Chapter 5: Climbing Higher

Kakashi leaned on his crutches, his posture relaxed despite the tension in the room. Team 7 and Tazuna sat around him, their attention fixed as he spoke.

"What happened to me during the battle," Kakashi began, his tone even but firm, "was an example of chakra exhaustion. It's what happens when you use more chakra than your body can handle. You don't just run out of energy—you collapse. In worse cases, it can be fatal."

Naruto, sitting cross-legged on the floor, raised a hand. "So you just used up all your chakra fighting that Zabuza guy?"

"Exactly," Kakashi replied. "The Sharingan drains a lot of chakra, and Zabuza is no amateur. I had to push myself harder than I expected."

Sasuke frowned, his mind lingering on the image of Kakashi's Sharingan. How does he have that eye?

Kakashi continued, his visible eye narrowing slightly. "Speaking of Zabuza... I don't think we've seen the last of him."

Sakura's eyes widened. "But... that hunter-nin killed him, didn't they?"

Kakashi shook his head. "It doesn't add up. For a hunter-nin, they were surprisingly gentle with Zabuza's body. Normally, a hunter-nin would destroy the corpse immediately to ensure no secrets could be extracted. I suspect Zabuza is still alive, and that 'hunter-nin' is working with him."

The room fell silent as the weight of his words sank in.

"If I'm right," Kakashi said, "they'll come back. And we need to be ready."

Despite his crutches, Kakashi led the team into the forest behind Tazuna's house, the canopy thick with leaves and the air damp from the nearby river. He stopped in a clearing, his demeanor as calm as ever.

"Today," he said, "we're going to work on your chakra control. Specifically, how to use it to climb trees."

Naruto blinked. "Uh, sensei? We already know how to climb trees."

"Not like this, you don't." Kakashi smirked, planting one of his crutches in the ground before strutting up the trunk of a nearby tree. Even with his crutches, he moved effortlessly, defying gravity as he stood upside-down on a branch. "The idea is to focus your chakra into your feet, allowing you to stick to vertical surfaces."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "That's so cool!"

Sasuke crossed his arms, his competitive spirit igniting. "So, how do we do it?"

Kakashi hopped down, landing lightly despite his crutches. "It's all about control. Too much chakra, and you'll repel yourself. Too little, and you'll fall. Use a kunai to mark your progress."

The training began with varying levels of success. Sakura was the first to catch on, her chakra control precise and efficient. Within minutes, she was standing triumphantly on a high branch, waving down at her teammates.

"Look!" she called, her voice brimming with pride. "I did it!"

Naruto scowled, clutching a kunai. "Show-off. I'll catch up in no time!"

Sasuke, already halfway up his own tree, smirked. "We'll see about that, dobe."

Naruto growled, redoubling his efforts. He managed to climb a few feet before the bark splintered beneath his feet, sending him tumbling to the ground.

Unbeknownst to his teammates, Naruto summoned a few clones to slip away and continue experimenting with Wood Release. He was close—he could feel it. The clones worked tirelessly in a nearby grove, repeating the hand signs and focusing their chakra.

Meanwhile, the real Naruto and Sasuke continued their training, marking their progress with kunai slashes in the trunks. The two boys pushed each other relentlessly, neither willing to let the other outdo him.

Hours passed, and the night deepened. By the time Naruto and Sasuke finally mastered the technique, they were both drenched in sweat and leaning on each other for support.

"We... did it..." Naruto panted, his grin exhausted but triumphant.

"Hn," Sasuke muttered, though there was a faint hint of satisfaction in his tone.

The two trudged back to Tazuna's house, barely managing to keep each other upright. When they reached the door, Sakura opened it, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement.

"Finally," she said, stepping aside to let them in. "You guys look like you've been through a war."

Naruto grinned, giving her a thumbs-up. "Yeah, well... that's what it takes to be awesome."

Sasuke rolled his eyes but said nothing, too tired to argue.

As the three of them settled in for the night, Kakashi watched from the corner, his crutches leaning against the wall. His eye softened as he observed his team. They were far from perfect, but they were learning. And with the threat of Zabuza looming, they'd need every bit of strength they could muster.

The next saw the soft glow of dawn bathe the clearing as Sasuke stood by a quiet stream, his mind restless. Kakashi approached slowly, leaning on his crutches, his expression calm but expectant.

"You've been quiet," Kakashi said, his voice steady.

Sasuke turned to him, his face a mixture of curiosity and unease. "Sensei... I need to know. The Sharingan—how do you have it?"

Kakashi's gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked away, as though the memory weighed too heavily. He sighed, placing a hand over his covered eye. "It's not something I talk about often. But I suppose you have the right to know."

Sasuke remained silent, his eyes locked on Kakashi.

"I had a teammate once," Kakashi began, his tone distant. "His name was Obito Uchiha. We were young—about your age—and on a mission together. Obito was... different from you, in some ways. He was late, reckless, always getting into trouble. But he had a big heart, even if it took me a while to see it."

Kakashi's voice grew softer. "During one mission, everything went wrong. We were ambushed, and Obito's Sharingan awakened for the first time. He saved my life, but at the cost of his own. A landslide crushed him. Before he died, he asked our teammate Rin, a medic-nin, to take his newly awakened Sharingan and give it to me. So that I could protect her, since he couldn't."

Sasuke's eyes widened, the story striking something deep within him.

Kakashi lowered his hand from his covered eye. "I'm not an Uchiha, so using the Sharingan takes a toll on me. I can't even turn it off. That's why battles like the one with Zabuza are so taxing. But I carry Obito's Sharingan because it's a part of him that still lives on, and because I owe him my life."

For a moment, neither spoke. Sasuke stared at the ground, his mind swirling with thoughts of his own loss, his own grief.

"I know what it means to lose someone precious," Kakashi said gently. "And I know how easy it is to let that pain consume you. But revenge isn't the answer, Sasuke."

Sasuke stiffened, his jaw tightening. "You don't understand."

"I do," Kakashi said, his voice firm but kind. "More than you think."

Sasuke looked away, his heart heavy. For the first time, he felt a connection to his aloof sensei, one forged by shared loss. It was humbling, grounding.

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, one of Naruto's shadow clones worked tirelessly, attempting to refine his control over the elusive Wood Release. Sweat dripped from his brow as he focused, his hands forming the snake seal over and over.

"Almost there..." he muttered.

A soft voice interrupted him. "Sorry to startle you."

Naruto jumped, spinning around to see a figure standing in the clearing. A girl, brunette with soft eyes and a gentle smile, stood watching him.

"Who are you?" Naruto asked, his tone defensive.

The girl chuckled softly. "Just someone passing through. I didn't mean to interrupt."

Naruto chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "You didn't scare me or anything. Ninja instincts, you know."

"You're a ninja?" The girl smiled, stepping closer. "You're a ninja?"

Naruto puffed out his chest. "Yup! I'm here on a mission. We're trying to help you."

"Help me?" The girl tilted her head.

"Well, not just you," Naruto said with a grin. "The people of this island. We're gonna take down Gato and his goons so everyone can live peacefully again."

The girl's smile faltered, a shadow passing over her face. "You sound like a hero."

Naruto's grin softened. "I'd like to be. I want to protect people. To make sure no one else has to feel what it's like to be alone."

The girl—Haku—felt a pang in his chest. "Do you have anyone precious to you?"

Naruto frowned thoughtfully. "I do. I didn't always. For a long time, I was alone. But then I met people who saw me for who I am—like Iruka-sensei and my teammates. Yeah, I've got precious people now."

Haku smiled, but his mind churned with conflict. This boy...

"What are you doing out here?" Haku asked.

Naruto grinned. "Training. I'm mastering a secret technique."

"A secret technique?" Haku's voice was curious. "What kind?"

Naruto hesitated, then relented. "It's called Wood Release. It's supposed to be super rare. A kekkei genkai."

Haku's interest piqued. "Combining chakra natures?"

"Yeah!" Naruto exclaimed. "I think it's Earth and Water chakra, but it's so hard to figure out."

Haku nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Try focusing on the balance between them. Like two streams flowing into one river."

"That's it!" Naruto's eyes lit up.

With Haku's guidance, Naruto formed the seal again, channeling his chakra carefully. A small plant sprouted from the ground, its leaves trembling in the cool breeze. Naruto beamed, his exhaustion forgotten.

"I did it!" he shouted. "Thanks, Haku!"

Haku smiled, though his heart felt heavy. "You have a kind soul, Naruto. I hope you achieve your dreams."

Naruto hesitated. "Hey, Haku... What about you? Do you have dreams?"

Haku's face softened, but his eyes grew distant. "I have someone precious to me. My dream is to protect them."

Naruto nodded solemnly. "That's a good dream."

As Naruto turned to leave, Haku's expression hardened. With practiced precision, he hurled a senbon, striking Naruto cleanly in the back of the neck. The boy vanished in a puff of smoke.

"A clone..." Haku whispered, his heart pounding. Even now, I can't harm him.

Elsewhere, the real Naruto staggered, clutching his head as a vivid memory rushed into his mind. He gasped, his heart racing.

"That girl... Haku..." he murmured. "Who was that?"

The morning sun filtered through the windows of Tazuna's house, casting a soft glow on Team 7 as they gathered in the main room. Kakashi, still leaning on his crutches but looking much improved, sat in a chair while Naruto stood before him, a frown tugging at his face.

"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto began hesitantly, scratching the back of his head. "Something weird happened last night."

Kakashi raised a brow, his visible eye focused on his student. "Go on."

"Well, I was out training—uh, just normal stuff, y'know," Naruto said quickly, leaving out any mention of Wood Release. "And I sent one of my Shadow Clones to work on a technique. While it was out there, this girl showed up."

"A girl?" Sakura asked, her tone skeptical. "Out here?"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah, her name was Haku. She was... weird. She talked about protecting someone precious to her, and she helped me a little with my training."

Kakashi tilted his head slightly. "She helped you?"

"Yeah," Naruto admitted, his brows furrowing. "But then... she killed my clone."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Naruto's words sinking in. Even Sasuke glanced up from where he sat, his usual aloofness replaced by a flicker of interest.

"And here's the weird part," Naruto continued, his voice uncertain. "I wasn't even there, right? It was just my clone. But... I remember everything. Like it was a really vivid dream."

Kakashi sighed, setting his crutches aside as he leaned forward slightly. "Naruto, it's time you understood something about the Shadow Clone Jutsu."

Naruto blinked, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean? You know Shadow Clone Jutsu Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi gestured for him to sit. "The Shadow Clone Jutsu is unique. It doesn't just create physical copies of you—it also divides your chakra equally among your clones. But that's not the most important part."

Naruto leaned forward, hanging on every word.

"When a Shadow Clone disperses," Kakashi explained, "everything it experienced—memories, knowledge, even fatigue—returns to the original. That's why you remember what happened with Haku. It's one of the reasons why this technique is considered forbidden."

Naruto stared in awe, his mouth slightly open. "Wait, so... you're saying... all my clones' memories come back to me?"

Kakashi nodded. "Exactly. It's a powerful tool, but also a dangerous one. Imagine creating hundreds of clones, each one exhausting themselves in battle or training. When they disperse, all of that strain comes back to you at once. If you're not careful, it can overwhelm you."

Naruto's mind raced, his excitement barely contained. "So that means... I could use clones to train faster, right? I could make a bunch of them, have them work on different techniques, and I'd learn them all at once!"

Kakashi raised a hand, his voice calm but firm. "In theory, yes. But you need to be careful, Naruto. Overusing the technique can drain your chakra dangerously fast, and you've already seen what happens when you push yourself too hard."

"This is awesome! I'm gonna train so hard, I'll master every Jutsu in no time!" Naruto nodded, but the grin spreading across his face betrayed his growing enthusiasm.

Sakura groaned, crossing her arms. "Typical Naruto. You just learned something incredible, and all you can think about is showing off."

Sasuke, meanwhile, watched silently, his mind turning over the implications of Kakashi's explanation. The ability to accelerate training through clones was... intriguing.

Kakashi sighed, though there was a faint hint of amusement in his expression. "Just don't overdo it, Naruto. You're no good to anyone if you burn yourself out."

Naruto jumped to his feet, pumping his fist in the air. "You got it, sensei! I'm gonna become the strongest ninja ever, believe it!"

As Naruto ran outside, no doubt to test his newfound knowledge, Kakashi leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful.

"Haku, huh?" he murmured. "Naruto's instincts are sharp. If that person is connected to Zabuza, we'll need to be on our guard."

Outside, Naruto stood in the clearing, his hands forming the cross-seal.

"Alright, time to test this out!" he shouted. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A dozen identical Narutos appeared in a puff of smoke, each one grinning as they awaited instructions.

"Alright, listen up!" Naruto said, pointing dramatically. "Half of you work on chakra control. The other half... go work on Wood Release."

The clones cheered, scattering to begin their tasks. As the real Naruto watched them, his excitement burned brighter than ever.

With this technique, he thought, I'm gonna blow everyone away. Just you wait, Sasuke, Sakura-chan... Old Man Hokage... I'm gonna be Hokage for sure!

The morning sun was just beginning to rise over Tazuna's house when Sasuke cornered Naruto in the yard. His expression was sharp, determined.

"Teach me," Sasuke said flatly.

Naruto blinked, caught off guard. "Teach you what?"

"The Shadow Clone Jutsu," Sasuke replied, crossing his arms. "If it's as useful as Kakashi-sensei says, I want to learn it."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, glancing at Kakashi, who was leaning against the porch with his ever-present book. "Uh, sensei? Is that okay?"

Kakashi looked up from his book, his single visible eye narrowing thoughtfully. "I'm not sure Sasuke could do it."

Sasuke bristled, his fists clenching. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Kakashi closed his book and gestured for Sasuke to calm down. "I mean no insult, Sasuke. It's the principle of the Jutsu. The Shadow Clone Jutsu divides your chakra in half for every clone you make. Every subsequent clone splits half of a half. It's exponential decay. You'd need significant chakra reserves just to make one useful clone, let alone a dozen."

Sasuke froze, his sharp mind quickly understanding the implications. He turned to Naruto, who grinned sheepishly.

Sakura, watching from the doorway, frowned in confusion. "Wait... but Naruto can make a dozen clones."

Kakashi smiled behind his mask. "Yes, and the only other person known to create so many was the inventor of the technique himself: Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage."

The weight of Kakashi's words settled over the group. Sasuke turned back to Naruto, his envy and determination plain on his face. "Teach me."

Naruto grinned, his confidence swelling. "Alright, Sasuke. I'll show you how it's done! But don't get mad when you can't keep up."

Naruto led Sasuke and Sakura to a clearing behind Tazuna's house, explaining the hand seals and the basic principles of the Jutsu.

"It's all about focus," Naruto said, demonstrating the cross-seal. "You have to pour your chakra into the Jutsu and split it evenly. Like this! Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A puff of smoke erupted, and three perfect copies of Naruto appeared, each giving their own dramatic thumbs-up.

"If you can do it, so can I." Sasuke frowned, already forming the seal. He concentrated, channeling his chakra into the technique. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A puff of smoke appeared beside him... revealing a lopsided, malformed clone that immediately collapsed to the ground with a groan.

Naruto burst out laughing. "What the heck is that, Sasuke? Looks like someone squashed you with a frying pan!"

Sasuke glared at him, his jaw tightening. "Shut up, dope."

Sakura, meanwhile, was carefully mimicking the hand seals, her face scrunched in concentration. "Alright, here goes... Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Her attempt yielded a weak, ghostly clone that dissipated almost instantly. She sighed in frustration. "Why is this so hard?"

Kakashi, observing from a distance, called out to her. "Sakura, don't overdo it. Your chakra reserves might be too low for this technique. Focus on control, not quantity."

Sakura frowned but nodded, taking his advice to heart.

The hours passed as Sasuke and Sakura practiced tirelessly, their determination unwavering despite the numerous failed attempts. Naruto, watching them struggle, found himself feeling a strange sense of pride.

"You guys are getting there," he said, his tone surprisingly encouraging. "Just keep at it."

Eventually, Sasuke managed to produce a single, solid clone. It wasn't perfect, but it stood upright, its expression blank but stable.

Sasuke smirked, the smallest hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Finally."

Naruto clapped him on the back, grinning. "Not bad, Sasuke. It's not a dozen clones, but it's a start."

Sasuke ignored the jab, his mind already racing with the possibilities. Even having one clone would double his training potential, giving him a critical edge.

Sakura, meanwhile, continued to struggle. Her clones remained weak and ephemeral, dissipating as quickly as they appeared. Kakashi approached her, his voice gentle.

"Sakura, that's enough for now," he said. "The Shadow Clone Jutsu isn't a good fit for everyone. Your chakra control is excellent, but your reserves are likely too low to sustain this technique. Save your strength for the fight ahead."

Sakura looked down, frustrated but accepting his words. "Yes, sensei."

As the group returned to Tazuna's house for the evening, the tension among them had shifted. Sasuke was quietly satisfied with his progress, while Naruto walked with a spring in his step, relishing his role as teacher. Sakura, though disappointed, resolved to focus on her strengths.

Kakashi, bringing up the rear, glanced at his team with a faint smile. They were far from perfect, but they were growing. And with the battle against Zabuza looming, that growth might be the difference between survival and failure.