi, pleased at having the same affinity as her crush.
"Hear that Moegi, I'll be able to help you when you're water starts falling short." Said Konoka, Moegi returning the smirk.
"You mean after I use it to cool off that hothead of yours, you mean. Or when you have your head in the clouds and need to be brought back down to Earth." Said Moegi, with Konoka scowling in annoyance.
"As long as you don't have your head buried in the ground for too long." Konoka retorted, while Satsuki and Hinata traded a look as they saw Konoka and Moegi trading barbs.
Both Genin wondering if that's what they would have been like if they were friends in the Academy with their respective crushes on Naruto.
"Okay, now that we know what your affinities are, let's go on to the actual training. It'll be a Chakra Control Exercise, something every Ninja learns once they become Genin." Hinata said, getting the children's attention.
"Is it that one you taught Aniki and Satsuki-neechan to walk up trees?! Or what about the one where you three walked on water?!" Konoka asked excitedly, having wanted to be able to learn that when she first saw it, while Hinata nodded in response.
"The first one, since Water Walking is still a little advanced. Konoka's already heard the explanation of what the exercise requires. But Moegi, Udon, pay attention, what you need to do is focus a fixed amount of Chakra to the bottom of your feet, doing so allows you to stick to practically any surface. Like this." Hinata said before walking up to a tree, much to Moegi's and Udon's shock and amazement, she walked right up to it like it was the ground.
"You need to make sure you use enough Chakra, otherwise you won't stick to the tree and fall off, but if you use too much Chakra than you'll be blown off of it." Said Hinata before jumping off the tree.
"You three will be doing that for today, and if you manage to succeed in sticking to the tree, then start running up and down it until you get low on Chakra. It'll help to build up your Chakra Control and Chakra Reserves, as well as being good physical exercise. And the more you do it, you'll eventually start sticking subconsciously without needing to actively channel Chakra to your feet. Understood?" Said Naruto.
"Hai!" The children said, nodding in response.
"Then start climbing." Satsuki said, motioning to three trees lined up together, with the students quickly running over to them and began working on walking up the trees.
*Later*
The Konoka Ninja Squad had continued practicing the Surface Walking Exercise for a few hours with Team Seven overseeing their progress. With Moegi proving to already have pretty good Chakra Control, having gotten higher than Konoka and Udon have. Something which only pushed Konoka to try harder at mastering the exercise, refusing to let the orangette get ahead of her.
Though they did need to stop every once in a while, due to them still not having very large Chakra Reserves, only to get right back to it once they were rested. All three of them being determined to master the exercise as quickly as they could. While Naruto, Satsuki, and Hinata mostly remained off to the side, offering some advice and tips when it was needed.
Before the whiskered ravenette had gone and sat under a tree, pulling out a note book and pen before he began making sketches of the sword he planned to have made in Takumi Village.
'Should it just be the Crescent Blade?' Naruto thought, looking at the drawing he made of Zen-Aku's Crescent Blade, wondering if he should just have a replica of it made.
Given with the Duke Wolf's memories, it would be easy for him to learn to wield and master the weapon. But at the same time, Naruto didn't want to just base his fighting style around Zen-Aku's own abilities. Even though he's the Duke Wolf's successor, he also wanted to find his own style as well.
'Maybe just have some parts from it, without being a replica…' Thought Naruto as he began modifying the sketch, removing or adding a few details while changing others.
Until soon the sword now resembled an oversized khyber knife, though it didn't have a handle and instead just an oversized tang. With Naruto smiling at the design, feeling that he's now on the right track with the design of the sword he wanted.
'The only problem is there's no handle.' Naruto thought before he began making some more modifications to the blade.
With Satsuki and Hinata looking over at their friend, getting curious when they saw him drawing in a note book, making them trade a look before going over to him. The girls seeing that Naruto was making sketches of a sword, realizing he must be thinking of a design for the one he wanted made.
"Is that the sword you're going to have made in Takumi Village?" Hinata asked as they stood on either side of Naruto, making the Uzumaki look up at them before nodding.
"Yeah, I have a good idea of what I want it to look like, now I'm just focusing on the smaller details and any additions I'd want to include. Given Takumi Village is known for producing unique and special weapons, it couldn't hurt if I had some extra features to my sword." Replied Naruto, with the girls nodding in agreement at this before looking over what he already had so far.
"What about it having the ability to absorb and store Chakra within it, allowing you to either release the stored up Chakra as an attack without using your own or transfer the Chakra to you if you're running low." Satsuki suggested with Hinata nodding in agreement, knowing that'd be a useful ability, while Naruto hummed in thought and wrote the idea down.
"Maybe even make it possible to turn the Chakra stored inside it into Elemental Chakra, letting you use Elemental Techniques even if you can't use the element the Chakra's turned into, like being able to use Lightning Style or Earth Style techniques with it." Said Hinata, with Naruto writing her idea down as well.
"Good ideas and would be very useful. Another potential feature I was thinking of is making it so only I'd be able to use the sword, while anyone else who tries grabbing it would be drained of their Chakra, making it easier to take enemies down if I just trick them into picking up the sword." Said Naruto, with Satsuki and Hinata nodding in agreement since definitely be a good ability to include.
"One other thing I'd say is that given how big it seems you're going to have it be, maybe another feature is that it can shrink down or transform into a smaller sword. That way you won't be at a disadvantage if you're fighting in a more closed-in location." Said Satsuki, with Naruto nodding at this, given he did plan to have the sword be pretty large.
"What sword, Aniki?" Konoka asked as she, Moegi, and Udon came over, after getting curious of what the Genin were doing and seeing Naruto drawing something.
"A sword I'm planning to have commissioned in a few days. We were just thinking of different features and abilities it could have." Naruto replied, showing them what he has so far and the ideas that were suggested.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh! You should give it a chain at the end! Then you could swing it around to hit enemies! No wait, put another sword on the end of the handle so you can attack twice as many enemies!" Konoka said excitedly at the chance to help her crush design his weapon.
"That wouldn't make any sense, he could end up hitting a teammate and putting another sword on it would make it too heavy! He should make it be able to transform into other weapons, that'd be way cooler and more useful to have it be able to transform!" Said Moegi.
"Why have it turn into other weapons when it already is a weapon?! Besides, Aniki's sword would already be awesome, it wouldn't need to turn into anything else! And he could have another sword on the end of the chain, then he could throw one and swing around after it hits something!" Said Konoka.
"It'd be cooler to turn into other weapons and be a big surprise!" Moegi stated.
"Um…maybe something to cover your hand with, Konoka's uncle has these trench knives he wears on his hands, maybe you could have something like that." Suggested Udon, with Konoka eagerly nodding in agreement.
"Yeah! Uncle Asuma uses trench knives to fight and channels Chakra into them to make them longer! You could do the same Aniki, then you'd be able to also punch enemies and make your sword longer!" Konoka said.
Naruto nodded at their suggestions, knowing that most of them were pretty impractical and childish, but some of them did have merit and could be changed a little to be more realistic and useful. With his teammates and the students making more suggestions of features and abilities his sword could have, while the Uzumaki wrote down the ones he liked or thought would be useful.
All the while they were unaware of Hanabi watching them through the trees, clenching her fists in anger at how close her sister was being with Konoka and her friends. Having been watching them the entire time as they headed towards the training ground and when they arrived. Feeling anger, hate, pain, and sadness the more she watched Hinata interact with them, seeing how the three Academy Students looked up to her.
With these feelings only growing the more she watched, despite Hanabi's best efforts to push them back down and ignore them. Before the Hyūga Heiress couldn't take it anymore and stormed out of her hiding spot.
"You're the worst sister anyone could ever have!" Hanabi screamed, glaring at the group, making them look up at her in surprise with Hinata being the most surprised to see her sister.
"Hanab-" Said Hinata, not expecting to see Hanabi here, only for the brunette to cut her off.
"First you leave and now you're finding replacements for me! You're the worst, I hate you! I hate you for not being stronger, I hate you for making me become the heiress, I hate you for leaving, I hate that you're replacing me now! I hate you for being a terrible sister! I wish I never even had a sister if I knew you were like this!" Shouted Hanabi, glaring at the bluenette, while Hinata looked shocked and hurt at her outburst before frowning at her sister.
"Hanabi, I'm sorry I made you feel that way, but that's no excuse to act like this. Especially since I never intended to replace you. We could have still spent time together, I even wanted to still spend time together like we used to, but you didn't want to. Nor have I ever once made you do something that you didn't want to." Hinata said, with Hanabi still glaring at her.
"But you made me become heiress, that's something I didn't want! You were supposed to be stronger, but you weren't, I still beat you, now I have a destiny I never wanted!" Hanabi retorted.
"You won because I refused to hurt you, I could have won our match, but I chose not to. But that doesn't mean you still aren't skilled and powerful yourself Hanabi, I wasn't going to hurt someone I care about. Especially over something like remaining heiress." Said Hinata, making the brunette grit her teeth.
"Then that just makes you a coward if you aren't willing to fight for something! Or that you'd hesitate to strike just because you care about your opponent! I didn't hesitate!" Hanabi yelled, with Hinata nodding in agreement.
"No, you didn't, and maybe that does make you strong. Maybe I am a coward for not wanting to hurt someone I care about. But if that's the case, then so be it. I couldn't be what the rest of the Hyūga Clan wanted me as, someone who'd do anything for the good of the clan, and I'm fine with that, since it would've meant I'd stop caring about anyone or anything but the clan. But that doesn't mean I don't fight for something, I fight to protect those I care about, that's something I'll never hesitate in doing. That still includes you Hanabi, even if you do hate me, I'd still want to keep you safe." Said Hinata.
"That didn't stop you from leaving! You say you'll keep me safe, but you still left me alone, you never came back to see me, you didn't even see me when you left! Now you're a liar and a coward!" Said Hanabi glaring at her sister.
"I couldn't come to see you Hanabi, it only would have caused more problems, given how I am banished from the Hyūga Clan. And nothing was stopping you from coming to see me, like you're doing now, I would have loved the chance to see you again, but it was your choice not to come meet me sooner." Hinata replied, with Hanabi scowling in anger while her eyes darted around before settling on the bluenette.
"Then I'll force you to come back! Once I'm clan head, you'll have to do what I say, that includes coming back to the compound! I'll make it so you can't leave ever again and do whatever I say!" Hanabi retorted, knowing then she'd never lose her sister again if she made her come back.
"You can't do that Hanabi. Even if by some chance the council agreed to let me return, it'd only cause problems for you and me." Stated Hinata.
"I don't ca-" Said Hanabi, only for Hinata to cut her off.
"Hanabi, stop. Now!" Hinata said sternly, making the young brunette stop and look at her in surprise.
"I am sorry if I made you feel like I abandoned or replaced you, it was never my intentions, but I couldn't stay with the Hyūga Clan anymore. It was clear after I lost against you that I wasn't welcome, both the Main Family and Branch Family saw me as a failure, with the latter also hating me for being part of the Main Family as well, despite my attempts to be kind to them. Leaving was the only option left, and I'm glad that I took it to finally have my own freedom without worry of being judged for my personality or kindness. But that doesn't mean I stopped caring about you Hanabi, you're still my little sister. Nor does it mean I'm going to deal with you acting like a child that got their favorite toy taken away. You chose to cut me out of your life, you chose not to come see me when I left, and you chose to come here now and confront me. I may have left, but you also need to accept the fact you had a role to play in that as well." Said Hinata, with Hanabi looking at her with wide eyes before quickly shaking her head and glaring at her.
"Fine then! Leave and keep your loser friends and your new siblings! I'm fine if I never have to see you again, even better if I forget you ever existed! I don't want you to come back ever or think of you as my sister!" Hanabi said, while Hinata looked at her neutrally before nodding.
"If that's what you want Hanabi." Hinata said, making the heiress falter slightly at her acceptance.
"It is! Good riddance!" Hanabi said before turning to leave, while hoping that will finally make the pain go away.
"Hey!" Konoka shouted getting up and running over to Hanabi, making the Hyūga Heiress stop and look at her coldly.
"What do you want?" Said Hanabi, not interested in anything her "replacement" has to say, while the Sarutobi glared at her.
"Apologize to Hinata-neechan and to us too, right now!" Said Konoka, with Hanabi scoffing at this.
"Why should I waste my time on such nonsense? Or even keep wasting my time talking to you?" Hanabi retorted as she went to leave again.
"Then you're the real coward!" Said Konoka, making Hanabi stop and slowly turn towards her.
"What did you just call me?!" Hanabi demanded, angry that she'd even dare call her a coward.
"That you're the real coward! Hinata-neechan did nothing wrong to you, she even still cares about you enough to willingly never see you again just because it's what you want! But you still hate her just for wanting to be happy! You're not just a coward, you're selfish too! You don't care about what she wants, only what you want! But I'm not going to let you talk to her that way, so apologize!" Konoka said, glaring at the Hyūga.
"Why don't you try and make me, loser!" Retorted Hanabi.
"Fine! Best two-out-of-three, when I win you'll apologize! Not that it'll take me longer than one round to beat you!" Said Konoka, with Hanabi scoffing that she's actually challenging her, while Hinata looked at Konoka in worry.
"Konoka, you really don't have to do this." Hinata said, given her sisters been training for years and is the prodigy of the Main Family.
"No! If your new sister wants to lose so badly, then I'll fight her! I could use a nice warmup before getting back to my actual training." Said Hanabi, glaring at both of them, now eager for the chance to knock Konoka down if it meant hurting Hinata just a little.
"You're the only one who'll lose!" Konoka retorted before getting into a stance, Hanabi getting into the Jūken stance as well.
"You're not even worth using my Byakugan on." Hanabi stated with a smirk, intending to end this quickly.
Scowling at her words, Konoka charged at Hanabi with her fist pulled back, making Hanabi scoff at her plan to attack. With the Sarutobi soon closing the distance between them and threw her fist at Hanabi's head, only for Hanabi to deflect the punch before thrusting her hand at Konoka's stomach to take her out.
Though Hanabi was a little surprised when Konoka managed to side-step her palm strike before grabbing her wrist and throwing her forward, making the Hyūga almost lose her momentum. Only to be surprised herself when Hanabi managed to catch herself from falling to the ground. With the Hyūga then quickly turning around deflecting another punch Konoka threw at the back of her head.
Before Hanabi gave another palm strike, this time succeeding in striking Konoka's abdomen, making the other brunette gasp at the hit. With the heiress then quickly delivering a sweeping kick, knocking Konoka's legs out from under her. Giving another palm strike that knocked her to the ground, where Hanabi pinned her with a foot on her chest.
"Have you been humiliated enough or do you want to be further embarrassed?" Hanabi asked tauntingly, with Konoka scowling at her before suddenly smirking.
"Are you ready to be embarrassed?" Retorted Konoka before quickly grabbing Hanabi by her ankle and throwing her off, surprising the Hyūga Heiress.
Not expecting to be grabbed or thrown back like that, Hanabi stumbled to try and maintain her balance, giving Konoka time to get up and charge her. Before the Sarutobi jumped up and slammed her foot into Hanabi's face, sending the Hyūga crashing to the ground. Then before Hanabi could try getting back up, Konoka straddled her waist and held her arms down.
"Looks like it's my win now." Said Konoka tauntingly, making Hanabi glare at her.
"We didn't start the second round, this is cheating!" Retorted Hanabi, believing she's now won by default.
"Nope! I said best two-out-of-three, I never said it'd be matches specifically, just that you had to win two times. And besides we're supposed to be Ninja, that means cheating is just another tool we use to win. Which I've now done." Konoka said with a smirking before getting off the other brunette, while Hanabi looked at her with wide eyes.
"But fine, if you want it to be fair, then this will decide the winner either way." Added Konoka, while Hanabi got up and glared at her before getting into her stance again.
"I'm gonna enjoy seeing you eat dirt, loser!" Hanabi said, swearing to make this as humiliating as possible.
"That's my line!" Konoka retorted before charging Hanabi again.
With Hanabi rushing towards Konoka as well, refusing to fall for any more tricks that she may have. The heiress ducking under a punch from Konoka. While Konoka quickly moved back when Hanabi delivered a palm thrust at her chest, before dropping to the ground in a crouch when the other brunette got in close to her. The Sarutobi then kicking her leg out towards Hanabi to knock her off balance.
Only to be surprised when Hanabi spun around her kick and got behind her, crying out when Hanabi struck her in the back. With Konoka then rolling to the side, managing to avoid another strike from Hanabi before jumping at the Hyūga to tackle her to the ground. Only for Hanabi to bend backwards, with Konoka flying right over her. The Sarutobi crying out when Hanabi gave a painful palm strike to her chest, knocking her out of the air where she crashed into the ground.
Before Konoka could try and get up, Hanabi was on top of her with her hand pulled back to strike her again.
"Just like I thought, this was a waste of my time." Hanabi stated before getting up and turns to leave the training ground, with no one stopping her this time, pleasing the Hyūga Heiress.
'Hopefully now these feelings will go away.' Hanabi thought, hoping her pain and sadness will go away finally, now that she's confronted Hinata.
While doing her best to ignore the humbling feeling she now felt, after confronting Hinata and the fact Konoka actually managed to get a win over her.
"I…I lost…I tried my best…but still lost…" Konoka muttered sitting up while looking down, feeling upset, hurt, and sad that despite trying her best to win she still lost.
'I'm sorry Aniki, Satsuki-neechan, Hinata-neechan, I failed.' Thought Konoka as she pulled her knees to her chest, feeling ready to cry.
Believing that she let Naruto, Satsuki, and Hinata down by losing, even after they started helping her train. While feeling even worse that she'd been fighting for Hinata, but still couldn't win in the end before the girl yelped at suddenly being flicked on the forehead. Making her look up to see Naruto and Hinata smiling at her.
"You did pretty good Konoka, especially when you got your win and acted like a real Ninja." Naruto stated, with Hinata nodding in agreement, making Konoka look at them with wide eyes.
"B-bu-but I…lost…I let you down." Konoka said, only for them to shake their heads.
"You didn't let us down, Konoka. Hanabi has been training a lot longer than you have and much more intensely. While you have improved a lot since we started training you, Hanabi just had more training. But that doesn't mean you failed, you may have lost the fight, you still tried your best and even managed to beat her once. Be proud since it shows how far you've come in your training." Said Hinata, smiling at the brunette, with Satsuki nodding in agreement as she went over to Konoka.
"They're right. No one's expecting you to be able to win every battle or defeat every opponent. There are going to be times you'll lose and get knocked down, but don't seem them as failures, see them as opportunities to get up and try again and again. What's important is that you keep trying and never give up, that's when you'll really lose. So, don't see this as losing, just a chance to try again and train even harder so that next time you will win." Satsuki said, patting Konoka on the shoulder, before Moegi and Udon ran over to them.
"Konoka! You were amazing! Being able to stand up to the Hyūga Heiress off all people, even managing to beat her once! You really are strong!" Moegi said, smiling at her friend, with Udon nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, that was great! I don't think anyone else in the Academy would have stood up to her like that, or come close to beating her like you did!" Added Udon with a smile of his own, with Konoka looked at them all in surprise before smiling brightly as she got up.
"Yeah, I am awesome! I wasn't going to let her talk about any of us like that, or insult Hinata-neechan! And maybe she won, but that just means I'll have to train even harder, so that next time, she'll be the one landing on her ass and me standing over her!" Konoka said, determined to train even harder and grow stronger, so that she'll be the one knocking Hanabi down next time.
Only to yelp when Hinata hit her on the head, ruining the brunettes moment.
"You can train as hard as you want, but don't think you'll be able to use such language at all, no matter how old you are!" Said Hinata sternly, refusing to have Konoka talk like that.
With the sight making the others laugh good naturedly, while Konoka groaned at being reprimanded and her moment being ruined.
*Timeskip-Three Days*
Naruto and Yūgao walked through the gates to make their way towards Takumi Village, after packing up everything they'll need for the trip and say their goodbyes to everyone. With the purplette looking at her student curiously.
"So, I've heard you've worked out a design for your new sword, along with some abilities you'd want it to have." Yūgao stated, with Naruto nodding in agreement as he pulled out the notebook with his sword's design and handed it to her.
"Yeah, I just finished the design yesterday, after getting all the details worked out. And I'm hoping that we'll find someone in Takumi Village, who can make it exactly as it is." Said Naruto, with Yūgao opening the book and looked over the designs, her eyes widening at everything there was.
"Well…I'll say that if we can find someone who can make this, it'll certainly be one-of-a-kind. It could even rival the abilities of the Seven Swords of the Mists." Said Yūgao, impressed at what Naruto's come up with.
"Are you also planning to give it a name?" Yūgao asked, with the Uzumaki nodding in response.
"Yeah, I even already have one picked out and thought it was pretty fitting." Naruto said with a smirk, making Yūgao look at him in interest before looking back at the scroll to see if he wrote it down, soon finding what she guessed was the name of the sword.
Zangetsu.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Naruto meeting with Satsuki and Hinata, learning about what they did after leaving the hospital, along with Kurenai being interested in meeting him and getting Ittōryū scroll from Satsuki, before they see Konoka running towards them where they meet Moegi and Udon, with all three of them wanting to train with the Genin which they agree to do. Before we see Hanabi watching them as they leave, where we see just how much Hinata leaving has affected her along with a flashback showing her having a mental breakdown after no longer being able to handle the pressure of everything, as well as the aftermath of it. Then we see Team Seven getting to know Moegi and Udon better (since there's literally no information about their background, likes, dislikes, or hobbies some stuff was made up that'd suit their personalities), learning Udon wants to be a teacher at the Academy or join the Cryptanalysis Team, while Moegi plans to become a Kunoichi and an idol, surprising the Genin before showing their support of her, especially Naruto along with complimenting Moegi, leading to her beginning to develop a crush as well, much to Konoka's annoyance as they buttheads a few times. Before we then see their training, testing their affinities before being taught the Surface Walking Exercise, while Naruto begins working on designs for his new sword with Satsuki and Hinata offering suggestions for abilities it could have, leading Konoka, Moegi, and Udon to give their own suggestions as well. All the while Hanabi has been watching them until she finally reveals herself and vents her anger and pain at Hinata, with Hinata acting as the stern and cold sister as Hanabi's having her tantrum and yelling at her, before Konoka intervenes and tries getting her to apologize leading to them having a best two-out-of-three match, which Konoka loses but not before getting a win over Hanabi, humbling the Hyūga Heiress along with her confrontation with Hinata. With Naruto and Hinata comforting Konoka, Satsuki also giving her some advice, and her friends cheering for her at standing up to Hanabi and even beating her once, helping Konoka's mood and making her more determined to train harder. Finally we see a small timeskip of Naruto and Yūgao heading out to Takumi Village, with Naruto showing Yūgao the finished design of his new sword as well as the name he's decided on, Zangetsu. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.
Storm out