Chapter 12

Naruto hung off one of the branches with his chakra and did sit ups. His trench coat lay on the ground as he continued his exercised. On another tree, Sasuke continued the tree climbing exercise and was starting to progress as much as his teammates. Sakura’s advice was working for him and he couldn’t wait for the results.

“One hundred! Wow, that’s as far I can go.” Naruto explained.

“Only a hundred? I could still keep going after that dobe.” Sasuke taunted

“Well, I’m so sorry I don’t have your natural talents but I like to go at my own pace.” He released himself from the branch and flipped onto his feet. He grabbed his trench coat and placed it on. “Besides, you haven’t even finished this exercise yet.”

“I’ll finish it, just you wait.”

“I shiver with excitement.” Naruto said sarcastically. Sasuke growled in anger and it caused him to lose his footing. Naruto just walked away while Sasuke was cursing a mile a minute.

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Naruto looked over the scroll with the basic sealing techniques. There was something that caught his eye. With some simple writing and chakra, he could make his weapons much stronger. Yet there was a problem. He was not adept in some of these characters that were needed. He sighed in disappointment.

“Oh well, I still have this Suiton technique.” Suddenly he saw a flare coming for the right of the bridge. He jumped down for his perch while his clones appeared before him. Tazuna and the workers looked at them.

“What the problem boy?” he asked

“Something happened where my clones were patrolling. I’m going to check it out. My clones will stay with you.” Naruto said

“Don’t bother Naruto. Nice defensive front by the way.” Said a voice. They turned to see Kakashi.

“Kakashi-sensei? What are you doing here?” Naruto asked

“I feel much stronger so I thought I would take a walk. So how the bridge coming?” he asked

“Got me, ask this old drunk.” Naruto said. Tazuna glared at the boy.

“It’s going good. Your student’s protection is a great help.” He said

“That’s good. Naruto, have you seen Sakura any where?”

“Last I checked she was sparring with a couple of my clones.”

“NARUTO!!!” someone growled. They turned to see Sakura. Her hair was a mess, her clothes were a bit torn and she had a small cut on her lip.

“So… how was sparring?” Naruto asked nervously. With a loud battle cry, Sakura attacked Naruto in a brutal fashion not seen. Kakashi sighed while Tazuna watched with confusion.

“Are you just going to let this happen?” he asked the one eyed jounin.

“This is just how they solve disputes. It’ll be over soon.” Said Kakashi. Naruto continued to scream in agony as Sakura attempted to bloody him.

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It was now dinner time at Tazuna’s house. Sasuke ate at a fast pace so he could get back to his training. His other two teammates were glaring at each other. Sakura’s glare was more intimidating since Naruto was sporting two black eyes. Kakashi sighed and looked at his students.

“Sakura, you should apologize to Naruto.” He said

“What!?” she shouted

“You asked him for help.”

“That’s right. You asked for a sparring partner and I gave you an unlimited supply.” Naruto added

“Sparring, you moron, not combat.” Sakura yelled

“Zabuza is still out there. I was just making sure that you would be ready. Besides, you weren’t even that hurt.” Sakura was about to retort but Kakashi cut in.

“Okay, that enough you two. You have to realize Sakura that Naruto has had different training than you.” Kakashi explained. Everyone looked at Naruto with a questioning glance.

“Anko-oneesan wasn’t one of the most gentle of teachers. She pretty much beat me up during my training but it made me tougher.” He answered

“I’ve always wondered what type of training Anko gave you.” Kakashi asked

“Well, she mostly trained me in chakra control since I really sucked at it. She really didn’t teach me any techniques per say. She would just gave me a scroll with a technique and leave me to learn it. Sparing was a bit brutal. She really didn’t hold back a lot. We used real kunais in our spars and it was always a different scene. One day it would be straight sparring, the next day mid-air sparring, then sneak attacks, e. t. c. There was that time she put me against Raijin. Man, you’ve never felt pain like a giant snake ramming you into a tree at a high speed. Other than a few exercises, it wasn’t that bad.” Naruto said with a smile. Everyone looked at the boy like he was insane.

‘That’s Anko for you. Though I think she went a little overboard with summoning Raijin to spar him.’ Kakashi thought with a sigh

‘Not even the academy teachers were that rough. Who the hell is this woman?’ Sasuke thought

‘He calls this mad woman his oneesan?’ Sakura wondered

“Why?” said a small voice. Everyone turned to Inari, Tazuna’s grandson. Naruto had met the boy when Kakashi had awoken. After a few words, Naruto didn’t like him. He learned about Inari’s hero, Kaiza. Kaiza was like a father to Inari and that man stood up to Gato. Though a brave act, Kaiza was killed as an example. After than, Inari became a sad kid who had no hope. That didn’t make Naruto feel any sorry for the kid. In his eyes, Kaiza was brave man who did what he had to help his people and Inari was just spitting on his grave.

“What do you mean?” asked Sakura

“Why do you continue to train? I won’t mean anything against Gato. He has many men and a lot of arms. Even with all your skill, you won’t defeat him. You shouldn’t have come here.” He said. Everyone was silent when Naruto began to chuckle.

“Kami, you’re annoying. Keep your whining to yourself kid. Unlike you, there are people in this room with some bravery.” Naruto said. Inari slammed his fist onto the table and glared at Naruto.

“Why don’t you shut up? I hate guys like you. You act all cool and stuff, always grinning. You know nothing of hardships, you know nothing of suffering, and you know nothing about being alone.” He shouted. Suddenly, a kunai whizzed by him, cutting his cheek. Everyone looked at the out stretched arm of Naruto. Inari shivered under Naruto stare.

“You make me sick. You whine and bitch about being alone. You’re nothing but a coward. You’re father stood up for what he believed in and grandfather at least standing up to Gato, to give you and your village happiness and you spit it in their faces. You think that you’re the only one who had it rough? You think that you’re the only person who has lost a love one? Stop being such a brat and grow up.” Naruto shouted. He stood and went to get his kunai.

“Naruto you went to…” Sakura began but was cut off by Naruto’s glare. He received his weapon and walked out of the house. Kakashi watched as Inari trembled in fear as Sakura tried to apologize for Naruto’s behavior. He sighed in frustration at his uncontrollable student. He remaindered himself to talk to him later but now he had to deal with this situation.

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“Come on gaki, you can do this.” Shouted Anko

“Easy for you to say, you don’t have a boulder strapped to you leg.” Naruto shouted back.

“Stop your bitching and climb. Come on, the otouto of Mitarashi Anko doesn’t quit.” Naruto struggled as he put more effort into climbing the rock face. It took some guts but he finally made it. Anko smiled and cut the rope to the boulder. She kneeled down to Naruto’s tired form and ruffled his hair.

“Sorry oneesan but I’m going to sleep now.” Naruto murmured

“Hey. Hey!!”

“Hey!!! You need to wake up.” Said a soft voice. Naruto was awoken from one of his fond memory and was face to face with a beautiful girl. He stared at her with a dazed look.

“Cute.” He whispered. The girl looked shocked but then chuckled at him. Realizing what he said he quickly sat up with a blush. “I’m sorry about that.”

“So I’m not cute?” she asked

“No, you are… what I mean is… argh!” Naruto growled in frustration. The girl just chuckled at his antics. Naruto could do nothing more but laugh with her. After a few seconds the laughter died down.

“So why were you sleeping out here?” she asked

“Oh, just letting off some steam.” The girl turned around and noticed that the area was filled with kunais and knives. There was even a tree knocked over. “So why are you here?” He asked

“I’m collecting herbs so I can treat someone.” She said

“That’s nice. Do you need any help?”

“Thank you, I would like that.” Naruto helped the girl pick her herbs. She pointed out which ones she wanted and Naruto complied.

“So who are these for?” Naruto asked

“It is for my pericous person.” She answered

“Pericous person?”

“Do you have someone pericous to you? Some one you care for deeply?” Naruto looked at her in confusion. He thought about it and a few people came to his mind. Iruka, Ayame, the third Hokage, Teuchi and Anko were the people that invaded his mind. He gave her a foxy grin.

“Yeah, I have a couple of those.” The girl smiled at him.

“That’s good. You will be come strong because of them. True strength comes when you have something pericous to protect.”

“You serious?”

“Yes.” She stood up and began to walk away.

“Oh, I never got your name. Mine is Uzumaki Naruto.” He shouted

“Mine name is Haku and I’m a boy.” He said. He turned quickly and walked away before he saw Naruto’s surprised expression. As he walked away, he ran into Sasuke. Sasuke gave him a weird look but he ignored it and walked on. Meanwhile, Naruto sat there in confusion. There was no way that person was… a he. He was prettier than Sakura. Hell, he was prettier than Hinata but she had a more graceful beauty. Before his thoughts went any further, he was conked on the head by Sasuke.

“What the hell?” Naruto cursed

“Kakashi sent me. You have to take you shift in ten minutes.” Sasuke said

“So why did you hit me for?”

“You looked in deep thought. It was the only way I knew how to stop you.”

“Yeah right. You’re probably angry with me because I’m better than you.” Sasuke just glared at him and walked off. Naruto soon followed muttering something about emo brats.

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It had been about a week since that start of the mission. Kakashi was back to full health and power. He pleased with the progress of his students. Sakura could do the tree climbing a bit longer because of Naruto’s stamina training plus the genjutsu that she had learned would come in handy. Sasuke had finally gotten the tree climbing exercise training down. Naruto had learned a Suiton, a very powerful one, but he ended up using almost all his chakra doing it. It was why he was currently laid up in bed.

“Stupid idiot doesn’t know his own limitations.” Said Sakura

“That may be true but to learn the Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu (Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique) in the span of three days is remarkable.” Kakashi said. Sasuke snorted like he didn’t care but inside he was impressed and jealous. The one that everyone called the dobe had another jounin jutsu in his arsenal. Naruto mumbled something about ramen and turn over in his sleep. Kakashi chuckled at him. He was also impressed with how quickly his chakra was returning to him. If he had to guess, Naruto chakra may be higher because of this little exercise. “Let’s let him sleep out this one. Now that Sasuke has learned the tree climbing and I’m back to full power, we are more than enough to guard Tazuna.” The three left with Tazuna in tow.

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Zabuza crushed the orange that was in his hand. Thanks to Haku, he was back to full strength. He turned to Haku.

“Are you ready Haku?” he asked

“Yes Zabuza.” He answered

“Good this time Kakashi will not defeat me.”

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Inari peaked into the room where Naruto slept. He looked at him was a bit of curiousness. He thought back to the conversation with Kakashi.

-----Flashback-----

Inari rubbed his cheek where the bandage was. He had not seen Naruto since the argument.

“Are you all right?” Inari turned to see Kakashi. The one eyed jounin took a seat next to Inari. The two stayed quiet for a bit when Kakashi spoke. “You know, Naruto never had any parents.” Inari looked at him in surprise. “He’s been an orphan all his life. Everyone in our village ignored him when he was a child. There were times that he cried in a corner. Then one day he stopped crying. I guess he got tired of it. I haven’t seen him cry in a while.”

“Why?” Inari asked

“Who knows? Anyway, I apologize for my student’s behavior. Have a good night.” He said and walked away, leaving Inari with his thoughts.

-----Present-----

Inari didn’t know what to think about the blond any more. If what his sensei said was true then he had a harder life than him. So why didn’t he act like him? Suddenly, Inari heard his mother calling him. He took one last look of the blond and ran off with various thoughts in his head. Outside the house, two men stood at the door. They had evil smirks about them as they drew their swords.

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Authors’ Notes: Sorry this took so long but my co-workers got me into Just fixing that page took most of my time. Also I’m looking for a page to put my stories on. Anyway, sorry this took so long.