"Then there's Advanced Chakra Theory and Applications… Oh, right, you can also read The New Five-Point Elemental Model, maybe in this order."
Naruto slammed the stack of tomes on Sakura's desk.
She felt a pang of fear. When had he found the time to read all of these? They were thick enough to double as bricks, and the contents were pretty dry, too. She might have underestimated Naruto's motivation levels.
Still, she was very thankful.
"Well, this should keep me occupied for a while." She laughed, a pained sound.
"Yeah, it took me two weeks to read these ten. Plus the old ma… Sarutobi-sama had me running chores. He's such a slavedriver sometimes, you wouldn't know looking at him, ha!"
Sakura's mother was glaring daggers at both of them, likely because despite being shinobi themselves, — maybe because of it — they had never approved of Sakura's choice to become a ninja.
Her daughter's resolve to keep learning about the shinobi arts was probably rubbing salt in the wound.
Well, Naruto didn't care much for her opinion. She was Sakura's mother, sure.
But she wasn't Sakura.
"So Ram becomes… this. Boar looks like this." Sakura muttered, twisting her fingers in the corresponding positions.
She knew that there were ninjas who used specific techniques with only one handed seals.
What was preventing her from learning how to do so? She knew she had decent… no, excellent control.
It was time to put her money where her mouth was.
"So you're our third member?" Sasuke asked, somewhat pleased.
"Seems like it. Your sensei convinced me, let's say." Naruto answered, shrugging. He had no intention to elaborate.
"Welcome aboard." Toru nodded, a small smile on his face. "Did the man tell you anything?"
"Nah, just to meet you guys at the training grounds, and to work on some basic combinations with you."
"Sure." Sasuke shrugged. "Tell us more about your fighting style, we saw a bit… last time."
Ah, there it was. The elephant in the room. An awkward silence stretched.
"I use Kage Bunshin, Transformation and Lightning Release, mostly. I'm pretty fast, too. Oh, I've learned to use a few weapons." Blame the old man.
"Such as?"
"Let me remember. I'm good with a few swords, but don't really like to use them. Katanas, glaives, halberds, bows. Axes, kunai, daggers, naginata… I prefer the staff, though."
"Uh. Okay. That's quite a lot, actually." Sasuke mumbled. Toru whistled.
"Really? I don't know. Sarutobi-sama said he had mastered twice as many by the time he was nine, so I feel I'm kinda late."
Sasuke and Toru shared a look.
"Are there even this many weapons/Is this likely?" Was the question they communicated to the other. They shrugged.
"I think we can work with that." Toru said. "Here's what I think could work…"
"By the way, what about your dagger trick from last time?" Sasuke asked.
"What dagger trick?"
Toru mimed. It was a pretty bad imitation, when it came to clarifying. "The thing where you make sparks and summon a dagger out of nowhere!"
"What are you guys even talking about."
"Last time! What you did against that Uzumaki guy."
Huh. Now that they mentioned, he did remember something along these lines.
There was just one little problem.
"…I have no idea how I did. Really."
"Uh huh." Sasuke nodded slowly, not looking like he believed him at all.
"All right then. Keep your secrets."
"Guys, I'm serious!"
As they practiced their first clumsy combinations, the air seemed to change.
Not by anything like the "power of friendship" or anything like it, mind you.
The boys' hair was standing on end, and felt tingly.
They stopped their practice, sweat running down their foreheads.
Sasuke tasted metal.
Naruto smelled ozone in the air.
Toru heard crackling and wondered if he was about to get electrocuted. "One in five-hundred thousand," he reminded himself.
There was a flash of blue light and something hit the floor in front of them.
Hatake Kakashi stood up from the crater he had created.
He was wreathed in lightning, sparks dancing around him in an unpredictable pattern.
A tantō was strapped to his back. The Hatake clan sigil shone proudly on his shoulder.
All in all, he looked like a warlord of old. Or an angry god, maybe, Toru felt.
"I see you guys are ready, so let's start with some light training to see where you are at."
He thought a bit more, and deactivated the Lightning Cloak.
There'd be time to turn it back on, if they were actually good.
"First step. Let's see your reflexes."
He unsealed a dull wooden blade.
Then disappeared.
This had been the most brutal beatdown of Naruto's entire life.
Hearing Toru moan in pain from somewhere around gave him the impression he wasn't alone. Kinship.
Sasuke flew at a high speed and landed head-first in the lake. "The water must have been cold, then." Naruto thought, hearing him let out a high-pitched scream.
"Well… My first thought is… I'm very disappointed." Kakashi said, arms folded.
"What kind of Jōnin beats children up for fun…? This is sick! Sick!" Toru whined.
Kakashi snorted. "This was nothing but love taps. You guys are pretty weak for twelve years old. When I was your age, I was already a Jōnin."
Wisely, Naruto refrained from saying anything about what good that did him. He still wanted to learn how to use Lightning Release, and this man was his best bet.
"Mah. I'll just have to remake you into something better, then." He shrugged. "We're done here."
"Really?" Toru perked up.
"Yup." He eye-smiled, and it was a cruel sight. "Time to move on the speed drills. You guys ever did hill sprints? They're great fun."
"Biwako-sama. Can you teach me medical ninjutsu? …Please."
"Of course. What do you know already?"
"Nice work on the weighted pull-ups, Sasuke. Let's add some more weight, alright?" Kakashi encouraged.
"Biwako-sama. What's the nature of a man? Why do we live, just to suffer…?"
She rolled her eyes. "Don't be dramatic. Hatake is a strong Jōnin, I'm sure he has his reasons."
"Your core is overtrained in comparison to your back, Toru. Ever heard of erector spinae… or does it not look as impressive to girls in the summer?"
"…I really hate you, sensei."
"I see you're gaining a bit of muscle, Naruto. Kakashi must be going hard on you. Mind you, I had much lower body-fat, while having more muscle mass, at your age. You can ask Biwako about it, this is likely why she couldn't resist me."
"Alright, I'm going solo on a mission for the week. Don't worry, I found you a trainer. He's got some genin around your age, too."
Sasuke blessed the heavens.
Toru whooped.
Naruto knew Gai and Kakashi were somehow friends, so he just cringed.
"Where did you get such nice legs?!" Ino asked. She wasn't jealous of Naruto… of course. But she would train her own harder. Just for fun.
"Don't ask."
"Did you miss me yet?"
"Almost." This week with Gai had been hell.
"Yes." Toru admitted.
"Great. Let's do some strength training."
"I don't think you will ever get the control needed for the Mystical Palm."
Naruto winced. Biwako-sama was always very blunt. It was a blessing and a curse.
"So…? What do I do?"
"Well, we're going to have to find another way. The First was said to have been a great healer, and I'm sure he never learned what the Mystical Palm even was."
"Reflexes training!"
"So by using my own… strong chakra and harmonizing with somebody else's, I should be able to accelerate their healing?" Naruto asked.
"Yes." Biwako confirmed. Then thought some more. "… Or maybe give them cancer."
"Two against one. Toru and Naruto on one side. Sasuke, get ready."
He groaned.
Kurenai was dead, and the world moved on, in the end.
The sun still rose and fell every day, and the village was still standing.
Families were still together, and friends still friends.
It never got easier, but all of the living learned to live with it.
Ninjas endure.
Sakura laughed in delight.
She had finally managed to make the switch to one-handed seals for the three Academy basic techniques.
"Thank you, thank you!"
She jumped on Naruto, hugging him with all her might. Ino, in her infinite generosity, pretended not to react.
"Survival training, I'll see you guys in three days!" Kakashi said cheerfully.
"…Three days in the Forest of DEATH?" Toru shouted. "It's in the name! Death!"
"Oh, can't believe I forgot to take your supplies." Kakashi slapped his forehead. "Wouldn't be much of a survival training if you had all of your fancy equipment."
"Well, this is very rough, as far as medical jutsu go. Keep practicing."
"But it might work?"
"It might." Biwako stressed.
"Mah, your bodies are a bit stronger, now. Let's train your chakra reserves, now."
"Damn it."
"Well, yeah. I kinda neglected this for years, myself. I don't want to scare you kids, but the reason is… this is going to suck."
"And I told Shikamaru that if he was going to be such an ass about it… Then I'd tell his mother about it. Should've seen his face!" Ino laughed.
"Jokes aside, he's lucky to have both of you." Naruto smiled.
"Damn right." She stuck her chin out proudly. Her best friend always had her back, as she had his.
"Deep meditation is to train your Yin side."
The boys ignored him, as they finally had a reason for it.
"Also, if you suddenly feel yourself turning to stone partially, please feel free to stretch your legs. It's not worth it."
What.
"Do I really have to do this, Biwako-sama?"
"Tailoring your clothes is very important. It's the difference between looking like a destitute son and a respectable young man. Hiruzen always made sure to look sharp."
"All right, all right."
"How long can you keep your eyes up, Hyūga?" Sasuke asked, his own eyes red.
He was getting tired, but wouldn't show it. The Hyūga was, too, he could see it.
"Longer than you, Uchiha." Neji replied, veins popping.
He was tired, sure, but wouldn't show it. The Uchiha was getting worn out as well, his eyes could perceive it.
Toru cheered Sasuke on. Naruto sighed.
"I see you're hanging with girls, Naruto." Sarutobi-sama nodded wisely. "It is that time, indeed."
"..What are you even talking about?" Naruto asked.
"When I was around your age, I remember quite a few-" He interrupted himself.
Biwako was looking at him, squinting her eyes.
"Err… Let's move outside, Naruto."
"We just got in, though."
"Don't question me."
"So the Third never bothered teaching you the difference between internal and external release…?" Kakashi asked, skeptical.
"Nah, didn't even know it was a thing." Naruto shrugged.
"…Okay? Well, to put it simply, internal release involves using chakra inside the body, generally to enhance a specific body function, or as protection."
"Got you."
"External is everything outside the close proximity of your body. Medium, long distance jutsu and all."
"Okay."
"I'm kinda surprised Sarutobi-sama never taught you this. Every clan child knows this, usually. Especially when talking about elemental affinities."
"Sometimes, I get the feeling he prefers his students to figure their limits themselves." He saw Kakashi look curious. "He would probably say something about "the more walls one perceives around them, the sturdier the prison they build", or some weird platitude."
"…Yeah, that sounds like him." Kakashi admitted. The Third could be a bit of a dick, sometimes. He probably took his weird sense of humor from his summons.
Not that he was one to talk.
"Personally, I'm way better at using external techniques."
"What about your electric mantle technique?"
"It's Lightning Cloak."
"Yeah, that one."
"…You're trying to piss me off, aren't you?" Kakashi asked.
Naruto tried to look innocent.
Kakashi continued. "I copied it years ago with my eye. And even then, it took me a while to be able to use it. And it takes so much chakra that I just use it for smaller bursts of speed."
"Would it work for me?"
"Eh, it wouldn't be the same. My eye allows me to see attacks before they come, and then I can turn my cloak for the minimal amount of time I need it for."
Naruto squinted. "So when you came here with it on, a month or so ago…"
"This counted as a very important occasion."
"Uh huh."
"Well, this likely won't do anyone much good, but I guess it could help someone survive until an actual medic makes it to the field." Biwako huffed.
"I'll take it."
Lightning crackled, dancing in Kakashi's hand.
This was his masterpiece, his ultimate jutsu. His magnum opus.
His Raikiri, and with it, legend said he had cut through thunder itself.
"Sensei… there's something I don't get." Naruto asked.
"Tell me." His Raikiri never failed to awe people. He held back a smug grin.
"How does this qualify as an assassination technique, again?"
"It's an instant kill."
"But it's so… loud and flashy. This is more of a combat technique."
"You'd be hard pressed to find people who can avoid my full speed."
"But… if it requires you going full speed, you're also wide open to counter-attacks…?"
"Yup. That's why I have this." He thumbed at his Sharingan eye.
"I don't have one. And if it requires going so fast, it's not practical either, there's plenty of jutsu that don't." Naruto reminded him.
"…"
"Wouldn't I just get myself killed, trying to use it?"
"I mean, sure. There's a risk." Minato-sensei had helpfully pointed it out too, long ago, embarrassing him in front of Obito and Rin.
Now his student was trying to do the same. Toru held back laughter. Sasuke pretended to practice his katas. Kakashi felt his cheeks burn, under the mask.
"Wouldn't anything else be more useful to me, then?"
"Keep being a smart-ass and I won't teach it to you." He huffed.
"I don't even think I can use it without a Sharingan, and this is just used for murder, anyway."
Naruto asked Toru about the girl with the pale eyes that Sasuke was sometimes talking with, when nobody was looking.
"Oh, Hinata?" His grin turned conspiratorial. "Find her cute?"
"Nah, I don't mean it like this."
Toru sighed. "You're really no fun, sometimes."
"Isn't she the Hyūga heir or something?" She had been in his class, but was usually pretty withdrawn.
It had been a surprise to see her giggle openly when Sasuke gestured wildly, probably painting a wild tale of their latest torture session under Kakashi's tutelage.
"Yeah, she is." Toru actually looked serious, for once. "Some of the higher-ups in the clan don't really like it when we hang with Hyūga."
"Why?"
"I'm not sure, probably some old clan stuff, I was never too good at this. Plus the clan head is a bit mad that Fugaku-sama became Hokage, according to him."
"Ah." Pointless conflict between clans was a bit of a shame.
"Well, I'm not super close with the Hyūga anyway. Hinata's cool and her little sister Hanabi's got the right spirit, though." He laughed." But Neji's kind of a dick. Sooo stuffy."
"That's not true. He only reacts this way around you because you keep on provoking him."
"But he does look girly." He whined. "Nothing wrong about that, mind you."
Naruto didn't deny it. He had thought Neji was a girl, at first.
After some preliminary testing, Kakashi had reached his conclusion.
"You're much better suited for internal release, it seems."
"Is that good?"
"For close combat, sure. Enhancing your body or weapons with elemental chakra should be decently easy for you. Long-distance ninjutsu might be a bit more difficult, though."
"Eh, I can work with that."
"Wanna learn Raikiri?" Kakashi asked, trying to sound indifferent to the answer.
"No, thanks. The spark jacket jutsu thing seems nice, though."
He sighed. "Let's get you started on it, then. In a few years you should be able to make some use of it."
The summer festival was nice.
He spent the early hours with Sasuke and Toru, who had become good friends. They later left to join their families, and he went to meet Ino and Sakura.
They looked adorable in their yukata.
They watched the fireworks together, and all three of them wished life could always be as nice as this summer evening.
"Wanna try for the chūnin exams?"
"Risk dying, do my best not to have to kill anyone, possibly fight friends, humiliate somebody or myself in front of the village and my clan…?"
He was not too interested in a promotion, as they were taking a fair amount of C-ranks with his team.
The money was pretty good, even if he didn't have the time or energy to also run D-ranks solo. He wasn't even sure if he was still allowed to, being part of a team.
At the same time, he knew Ino was going, and she'd never let him forget she was a rank over him, and technically his superior.
It was important to Sasuke and Toru both, who felt they had something to prove to the Hokage and/or their older brother.
Without him, they'd have to go with somebody they had never worked with, and would face more risk.
Naruto sighed.
"Sure, let's go."
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