" 297."
" 298."
"299."
I counted my handstand push-ups as I was soaked in sweat.
" 300."
I ungratefully fell on my back as my muscles burned and my lungs desperately needed air. I panted as I laid on my back, and I heard annoyingly voice say.
" Just three hundred? You need to up your game, kid."
I flipped off the source of the voice, Anko Mitarashi. It has been three months since she became my handler, and I have, unfortunately, gotten used to her presence during that time. However, the Special Jonin quickly learned that she couldn't act as she pleased, or I would send Soushi or, better yet, Senko her way. The fox boy is easily Jonin level in terms of strength, and while the petite fox girl does not like fighting, she is scary good with Genjutsu.
The lessons I have had with Senko on Genjutsu have been very enlightening. She went over the comprehensive understanding of the mind and six senses, their connections, and the perception of individual reality. Overall, the petite fox girl has been the best teacher I have had in this world. It's not a high bar to surpass, but still.
I suddenly felt my head being lifted, then laid down on something soft but firm. I looked up to see Haruhime giving me a lap pillow as she used a towel to wipe off my sweat.
" This girl."
I thought wryly as I enjoyed her gentle care, but I could feel Anko's smug, teasing smile without looking. I ignored the Special Jonin, as reacting to her would just incite her to poke fun at me. I heard a knock on my door and looked at the time. It should be Tenten and Hinata since both the Academy and Medical Ninjutsu Extracurricular Classes are over.
I pulled myself up from the apprentice caretaker's lap and went to the door. I was right; it was Hinata and Tenten.
" Hey, Naruto-san, how are you?"
" Still getting stir crazy from being cooped up."
I answered the brunette's question and greeted the pale-eyed girl.
" Welcome back, Hinata-san."
" Thank you, Naruto-san."
Hinata returned my greeting, and the two girls came into my apartment to have me help them study Medical Ninjutsu. Despite not attending classes or being able to go to the medical library in the hospital, I wasn't behind. Honestly, the only thing I have trouble with when it comes to Medical Ninjutsu is the Mystical Healing Palm Jutsu.
Despite the extra Chakra Control training I put myself through, Jutsu is still giving me trouble for some reason. I will need to talk to Lady Tsunade and see if she has any advice. Anko greeted the girls with her usual cocky smile.
" Hey there, Visitors One and Two."
Tenten's eye twitched at the Special Jonin as she still did not bother to remember their names, but Hinata politely greeted her regardless.
" Good evening, Mitarashi-san."
The pale-eyed girl's attention switched to Haruhime, and she gave the fox girl a polite bow, which was returned by a bow from Haruhime. Tenten greeted the fox girl with a smile.
" Hey, Haru-chan, how have you been?"
" I have been well, Tenten-chan."
Haruhime smiled in return at the brunette. They somehow became friends after hanging out for one afternoon, where they went shopping together with Hinata. I didn't waste brain cells trying to understand how that works as I just chalked it up to another thing I won't understand and don't feel the need to understand. Tenten then took out a book, one on disease and poison combination, that's a seriously headache-inducing piece of Medical Literature.
" Mind, helping with this? It's on the next test."
" Lady Tsunade sure isn't holding back."
I commented as I took the book and asked.
" So, what part is giving you trouble?"
Hinata then joined the study session, and we kept on studying until it was almost sunset. I gave the girls my farewell as they left for the day, and Anko got up.
" Well, time to turn in my report on you kid."
" Yeah, yeah, just leave already. I want to sleep in peace."
I waved the Special Jonin off as she left, and Haruhime got started on dinner. Ordinarily, Senko would be doing the cooking, but she is away right now to persuade someone to teach me Sealing Jutsu. Overall, my house arrest has been painfully slow, with only training, drawing, and writing to kill time.
________________________________________
" And that's my report, Lord Fifth."
Anko finished her report to Jiraiya, and he was enjoying the Special Jonin's suggestive clothing as it fueled his imagination. The Fifth Hokage thought to himself as he tore his eyes away from the sexy Kuniochi.
" To think that when I sent Anko to handle Naruto, she would easily be defeated by those fox summons. From what she gathered, the pretty boy is at least Jonin level, and she suspects the blonde girl is at Chunin level, but she has no idea what level the petite girl is, and that is concerning. The only reason she couldn't figure out that girl, Senko's level, is either because she is too weak to notice, which is unlikely, or she is so much stronger that she hides her strength well.
Meaning that she could be at least Elite Jonin level or even borderline Kage level. Despite no longer having the Nine Tails within him, Naruto can summon one Chunin, one Jonin, and one possible Kage level summon."
Jiraiya tapped his desk in thought at the implications of his Godson already having the Chakra Reserves needed to summon someone on Gamabunta's level, the chief of the Toads.
" Continue to keep an eye on Naruto, Special Jonin Mitarashi."
" Yes, Lord Fifth."
Anko replied to Jiraiya's order and left the Hokage's office.
" Maybe it's time to lift his punishment?"
The Fifth Hokage muttered to himself as he dug out the Crystal needed to use the Crystal Telescope Jutsu to peek in on the women of Konoha. Jiraiya soon had a lecherous grin as he spied on his favorite research material, Tsunade. The Slug Princess was relaxing in the hot springs with her apprentice, Shizune.
Tsunade felt a creeping sensation and looked around for the source, which made Jiraiya's grin widen as he said.
" Sorry, Tsunade-hime, but you aren't catching me again as I admire your gravity-defying melons."
The Slug Princess then looked immediately up at the Toad Sage through the crystal ball, which froze his heart and made him break out in a cold sweat. She looked away and continued to search for the source of the unpleasant feeling she sensed. Jiraiya sighed in relief as he said.
" Really, a woman's intuition is a terrifying thing."
The Fifth Hokage continued to admire his teammate's rack with a lecherous grin as his imagination ran wild and he wrote down his notes for his next novel.
________________________________________
Senko was sitting in a seiza position in front of a male bipedal fox with dark gray fur and piercing blue eyes who was treating her like a guest.
" Lady Senko, while Lady Tamamo-no-Mai hasn't declared that the boy can't be trained outside of the three kitsune he was assigned, she never declared he could be either."
" Kuko, while I understand your stance, it is honestly a waste not to help Naruto-kun with Sealing Jutsu with him having Uzumaki lineage. His Chakra Reserves already far outstripes even those with decades of experience, making him even more valuable to the Clan as a Summoner. We may even be able to raise into a Sage with the proper training."
Kuko, the Sealing Master of the Fox Clan, sighed at the petite fox girl before saying.
" Lady Senko, you may have taken over Lady Sora's position as Head Caretaker, but that's only because she wants a long vacation to fool around in human society after so long. Once she returns, she will take over her duties again."
Senko sighed as she lamented.
" I was hoping not to use this, but I guess you leave me no choice, Kuko."
The petite fox girl took out a letter and handed it to the Sealing Master. He took the letter with a curious expression, which changed to an annoyed one as he read the letter before muttering.
" I can't believe Sora is wasting her favor with me for this."
" It wasn't hard to convince her since I agreed to take over her duties for an extra decade."
Senko said with a sly smile, and Kuko accuses her.
" Aren't you getting a bit too attached to the human child?"
The petite fox girl just smiled in silence, and the Sealing Master raised his hands as he gave up.
" Fine! Have it your way! I'll teach the kid, but if he can't keep up with my lessons, it's not my problem."
Kuko dismissed Senko from his residence, and the petite fox girl was pleased with herself for getting Naruto, a proper teacher in Sealing Jutsu. However, she had a few more visits to make before returning to him. The Fox Clan's blacksmith for one and another possible teacher for Naruto would teach him simply because it would be interesting.
Senko smiled to herself as she worked to prepare Naruto better to pass the trials needed to be fully recognized as the Contracted Summoner of the Fox Clan. The petite fox girl won't deny to herself that she quickly grew fond of the young Ninja to be as his drive to improve was admirable, whether through training or studying. A strong body and mind can take one far in this world, especially for Shinobi.
Senko went off to see the blacksmith to see if he was interested in taking a human apprentice.
________________________________________
Soushi Miketsukami was at one of the dojos of the Fox Clan practicing his Kenjutsu with a wooden sword. He was a disciple of the Bewildering Sword Style; a Kenjutsu focused on mixing Genjutsu into swordplay to deceive with subtly and trickery to land lethal or crippling blows to defeat the opponent. It was a Kenjutsu Style suited to dueling or fighting one-on-one, not that it can't handle multiple enemies but it works best in single combat.
Soushi stopped his practice and took a moment to wipe off his sweat with a towel and thought about his charge, Naruto Uzumaki. The blonde was dedicated to his training and studies, if nothing else, but the fox boy decided to withhold any judgments until he passed the trials to become the official Contract Summoner of the Clan; otherwise any relation he would have with Naruto would be short-lived.
Soushi smiled as the reason he was in this dojo was because the blonde's constant dedication to training reminded him he was being complacent after mastering his Kenjutsu Style. After all he still felt like he couldn't defeat his teacher despite the years that moved slowly by as his boredom took hold like a good number of other younger members of the Clan.
Every member of the Fox Clan is long-lived and can easily live a few centuries, and that's not considering the Sages that have been around for over a thousand years.
" Oi, Soushi!"
The fox boy turned to see a fellow disciple of the Bewildering Sword, Akagane, a red haired fox boy with a lively aura and large build that one would not expect from a practitioner of the Bewildering Sword Style.
" Hello, Akagane, how have you been?"
" Same old, same old, different day."
The red-haired fox boy replied, looking slightly miserable and bored.
" That aside, what's this? I hear you got a contracted summoner!?"
Akagane demanded with a grievance as he grabbed Soushi by the collar of his clothes. The white-haired fox boy simply smiled as he explained.
" He's strictly a probationary summoner that has yet to pass the Clan's trials."
" What's he like?"
The red-haired fox boy asked, looking curious and a bit excited.
" Hmm... No."
" No?"
Akagane asked in confusion to Soushi's reply as the white-haired fox boy had a playful smile. The red-haired fox boy demanded with anger.
" What do you mean no!?"
" Nope."
Soushi said as he messed with his fellow disciple's he thought.
" Akagane is always too easy."
The white-haired fox boy just smiled as the red-haired fox boy shook him as he demanded.
" Tell me!"
" No."
Soushi replied with a playful smile, which rubbed Akagane the wrong way and bellowed.
" Fight me!"
" I don't feel like it."
The two fox boys continued to fight despite the noise they made which attracted everyone in the surrounding area.
________________________________________
My alarm went off and I tried to feel it out without opening my eyes. I then touched something... soft. What was this? It was warm and soft with some springiness to it with a fishnet cover on it. I opened one of my eyes to see what I was touching, and I saw Anko, with my hand on her chest. She had a smile that sent chills down my spine as it promised pain and suffering.
Well, if I am already screwed, then... I gave her chest a few more squeezes before I died in some small way in the not-so-distant future. Anko's eye twitched at me, squeezing her breast, and grabbed my pinky, then broke it.
" Motherf*cker!"
I cursed in English as I retracted my hand with a now broken pinky finger. I regret nothing. I glared at the Special Jonin as that was going a bit too far, and she smirked at me and said.
" Congratulations, your house arrest is over, kid."
" Really?"
I asked skeptically as I nursed my broken finger and recalled what I needed to do to treat it. I got out my first aid kit and got started treating my broken finger, and Anko replied.
" Yep, Hokage's orders, but you're still stuck with me as I have to keep an eye on you."
" Great."
I said sarcastically while rolling my eyes, but I was glad regardless to be able to get out of my apartment. I finished treating my broken finger and realized I couldn't summon Senko, Haruhime, or even Soushi as I haven't gotten around to figuring out one-handed hand signs as my pinky is broken. I considered having Anko literally lend me a hand but decided against it as I rather not test my luck.
For now, I need to head to get ready for class.