Author's Note: Work schedules are being fucky again, so we'll unfortunately not be posting much this month, but we were at least able to get another installment of ADR ready for posting in advance, so yay. :)

Also, I fucking love this chapter, lol.


A Different Road

Arc One: Genin Buntai

Chapter Four: Red vs Blue and the Bushy Brows o' Doom


Walking into his one-man apartment and locking the door behind him, Naruto made his way over to the main―and sole―table in his abode.

Pulling another wrapped up scroll Kakashi-sensei gave them from his equipment pouch, he tossed it onto the table alongside the dozen or so other ninja scrolls he'd been trying to figure out, but failing most of the time without outside assistance.

An avid bookworm, Naruto was not.

It wasn't that he couldn't read or anything. He just had a hard time absorbing the information. Rin-neechan said it was because he was a kinetic learner… and then she had to explain what that meant to him, much to her amusement. (1)

Safe to say, Naruto felt rather embarrassed whenever his lack of common knowledge became obvious, especially when it concerned his two big sister figures.

Deciding to do some reading before going to bed, Naruto first took off his clothes and took a shower. Then, no more than 10 minutes later, he was sitting almost buck-naked sans his towel at the table, perusing through Kakashi's scroll.

Another five minutes later, and the blond felt like having a headache.

"Battlefield Information Gathering and Extraction Tactics, Part I," the blond quoted, shoulders sagging when he saw the overtly-complex title… but then, as he read on, Naruto was pleasantly surprised to note that it was quite a bit more digestible from there.

"Information is the bread and butter of all ninja. If you know your enemy and they don't know you, you are far more likely to win in a fight…"

That made a lot of sense. The blond kept reading.

"Deception is just as important for the same reason. Always try to hide what you're capable of in a fight." Naruto's face scrunched up at that.

How was he supposed to become Hokage if nobody knew how awesome he was?

"Always remember that what's true for you is also true for your enemies; if they know you and you don't know them, you will lose." (2)

Naruto groaned. He still didn't like it. That made sense, but he didn't like it. And from there, he kept on studying.

Needless to say, sleep eluded him that night.


A groggy Naruto shambled towards his team's training field early in the morning. Thanks to his late night attempts at studying, he hadn't gotten a lot of sleep.

Or any sleep.

At all.

None whatso…

Thud!

Naruto collapsed mid-step, unable to go on any longer.

And then, there was a second thud right beside him…

Needless to say, Kakashi was far more entertained than Higurashi to discover her teammates curled up and snoozing away, pressing against each other for warmth with Byakkomaru in a little ball of fluff on top of them both.


"When I told you kids to study those scrolls, I didn't mean for you to cram all night," Kakashi said half-jokingly.

"Force of habit," Naruto grunted. (3)

"I'm more active at night," Kishu added with a helpless shrug.

Both of them still looked incredibly groggy.

"So I see," Kakashi drawled before turning his head to look at Higurashi, offering an eye-smile. "Congratulations. You've been promoted to squad leader. Do try to keep them alive."

"I shall do my best," she stated tonelessly, still feeling miffed.

Kakashi clapped. "Good, good," he chirped, "And now, a pop-quiz. And since you two have studied all night, wrong answers mean no lunch break. For any of you."

"But we didn't even have breakfast." Naruto was quick to protest, Kishu nodding with him.

Kakashi offered another eye-smile.

"I fail to see how that's my problem."

At that, Naruto started to sweat. He did not like where this was going.

"You are escorting a client to his home in another country," Kaskashi began. "The path seems clear and the weather is nice and sunny. What is the first order of business?"

"Scout," Kishu grunted.

"Have Higurashi send some of her bugs ahead to look for any ambushes?" Naruto suggested.

Kakashi smiled at that, pleasantly surprised by Naruto's answer.

"Good answer, Naruto." He praised, making the blond grin, "But not good enough. Half-answers won't get you any food you know."

"Aw come on, sensei!"

"While you are waiting for Higurashi's bugs to return, the clock is ticking. The mission, as it turns out, is time sensitive. What do you do now?"

"Cross formation," Kishu grunted. "One person on each side of the client and advance."

"Try to keep pace," Naruto elaborated. "If we need to get him to where he's going quickly, that's what we should focus on… but keep an eye out for Higurashi's bugs and anything that might be a problem." Naruto took a moment to think, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "I'd put Kishu up front since she and Byakkomaru would basically be two pairs of eyes."

'Definitely more than a couple of tricks.' Kakashi mused; without even knowing it, Naruto was already acting the part of team captain. Rin did well preparing him.

He just needed to learn a few practical skills before he was ready for the role… that and self-discipline. A lot of it.

"Sensei, why isn't Higurashi being questioned?" Kishu asked, squinting at their newly elected team leader.

"She is," Kakashi answered, looking at the girl in question.

Kishu looked at the Aburame expectantly.

Higurashi merely shrugged.

"I have already eaten."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at that. Apparently, someone was feeling vindictive. Not that he could blame her, really. It was abundantly clear to him by now that the "someone" she mentioned yesterday was Naruto.

But still, that simply wouldn't do.

"Aw, come on Higurashi-chan!" Naruto whined, looking at his teammate with those wide, blue eyes, "Won't you help us, please?"

He was frickin hungry!

Despite her blank expression, she visibly melted at that.

"...I would be best suited for the rear," she added. "In that position, a portion of my hive could more easily trail behind and warn me if someone tries to approach us from that angle. I would also have a portion at the ready in case I need to use Mushi no Tate. It is a defensive technique that can deflect most incoming attacks."

Kakashi nodded his head.

"That is well thought out, Higurashi." he complimented, "You guys pass your first Client Protection Detail."

"Woohoo!" Naruto cheered, before giving the girl a wide, beaming smile, "Thanks a bunch Higurashi, you're awesome!"

He wouldn't have to go hungry!

Higurashi turned bright red at that, averting her gaze.

"Alright now, settle down kids." Kakashi said, "Next question. "

Naruto, Kishu, and Higurashi all turned their attention to him.

Hidden behind his mask, Kakashi grinned.

He still had to teach them a lesson here. There would be no mercy from him.


This process went on for several days. Each morning, before training, Kakashi-sensei would quiz them on various situations and protocols that might come up during their missions. Quite a few of them weren't included with the reading material, and the trio of genin had to wrack their brains and come up with solutions on their own. How well they answered made the difference between the rest of the day consisting of training or "survival" exercises.

If there was one thing Naruto, Kishu and Higurashi could agree on without question, it was that Kakashi-sensei was a slave driver. (4)

Of course, he was being watched throughout that whole first week for good measure. Chouyama was rather pleased with what he saw... and upon reporting his findings to the Hokage, he was pulled away to help the new recruit adjust to life as an ANBU.

And then, after they took the weekend off to rest, Kakashi came with someone in tow on the following Monday.

A man dressed in green… and he brought three of their former classmates with him. The man in question was a tall and muscular one with a bowl cut and thick-ass eyebrows. He had a massive, shit-eating grin upon his face and was garbed in green spandex with orange leg warmers and the same flak jacket as their own instructor. Around his waist was his Konoha headband and upon his feet were a standard, matching pair of running shoes.

"Oh man, not that prick." Naruto complained as soon as he saw Neji. Besides him, Kishu snorted into her pup's fur, having been cuddling the ninken.

The pale-eyed boy's ever-present frown deepened.

"I think he heard you," Higurashi commented, walking up to the two.

"And? The dislike is mutual." The blond scratched the back of his hair, "Just because he's a Hyuuga doesn't mean I won't point out the giant stick up his ass."

"I like you more and more every day," Kishu commented with an impish grin.

Byakkomaru begged to differ, but he tolerated the blond.

''...Is that a good thing?" Naruto muttered to himself.

Kishu punched him in the shoulder.

"Don't be an ass."

"Sorry?"

"Alright, you three," Kakashi called out, "eyes up front."

His students complied without question.

"What splendid examples of Youth, Kakashi, my eternal rival!" The man laughed boisterously. "Your students will make for fine opponents, I'm sure!"

"Opponents?" Naruto asked.

"Examples of youth?" Kishu muttered.

"...Why is he not wearing undergarments?" Higurashi couldn't help but notice.

Her teammates then couldn't help but look… and they immediately regretted it, their faces turning green at the sight. Yeah, it was pretty obvious; spandex didn't generally leave much to the imagination, after all.

"You get used to it," the man's sole female student commented, a haunted look and hollow grin upon her face. (5)

"I would rather not," Higurashi stated.

Naruto and Kishu, meanwhile, looked at the girl with clear and obvious mental scars. Then at one another. Then back at her instructor.

With a big "Nope'' of an expression on their faces, the two turned around and prepared to bolt out of there.

"Now, now," Kakashi lectured, visibly trying very hard not to look amused. "No running off, you two." This sensei business was far more hilarious than he'd thought.

Still, he knew their pain. He and this man have known each other since the Third Great War, after all.

Deciding to get introductions out of the way, Kakashi then gestured to the man in green. "This is Maito Gai," he said. "I'm sure you remember his students from class."

"Hyuuga Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten. No surname." Higurashi listed… more for Naruto's benefit than anyone's, as he was far more focused on his studies than getting to know anyone at the time.

Having to repeat the year lit a fire under his ass, even if he sucked at and hated it.

Starting in that order, Neji was a boy with long, brown hair and pale skin. He had the usual pale eyes of the Hyuuga clan and wore his headband across the forehead. He was garbed in a beige, high-neck top, dark brown boardshorts, and matching hiking boots. His hair was mostly pulled back into a ponytail bound at the very end and his right leg was bound in sarashi cloth for no good reason whatsoever.

As for Rock Lee, he apparently got a haircut as his braid was now missing in favor of a messy, long do. It was still parted in the middle and he wore his headband across his forehead like his teammates.

The boy in question had black hair, matching eyes, and thick-ass eyebrows like his sensei. He was garbed in a beige gi with black accents and a matching sash, black trousers, white socks, and felt shoes.

Finally, Tenten was a brown-eyed brunette with her hair done up in a pair of buns.

She wore a pink, strappy vest; blue, baggy pants; white socks; and the same shoes as Lee. Her Konoha headband had a black cloth unlike those of her teammates, and she sported two ninja tool pouches on her belt, filled to the brim with kunai.

Seeing how she was her team's leader until further notice, Higurashi took it upon herself to approach the other.


And while the two teams mingled with one another from there, a little girl, nine years of age, donned her new, very ill-fitting uniform.

Seeing how she still had a lot of growing left to do, it was decided that getting something in her size made was a waste of money. She didn't mind all that much and several of her peers were quick to agree that it added to the girl's cuteness.

And really, she was just that adorable. Especially when her folded sleeves unfurled, leaving almost a third of it to hang over her hands. She looked like a kid playing with one of her mother's dresses.

The outfit was black in color, that being a pair of trousers and a matching top, both sporting a layer of mesh armor sandwiched between two thick layers of wool. She also sported soft-sole sneakers, dyed black to serve as placeholders for the standard footwear of ANBU, and on top, she wore some ill-fitting armor over a bit of padding she'd been given to keep it in place.

The girl herself, meanwhile, was rather short, even for her age, but with a well-toned physique under all of the baggy clothes as one would expect. She spotted a mane of vibrant orange and her eyes were a deep crimson, both traits being rather uncommon for those of her clan, though she did sport the usual, mildly-tanned skin tone. Her fangs, claw-like fingernails, slit pupils, and the two red, fang-like tattoos upon her cheeks all marked her as a member of the Inuzuka Clan in particular.

Having been plucked from the academy and her home at only nine years of age, however, meant that she didn't have a nin-ken dog as said partners were attained when one started going through puberty.

This girl's name was Inuzuka Shiba and she was being escorted by Shiroari of Detachment C, a woman of the Aburame Clan, apparently, though one would be hard pressed to tell, as she sported a hooded, white cloak and bird mask that hid literally all of her distinguishing features. (6)

"This way, Pup," the woman said, turning the corner.

Wrinkling her cute little nose, the young pre-teen did her best not to pout at the nickname.

'Big girls don't pout.'

Shiba took a deep breath and followed Shiroari without question to Rin-neechan's office. Today was the day she'd been waiting for… the day she got her mask and became a "big girl" once and for all.

And so, when they entered, the woman in question was waiting for them behind her desk, working on some paperwork. She wasn't wearing her own mask at the moment and her hood was down as they were only required to be donned when out and about.

"Ah, right on time," the brunette praised, looking rather pleased as she looked up from the documents. "Glad to see you're taking this seriously."

"I have big shoes to fill, but I'll do my best," the girl said with a look of determination.

Rin's smile only widened at that. "Don't go filling them in too fast. You still have some growing left to do."

"If you say so, Rin-nee."

"Oh, she is just so precious," Shiroari said, petting her head like one might to a little puppy. "Adorable, even."

This time, Shiba did pout.

She wasn't adorable! She was badass!

Rin couldn't help but chuckle at the sour expression. "Don't tease her like that... too much," she said, getting up and fetching a little box from a nearby cabinet.

Shiba perked up upon seeing it.

"I shall endeavor to contain myself," Shiroari stated.

Despite her even tone, Rin could practically hear her cheshire grin. Shaking her head, she walked back to the table. Once there, she held the box out for the youngest in the room to take.

"This one's yours. Wear it with pride."

Shiba's tiny hands reached out to hold the box presented to her, and the young girl quickly opened it like the child she was, looking as if she were unwrapping a birthday present. When the porcelain mask was revealed, she looked at it in awe. It was real. This was really happening.

Not that she was particularly pleased to get a cat mask, far from it, but she pushed those thoughts aside and reveled in the moment.

The brightness of her grin could've powered the village for days.

Leaning over until she was at shoulder height with Shiba, Shiroari peered at the mask.

"So… does that mean I can call her 'Kitten' instead?"

"The poor girl has it bad enough," Rin chuckled, while Shiba's whole damn face burned and her ears practically invented new shades of red. She then looked the girl in the eye and addressed her directly. "This mask is now part of you," Rin explained. "It is your new face, your identity while you are under the cloak."

That term was basically ANBU's way of saying on duty.

"Wear it with pride," Rin repeated. "You are a ninja now. We'll be getting you a new headband shortly, too. But you're still going to need some more training before we can send you out on the field."

"Understood, Captain," Shiba muttered. She wasn't as pleased to hear that, but she understood. ANBU were the elite of the elite, after all―the best of the best. She had a long way to go before the girl was up to snuff.

But she was nothing if not determined to get there!


"It was nice catching up with you guys," Tenten said cheerfully, a good fifteen minutes later.

"Likewise," Higurashi said, nodding politely. "Though your teammates would clearly beg to differ."

Tenten laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head, pointedly not looking at said teammates.

"They're… um… pretty dedicated."

That was certainly one way to put it… not that it was particularly untrue or anything.

In fact, Neji was the only one being an ass about avoiding them, actively trying to ignore even his own teammates as he meditated. Lee, meanwhile, was off to the side, doing various warm up exercises and not really meaning anything by it. He just lacked people skills… like damn near everyone else here.

…It was an odd day when an Aburame was the social butterfly of a bunch.

Nearly as soon as Tenten's conversation with Higurashi and her team ended, though, they were treated to the sight of their instructors returning.

"Glad to see you three are behaving yourselves," Kakashi called out. Truth be told, he was admittedly worried that Naruto might try and pick a fight with Neji while he was gone, given how the genin in question had a clash or two, back in the academy.

It was a pleasant surprise, really. The boy had more than a bit of a temper― took after his mother, he did.

All six genin perked up and gave the instructors their undivided attention, Neji and Lee getting up and approaching them while they were at it.

"Am I to assume that we are ready to begin?" Higurashi asked.

"Just about," Kakashi replied with a nod. "We just need to split up and let you know what your objectives are. As I'm sure you guessed, we will be having a red vs blue exercise."

And with that, he gestured for his students to follow him away to one edge of the training ground while Gai did the same with his own.

"Alright, kids, listen up," Kakashi said, once his and Gai's teams were sufficiently far apart, "The point of this exercise is capture and information procurement. Each team has a secret, and it is vital that you don't reveal this secret."

"So, what happens if we do?" Naruto asked, mostly just out of curiosity. He had no intention of losing. Tenten was a nice girl and all, but he was just too damn competitive to go down easily. And Neji was a prick.

"Another week of boot camp," Kakashi chirped, his tone sickly-sweet. "At ten times the intensity, no less. You might die."

No way was he losing against Gai.

...And that only served to provide him with even more incentive as he and his teammates all audibly gulped.

"Understood," Higurashi said, being the first to speak as she regained her composure.

"Y-yeah," Kishu muttered shakily while Naruto and Byakkomaru both rapidly nodded in unison.

"Good." Kakashi said with another creepy eye-smile, "Now, the secret I'm going to tell you is…''


BOOM!

A massive cloud of dust kicked up not ten minutes later as Kishu slammed into the ground, her target, Neji having just barely managed to dodge.

Naruto and his teammates were quick to identify him as the biggest threat, given that he was by far considered to be the class' ace in terms of taijutsu. And so, Naruto, Kishu, and Byakkomaru all focused on him while Higurashi dug herself into the woods nearby.

Seeing how they were facing off against a team of genin this time around, her tactic was far more likely to work on them. She clearly had to work fast, though; as it turned out, Naruto's threat assessment was spot on.

Though Kishu figured that Neji would be the biggest threat in his respective team, she and Byakkomaru had underestimated by how much he was. Naruto, however, practically knew that he was head and shoulders above his teammates just by looking at the guy.

The dance that followed Kishu's initial assault made it abundantly clear just how right he was.

There was also Tenten. The girl in question proved to be quite troublesome, constantly threatening them with kunai and shuriken. Lee himself was also being surprisingly annoying, despite having been dead last in their class.

But then, just as Team Gai looked like they were about to turn this fight around, a slow, soothing tune filled the air. Higurashi's melodious voice and the sound of her shamisen carried her technique and when it kicked in…

Thud!

Lee dropped like a brick and started snoring.

His teammates, meanwhile, fended it off well enough, but were forced to retreat as Tenten dropped a smoke bomb to mask their escape.

Not bothering to pursue, Naruto and Kishu fucked off as well―the former hefting Lee over one shoulder while the latter's nose led the way and Byakkomaru watched their back. Soon after they disappeared into the tree line, several small, black beetles grabbed Naruto and Kishu's collective attention, forming up into a cloud that then turned into an arrow, pointing a bit to the right of where they were heading.

The blond and his teammate exchanged a glance and followed the bugs' instructions. When they did, the cloud of bugs followed and guided them around the many traps their missing teammate had set up in her absence.

Being rather well-versed in the art of traplaying, Naruto was quick to notice a few of them and had to admit that the sheer number she'd set up in such a short amount of time was impressive.

The traps themselves were pretty basic, but effective.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Naruto and Kishu quickly regrouped with Higurashi.

Once they did, Naruto took it upon himself to bind their captive while he spoke. "So… what's the plan?"

"Neji-san should be our first priority," Higurashi stated.

"Deal with the big fish first, in other words," Naruto mused aloud with a nod.

"Precisely," she replied.

"Those damn eyes of his are gonna be an issue," Kishu chimed in. "Hard to get the drop on him."

Byakkomaru whimpered in agreement.

"What do they do, exactly?" Naruto asked. He noticed the veins bulging around them when the match started and got the impression that they made him harder to deal with, but the blond wasn't quite sure as to how.

"The Byakugan provides its user with a near-three-hundred-and-sixty-degree field of vision," Higurashi explained. "It allows him to see through solid matter and has a zoom-in function, allowing him to focus on specific objects or areas from far away. The range varies from one Hyuuga to the next, however; Neji-san's range in particular is unknown."

"Explains why the guy fought like he had eyes on the back of his head," Naruto muttered, annoyed.

What kind of broken-ass bloodline was that? That was so not fair!

"You… wouldn't happen to have any of those stink bombs, would you?" Kishu asked reluctantly.

"Not this time."

"Shit."

"I will do my best to focus my technique upon him," Higurashi stated. "But I am not confident that it will have the same effect as on Lee-san, even at full power. Komori Uta no Jutsu is best used on those with a weak will."

That and people with bad chakra control, like Lee. Neji qualified as neither, though.

"If it slows him down," Naruto said, "that should be enough."


Once again, Higurashi's music filled the training ground as the remaining members of Team Gai faced off against Naruto, Kishu, and Byakkomaru.

Naruto was tasked with distracting Tenten for the time being while Kishu and Byakkomaru double teamed Neji. But then, Kishu yelped and was forced to withdraw as their opponent managed to hit one of her chakra points.

The Hyuuga would have none of it. Tensing the veins around his eyes, he rushed towards her, constantly keeping up the pressure while simultaneously dodging the ninken's attempts to strike at his back.

Naruto disengaged from Tenten, throwing some dirt in her eyes and making her cry out and rub them, when he saw what was going on. Kicking her in the stomach, he pushed off of her to gain momentum.

Unfortunately, Higurashi's genjutsu wasn't having any real effect on the Hyuuga, so when Naruto and Byakkomaru ganged up on him from behind, they still struggled to do so much as touch him.

At the same time, though, the constant pressure made it hard for him to press his assault, so Kishu managed to back off, at least.

And so, Neji turned his attention to Naruto in particular. If he recalled, Naruto wasn't far from dead last in the academy, so he should be the weakest link in their team.

But then, Neji quickly realized how wrong he was…

Naruto was much better than he'd been the last time they sparred in the academy, much to Neji's annoyance. And to make matters worse, he could see Kishu rejoining the fray.

But, then, Tenten recovered and…

"GYAAAA~! GET'EMOFF! GET'EMOFF! GET'EMOFF! GET'EMOFF!"

...immediately started flailing about when she felt several-dozen creepy-crawlies skittering beneath her clothes.

Naruto barely managed to hold in a snicker. Neji frowned at him regardless.

Seeing the opportunity Higurashi presented her with, Kishu disengaged from the dogpile to pounce on poor Tenten, appearing behind the panicking kunoichi and drawing a kunai. Smirking, she tapped the girl on her left shoulder blade with the weapon.

"Yield."

"YES! ANYTHING! JUST GET'EMOFF!" (7)

The Inuzuka inclined her head towards Higurashi, who nodded.

As soon as the bugs were off of her, Tenten kneeled down and hugged her arms close with a shiver.

Kishu frowned, sliding the kunai back into her pouch.

"It's not that bad," she said, one hand on her hip.

"I'm going to have nightmares about it," the bun-haired brunette grumbled.

Meanwhile, back with Neji, the pale-eyed boy was having a standoff with Naruto and Byakkomaru.

It was broken when the Hyuuga scoffed and turned away.

"This will not happen again."

"You don't have to be a salty bastard about it."

The pale-eyed teen didn't answer him.


"So, what's our reward, Kakashi-sensei?" a grinning Naruto asked, hands crossed behind his head as he and his team, followed by Team Gai, sauntered up to the Jounin-sensei.

"Fifty pushups and a lap around the village," the man chirped, giving them an eye-smile. "You didn't acquire the information. You were too focused on 'beating' your opponents, even after disabling Lee. That wasn't your mission."

Though two of them looked like they wanted to protest, Naruto especially, Kakashi's students were all visibly embarrassed.

Then, turning towards the other team, he continued coolly, unimpressed. "And you two left Lee behind during your disengagement. Congratulations, Lee will now be tortured and killed." Two out of the three flinched.

Kakashi's gaze narrowed.

"Never, ever, abandon your comrades." (8)

Lee looked embarrassed, thinking it was his fault.

Tenten had the good sense to look abashed, her face losing some of its color.

Neji… didn't look like he cared.

And then, the tense air was broken by a beaming spandex monstrosity.

"BUT THAT WAS STILL A SPLENDID EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF YOUTH, KAKASHI! BOTH TEAMS SHOULD DO FIVE HUNDRED PUSHUPS INSTEAD, TO GROW FROM THIS EXPERIENCE!"

All of the genin visibly paled.

Kakashi tilted his head and made a show of thinking about it.

Then he turned his attention back to his team and eye-smiled once again.

"Sure."

Safe to say, the lessons learned that day would stick with both teams for the rest of their lives.


DMS Notes and Trivia:

1: That's always been my headcanon on the matter; Naruto always struck me as clever, but the type who had a harder time learning from words on paper or word of mouth alone. As shown when he was learning the Rasengan, for example, Naruto had a much easier time learning from visual examples and had quite the eye for detail… and then he was retconned into a simple dumbass. Damn I hate the writing of this series I love at times…

AdV: Honestly, what the fuck was Jiraiya doing for 2.5 years?

DMS: Teaching him how to identify and cancel genjutsu… which is something he should have learned in the academy, teaching him to continue being over reliant on the Kyuubi, I shit you not, and apparently making him forget how to form a Rasengan in one hand after he clearly exhibited the ability to do so in the Valley of the End.

Granted, he was quite thoroughly under Kurama's influence at the time, but it teases his growth, further setup by the Oodama Rasengan later, only for him to remain stagnant as a character for fucking ages at a time.

2: Damn, I miss how down to earth Naruto was in Part One. It wasn't perfect by any stretch, but strategy and skill actually fucking mattered! That was way more engaging than the wannabe DBZ horse shit we got later!

AdV: The Zabuza fight alone. The man prepared the field by dumping his chakra into the water to make it easier for him, and harder for Kakashi, to perform jutsu, among other things.

3: That habit makes way more sense for him to have than not in my opinion. I'm sure he hates studying, true, but he's clearly giving his all in succeeding, so having him not care about studying makes no sense.

There's a big difference between caring for something and caring about it, after all. The former means you like it; the latter means you feel the need to do it… and you don't have to like something to feel the need to do it.

So, even if Naruto doesn't like studying, which feels very in line with his character, his determination to be a damn good ninja would make him feel obligated to do it regardless. That's just being a logically-written character.

4: I said it before and I'll say it again: ever-late, slouch Kakashi who waited until Nami to teach his students the Tree-Walking exercise and ANBU badass Kakashi are two different characters, canon be damned.

5: "Why is he not wearing undergarments" was by far one of my favorite lines I've ever written, right on up there with "I will murder-fuck your face" in Naruto's Quest, lol. In both cases, it was because of the comedic timing.

Also, yes, "you get used to it" was a reference to the Goblin Slayer meme. I just couldn't help myself. XD

AdV: Higurashi will continue to be an endless source of unintentional dry wit in this story.

6: And there's the loli mentioned a while back, Inuzuka Shiba. She's named after a small dog breed, therefore loli.

AdV: We need oneshots for her.

7: I mean, yeah, she's a kunoichi and all, but she's still both 12 and fresh out of the academy. Makes sense that poor Tenten would react like that at this stage.

And funny.

8: AdV: Yes, this is our way of doing the 'abandon is trash' bit.

Semi-intentional, but came out just right.

And, if it's not obvious, yes, this whole fight shows how the rookies are cocky little reckless gloryshits who don't know better, until it's pointed out to them. You know, like actual real fucking life.

I fucking hate the holier-than-thou, wishy-washy, flip-flopping attitude the series takes when it comes to teaching (see, Kakashi, students, teamwork, WillOFire in general, Jiraiya, etc). Yea, self-discovery's important, but you're supposed to guide from the start, not fucking sit and scratch your balls at the finish line. These are preteens, not college students.

DMS: It also does wonders in setting up future character growth through the self-discovery in question, something far too many Shounen writers seem to be allergic to in my experience. It's why Naruto is the last traditional battle Shounen I've watched. I mean, sure, there was some in Shippuden, but it felt so forced at times to the point that this series kinda killed my ability to enjoy the genre.

Most notably the waterfall scene. The self-reflection Naruto underwent in that scene should've happened way the fuck sooner than it did in the series. I legitimately can't help but wonder if it was set up only to be forgotten about for a damn eternity.

Ahem… rants aside, I like what AdV did here. The bit wasn't here originally, but it improves the scene and makes Kakashi feel even more like Kakashi. This is why pre production is so important.


Parting Notes: And that's that!

Expect as many updates as I can manage to my stories at the first weekend of every month, as well as updates to as many of the collabs I'm doing with Spy and AdV as we can manage.

In addition to some random oneshots and short fics we do on the side. =3

A new rewrite to Twisted Bonds is currently in very early production, but I do have a few good ideas to fix baby's first serious attempt at fanfiction. XD So look forward to that in the… hopefully not too distant future, and the same goes for Silver and Gold—both of which I will be writing on my own.

Among others… =3