Naruto Making Uzumaki (rewrite) Chapter 8

[Psyckosama]

“Nohara Rin?” Naruto wondered aloud. Why the hell was Kakashi bringing up one of his teammates at a time like this. “Alright, what about her?”

“She’s dead,” Kakashi replied cooly, “Just like everyone else I’ve ever cared about.”

Naruto grimaced. “What happened?”

“During the last shinobi war she was captured as part of a Kirigakure plan to destroy Konoha,” Kakashi began.

Naruto blinked. The last Shinobi war? “That had to have been,” Wait, when was the last Shinobi war again? And which was it again? “A really long time ago!”

“I’m not that old,” Kakashi replied, “But if you must know, we were not much older than you are now.”

Naruto grimaced. Dying that young, before you even had a chance to live? That had to suck! He wouldn’t let any of his precious people die like that! He still had to become Hokage! Haku had to help him get there! Sasuke still had to rebuild his clan! Sakura still had to do... well... whatever it was Sakura wanted to do that didn’t involve fangirling over the Douchebag.

“Anyways,” Kakashi continued, “Rin was captured by Ninja of Kirigakure who intended on using her as part of a plot to destroy the village.”

“How?” Naruto asked.

“By turning her into the Jinchuriki of the Sanbi no Kame and then unleashing the beast inside the village.”

Naruto went agape. “Your teammate was like me?”

“No,” Kakashi replied, “The Yondaime designed your seal to protect the village and contain the Kyubi inside you so it wouldn’t be able to escape cause trouble for anyone, yourself included. Rin’s seal was different, like...”

Kakashi paused for a moment and reached into his pack. Calmly he pulled out a storage scroll and an explosive tag.

“This is your.” he said, holding the storage seal. “Your seal is designed to hold the Kyubi without changing your nature.” Then he lifted the other, “This was Rin. Her seal was designed to hold the Sanbi just long enough to get the beast into a location of their choosing and then explode, consuming the paper which it was written on and all around it in pain and destruction.”

Naruto turned green. Ever since he found out about the Kyubi his greatest fear had been that it would someday find a way to escape, a way to bring pain and death to all that he held dear. The fact that it would kill him, that was immaterial. The true horror would be the destruction that would then be visited on his loved ones. The idea of sealing a creature like the Kyubi into someone specifically to turn them into a human explosive tag, a living bomb primed and ready to destroy their homes and loved ones? The idea horrified him beyond the ability of language to properly articulate.

“How did she die,” Naruto whispered. Part of him didn’t want to know, but he had to. Kakashi was wrong. She was like him. That meant that they shared a special bond. He had to know.

Kakashi sighed. “After the sealed the beast inside her, they let her ‘escape’. They needed to keep up appearances that they were not up to something so they sent a force of ninjas to hound her all the way back to the village. To make it look like they were trying to get her back.”

Naruto frowned. He never heard about a Sanbi attack, so he remained quiet.

Kakashi closed his eyes. “What they didn’t take into account is Rin heard a couple of the ninjas who performed the sealing talking about their plan. When she escaped, she refused to go back to the village. She was terrified to the point of irrationality.”

Kakashi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It wasn’t hard for Naruto to see the pain on the man’s face. He was trying to hide it and failing miserably. “If only she’d thought to trust Minato-sensei,” he lamented to himself, “She’s still be alive.”

“Minato-sensei?”

Kakashi nodded slightly, the unshed tears misting his eyes. “Minato Namikaze. The Yondaime Hokage. My Sensei.”

The Yondaime, his hero, was Kakashi’s sensei? Okay, maybe the scarecrow was a dick, but he obviously wasn’t all bad.

“She was frightened and she decided to protect the village on her own,” he said, now almost choking up. “While I was fighting the enemy, she jumped in front of one of my attacks.”

Naruto’s eyes went wide with shock. “Y-you killed your own teammate.”

“Yes.”

The only way that this could be worse would be.... Naruto grimaced. He could only think of one way for it to be worse. “It was the Chidori, wasn’t it?”

Kakashi simply nodded.

Naruto’s face twisted into a mask of horror and sympathy. Yeah. He thought so. Had to be. The Kami were kinda dicks like that. Only way to make it worse would be to bury him up to his elbow in her ribcage like with Zabuza, so of course... The very idea of that happening to Sakura or even Sasuke made him want to scream.

“Your sensei could have saved her,” he asked.

“I believe so,” Kakashi replied, “There were ways to remove the seal without letting the beast loose. Theoretically Minato-sensei could have turned her from this...” he lifted the explosive tag, “To this” he lifted the scroll, “Without killing her.”

Naruto closed his eyes, “It was the Tesaki clan, wasn’t it?” he looked up, “They’re the ones who did it, right?”

“Yes, it was their plan, their idea, and their execution,” Kakashi took a deep breath, and naruto could feel his melancholy slowly turning into a seething rage. “And of course, they did not target her by accident. Rin was very close to... one of Kiri’s most terrible enemies of the time and student of the man who was then the most probable candidate for Yondaime. What they did to Rin was their grand attempt to prove themselves to be an invaluable asset to Kiri...”

Naruto blinked. “I guess that didn’t work out too well.”

“It humiliated both their clan and the Mist. The concessions they had to make to get the Sanbi back were rather extreme as well,” Kakashi’s eye narrowed, “But worthless papers and hollow agreements are no replacement for the price we paid.”

“I see,” Naruto replied, sadly looking down. “You hate their clan for what they did to you. For what they took from you. Is that it?”

Kakashi said nothing. Naruto looked up, his eyes meeting Kakashi’s one.

“You must really hate me, don’t you Kakashi-sensei.”

Kakashi recoiled as if struck. “What? How would you ever think that!”

“The Kyubi,” Naruto replied, “It took your sensei from you so you must hate me.”

“No!” Kakashi exclaimed, “How could you ever think that?”

“Well, it’s the same isn’t it?” Naruto asked, “I mean Mou, Rari, Kuri, yeah, I get it their clan are a giant sack of dicks who did something really horrible, but were they even born yet? Even if they were, how is it their fault, they were just babies!”

He stood up and looked down at his sensei. “They have their clan, I have the fox! If you hate them, then you should hate me too, because right now you’re being really stupid!”

For what seemed like an eternity the room remained completely silent. But then, slowly, Kakashi began to chuckle. It was a dull, hollow sound that still somehow managed to be almost hysterical.

Slowly, Kakashi stood up and looked down at his student. He remained quiet for what felt like an eternity

Naruto swallowed. Kakashi-sensei wasn’t going to hate him, was he?

Slowly Kakashi stood and reached out to his student. Naruto fought the urge to pull away, but Kakashi meant no harm and slowly ruffled Naruto’s hair, a smile coming to his face.

“You really are Konoha’s most surprising ninja, aren’t you?” he said with a smile, “I was expecting...” he paused, then laughed, ‘Well, I wasn’t expecting you to come in and then tear me down with an actual argument. You’re alright, kid.”

Naruto beamed. “Does that mean you’ll recommend them now?”

“No.”

Naruto blinked in utterly confusion. But, but, but... my awesome argument! “Huh?”

“I still don’t like them, and I still think they’re idiots,” Kakashi stated with a smile, “And unless they prove that they’re actually capable of something worthwhile I can’t give them my recommendation. But I won’t recommend against them on general principle either. At this point they can sink or swim based on their own merits.”

Naruto sighed.

This was going to be a long night.

- 8 -

Haku sighed and looked at the three brothers. They were sitting outside the house looking at the nighttime swamp in the midst of a conversation. Before she’d just considered them something that was her problem, now faced with the realities of her new existence she was forced to confront them as people to be talked to and not a bother to be managed.

Haku looked over her shoulder at the sound of an opening door. Behind her Tsunami was stepping out onto the deck. Slowly, the beautiful woman glanced over the three and looked to Haku.

“So who are they?” she asked.

“They were Zabuza-sama’s genin,” Haku replied calmly. “He did not treat them very well.”

Tsunami nodded. “I see. I’m running out of room in my house. I wish Kakashi-san would have been more thoughtful.”

“I must beg your indulgence, Tsunami-san,” Haku replied, “They’re here on my account and not Kakashi-san’s”

“Yeah, the guy hates us,” Kari muttered. “He wasn’t even looking at us, he just heard our clan. This sucks. And I thought Konoha was supposed to be soft.”

Rari looked over. “Just because they’re soft doesn’t mean they can’t hold a grudge. He really hated us. Whatever happened had to be pretty bad.”

“Life sucks, buy a helmet,” Mou grumbled, “And stop making noise, you boneheads. I’m trying to think.”

“Don’t hurt yourself, Mou,” Kari replied, with a grin.

Mou glared at his brother and stood up. “Why I oughta...”

“Sit down, Mou,” Haku snapped. “You’re not helping.”

“And here I thought you weren't going to boss us around anymore,” Rari observed.

“I still feel its my responsibility to keep you three from doing anything stupid,” she replied.

“With these two boneheads, you’ve got your work cut out for you,” Mou snarked.

“Mou, cut it out,” Haku sighed. She wanted to say something, to threaten him into submission, but they’d come to an understanding. Plus she didn’t want to offend Tsunami-san. She’d try to use civil means to control him, though part of her doubted that would work. Still, it was worth a try. “Please”

“Please,” he chuckled and then threw a kunai at a tree.“This is the irony isn’t it? We finally put our differences to the side and do that whole touchy feely get to know each make nice crap and we’re still screwed, aren’t we?”

Haku sighed, “Mou, please have some faith in Naruto-kun.”

“Yeah!” Kuri replied, “He seems to be a nice kid! He’ll talk to him for us.”

“Kid’ll talk, but I doubt that the old man’ll listen,” Mou replied.

“Still worth a try,” Rari replied, “I mean as long as we stick around with them we’re safe. We don’t have anything to lose from cooperating.”

“Nothing to gain either, ‘cept maybe a stay of execution,” Mou countered.

“You need to have more faith in Naruto-kun,” Tsunami said, joining the conversation, “My son, Inari, had lost all hope but Naruto-kun’s words were able to get through to him in a way that no one else could. Though Inari-kun, his strength of character and courage brought hope back to my son and to our entire country,” she smiled radiantly, “Naruto-kun is a true Uzumaki and I believe in him, as should you.”

“True Uzumaki?” Kari asked, “What is that supposed to mean.”

Tsunami slowly say down next to them and looked over. “The Uzumaki clan were once...”

The door burst open and Naruto stuck his head through, “Hey guys!”

“Oh, great, the loudmouth returns” Mou muttered.

Naruto glanced down at Mou, “Hey! Don’t be a jerk.”

“Yeah! Don’t be a jerk!” Rari chimed in, earning a glare from his brother.

“Whatever.” Mou sighed, “Lay it on us...”

“Well, I got some good news and bad news!”

“What’s the good news!” Rari exclaimed. “Is he going to let us into the village?”

“That ain’t his call, bonehead!” Mou snapped, “But a Jonin’s got a long of swing so what did he say, kid?”

“Well, he didn’t say no...,” Naruto paused, “Alright, he didn’t say yes either but...”

He was rambling. “Naruto-kun,” Haku said calmly looking to help him focus, “What did he say?”

“He said that, well, I managed to convince him not to recommend against you, but he says you have to show you’re actually worth letting in. He kind of thinks you’re idiots.”

Mou groaned, “So we’re still fucked then.”

“Language!” Tsunami snapped.

Naruto shrugged, “But at least now you can try and show him how awesome you are!”

Rari sighed “Yeah, we’re doomed.”

- 8 - 8 -

“Hey, dumbass.”

Naruto sighed and glared at Sasuke as he prepared to pull on his night cap. “What do you want, douchebag. If you have something to say about the hat, you can go fuck yourself.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes. “Nothing about that. I just some time tomorrow I need to train with you in the woods, alone.”

Naruto’s eyes narrowed. Sasuke never wanted to train with him. Now, as much as he wanted to kick the smug bastard’s ass and prove how strong he really was, he smelled something fishy. “Come on, you think I’m really going to fall for that? What do you really want?”

“I’m serious,” Sasuke replied, “You’re stronger than I thought.” he paused, “Still an idiot but you might actually be worth testing my strength against.”

Naruto couldn’t help but smile. Sasuke was a first class jerk, but he was his rival, and being acknowledged by him as being a worthy one felt good.

“Alright, bastard, I’d be happy to kick your ass,” Naruto replied with a tooth grin.

“Yeah right, moron. Just because I expect you to last long enough to be worth fighting doesn’t mean you have a chance,” he paused, “Besides, once I’m done beating you like a drum there’s something I need to show you.”

Naruto’s eyebrow peaked. Sasuke wanted to show him something? This had the potential to be either really cool or really stupid.

- 8 - 8 - 8 -

“Hatake-san, I need to speak to you.”

Kakashi sighed. Damn it, first Pakkun, then Sakura, then Naruto, now Haku. Couldn’t a man live his life vicariously through adult literature in peace?

“Come in,” he said in his normal whimsical and lackadaisical tone as he closed his book and placed it out of sight. Not that he was hiding anything, it was just he had appearances to keep up. Reading porn in public was one thing, but in the privacy of his own quarters before bed? Why that might make him look like some kind of pervert!

Slowly the door slid open and the pretty young Kunoichi stepped in. It was a sight that Kakashi found extremely pleasing. She was dressed in her sleeping clothes, just enough cover to keep her from exposing herself and just thin enough to keep him from having to imagine too much. He was not ashamed to say that he opened Obito’s eye for a moment to take in the glorious image of blooming femininity before him.

He could only hope that somewhere in the perfect world, Obito was seeing this too. He’d have appreciated it.

“You need something?” he asked as he sat up, hoping upon hope that she was here to act out chapter six of the third volume of Icha Icha Sexy with him. It was one of the five things he wanted to do before he died, right between eating a salt-broiled saury the size of his arm and a threesome with identical twin kunoichi from Kumogakure.

“I apologize for disturbing you at such a late hour, but I needed to speak to you in private,” she replied.

Please be here for a reenactment. Please be here for a reenactment! “Oh? What about?”

“I need to speak to you about Naruto-kun.”

Agh! Damn it! “What about him?”

“I trained with him earlier today,” she replied as she sat down next to his futon. “And it is my intent to continue to do so.”

Kakashi nodded. “And I assume you’d do it even if I told you not to?”

“I’d officially protest to the Hokage once I was accepted in Konohagakure,” she replied, “But as you are his sensei I would accept your decision, for now.”

“But not before telling Naruto so he could try and annoy me into changing my mind.”

Haku smiled. “Of course.”

“Devious.” Kakashi chuckled. “But don’t worry, I have no problem with any of my cute little genin seeking outside instruction as long as it doesn’t interfere with his training.”

She nodded gently. “May I ask what you are teaching him at the moment?”

Kakashi nodded. “Go right ahead.”

There was a pause. The girl expected him to tell her, but she hadn’t asked had she? She’d only asked if she could ask. He’d said yes. But she hadn’t asked.

Haku frowned.

Kakashi smiled.

“What you are teaching him at the moment?”

And there you go. “Currently I’m focusing on small unit tactics and team building exercises along with low rank missions and group drills and sparring.”

Haku frowned slightly. “I see.”

His eyebrow peaked. “Is there a problem, Haku-chan?”

“Naruto believes that the only thing you’ve taught him of any real substance is Tree Climbing.”

Kakashi scowled. He had to admit to himself that he felt somewhat insulted. Getting those three to work as anything even resembling a team in a combat situation was damned near miraculous by most standards. “You have to recall that Naruto is somewhat Jutsu mad,” he replied calmly.

“I noticed,” Haku replied, “He seems to be under the false impression that everything ninja related involves some form of ‘awesome jutsu’.”

Kakashi had noticed that himself and had several times tried to correct him to no avail.

The girl shook her head, “He didn’t even realize that the difference between a prank and a trap was intent.”

Kakashi felt his blood freeze in his veins. “You... didn’t tell him... did you?”

Haku blinked in confusion. “Of course I did.”

“Ugh,” Kakashi face palmed and groaned as if he were in pain. “Hokage-sama is not going to be pleased.”

“Wait,” Haku looked dumbfounded, “What?”

“Hokage-sama issued orders to all ninja Chunin and above in rank that Uzumaki Naruto was not to have that little fact pointed out to him until he’d reached Chunin himself,” he replied with a sigh.

Haku’s eyes narrowed. “Your Hokage was stunting Naruto’s growth as a ninja?”

“Not exactly,” Kakashi replied, “When he was in the academy, Naruto used to be something of a menace. The Sandaime was extremely pleased when the boy ceased his activities after graduation and wished to give him some time to mature before he found out.”

Haku simply shrugged.

Kakashi on the other hand was considering upgrading the security on his apartment. Or possibly moving into a secure vault. Deep under the earth. With only one fortified entrance. That was guarded at all times.

He sighed. “Anything else you taught him?”

She nodded. “Kirigakure no Jutsu. He’s also picked up the basic principles of Funryuu no Jutsu.”

So, Kirigakure no Jutsu. Useful technique. Nothing destructive but a useful distraction. Considered an academy basic in Kiri. He’d have to teach it to Sakura and Sasuke if only so they didn’t feel left behind. “So Naruto was to blame for the massive fog earlier?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Alright,” he smiled, “So what else do you intend for my cute little Genin?”

“His Chakra control is awful,” she replied, “I’m going to teach him Water Walking and have offered to teach him Body Flicker if he can produce a single perfect standard clone.”

Kakashi nodded. Fair enough. Considering the sorry state of Naruto’s chakra control, the others would be ready to learn the technique by the time he got to that point.

“I explained Nature Transformation to him and demonstrated Mizurappa as an example. If you have any Chakra papers I’d be very thankful.”

Nature Training, eh? “Yes I do, actually,” Kakashi replied, “But I’ll test all three of them myself tomorrow. Anything else you picked up on?”

“His Taijutsu was intentionally sabotaged,” she replied grimly.

What?! He knew Naruto was an awful student in the academy but intentionally undermined? His sensei’s son? Kakashi’s eyes narrowed to slits. If it was true, heads would roll.

“That is a rather severe accusation,” Kakashi replied grimly. “I do hope you have evidence to back it up.”

“From what I’ve seen and heard from Naruto, I believe that his primary Taijutsu instructor intentionally encouraged him to make mistakes and commit them to muscle memory. While I admit I am no expert in Taijutsu, when I asked him about his ‘sloppy’ stance, he told me that those were the forms as he was taught them by his sensei.”

That didn’t make sense. All of his reports, his Taijutsu instructor included stated that the boy was an awful student who barely ever bothered to attend class. Improving his Taijutsu had always been on Kakashi’s to-do list after he managed to get Team 7 to function as a team, but... wait.

Look under the underneath, Kakashi.

“Mizuki,” he hissed. His practicals teacher was a traitor to the village. Lying on a academy student report would have been the least of his crimes. Considering his hatred for Naruto, encouraging bad practice would be a stretch. It was a simple form of sabotage that was both difficult to detect and potentially lethal in the field.

“It’s becoming obvious to me that Naruto-kun needs more personal attention than I first believed,” Kakashi replied, fighting down a hiss. “I will of course have to independently confirm your suspicions, but thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

“You were welcome, Kakashi-san,” She paused for a moment, “Though there is one other thing that Naruto said that gave me reason for concern.”

“Yes?” Kakashi asked, almost dreading her response.

“He claims that his abilities are effectively self taught.”

Kakashi couldn’t help but snort. “You’re kidding, right?”

She frowned. “No. He claimed that his academy instructors never took any interest in his education.”

“Actually, I’ve spoken with his primary instructor on the subject,” Kakashi replied, “Umino-san claims that Naruto-kun was an academic nightmare. He’d start trouble when faced with anything even resembling lecture.”

Haku frowned. “I see. Is he a reliable source?”

Kakashi smiled. “Ask him about ‘Iruka-sensei’ some time and I’ll sure he’ll vouch for him himself. Anyways.” He cracked his neck, “It’s getting late and I need my beauty rest.”

Haku nodded. “Of course, Hatake-san. I did not intend to be a bother.”

Kakashi smiled. “No bother, just keep up informed as to what you intend to do with my precious student.”

“Of course. Good night, Hatake-san.”

“Nighty night, Haku-chan!” he said as she closed the door behind her.

Waiting a moment, he smiled and then pulled out his book “Now, where was I?”

- 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 -

Naruto groaned as he was pulled from his sleep by a knock on the door. Ugh. The fuck?

“Excuse me Naruto-kun, but I need to speak with you.”

Oh man, it was Tazuna-jiji. Couldn’t this wait? He’d just been in the middle of that really awesome dream where Sakura was feeding him ramen out of a bowl the size of a bathtub. Only this time Haku was in it too. And they were naked.

He groaned and rolled over, face down into his pillow, willing with all of his mental strength that the old man would piss off and let him rest. It didn’t work.

“Naruto-kun, are you awake?”

“If you don’t stop him pounding on the door,” Sasuke groaned, “Now answer him already so I can go back to sleep!”

“What a dick,” Naruto growled, before looking towards the door. “I am now! What is it?”

“Oh good,” the door slid open and Tazuna popped his head in looking right as rain. Considering how much he drank, Naruto had absolutely no idea how he pulled it off. Probably Hair of the Dog or something.

“What do you want?” he grumbled as he rubbed his eyes. Absently he glanced at a window. It was still dark. His eyes narrowed.

“Wait, what time is it?”

“Four thirty in the morning,” Tazuna replied.

Naruto paused and scowled. “Why the hell are you waking me up before dawn?”

“Remember what we were talking about the yesterday morning,” Tazuna asked with a smile.

“No,” Naruto grumbled. It was four thirty in the morning. He’s probably need a native guide to find the damned toilet this early. “Remind me.”

“About the bridge and you helping,” he replied, “Yesterday I talked to your Sensei and...” he smiled and pulled out a scroll. “He told me to give this to you first thing in the morning.”

Naruto glared at the scroll. “Since when is this morning?! And what the hell is that!”

“It’s a mission scroll, dipshit,” Sasuke groaned, “Now shut up before I strangle you with that idiotic hat.”

“Hands off the headgear, bastard,” he grumbled, “And what the hell do you mean a mission.”

“Remember, you said you’d use your clones to help me make up for labor shortages with my bridge?”

Naruto blinked. “I did?”

He didn’t remember agreeing to anything! Growling he opened the scroll and looked at it. Lets see. Long term D-rank mission. Yadda yadda yadda. Aid in the completion of the bridge. Et cetera. Et cetera. Et cetera. Et cetera.

He frowned. It all looked in order. He glared. “I hope you don’t expect the real me to help you.”

Tazuna shrugged. “Your clones’ll do just fine, so unless you want to stay here abusing my hospitality until June, you better move it.”

Naruto groaned. That was almost two months away! To hell with that. “Alright, Alright!” he growled, “Now go away and let me get dressed.”

- 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 -

Sasuke couldn’t help but smirk as he walked in for breakfast. From the looks of things he was the only one of his teammates who didn’t look like complete shit.

Unlike Naruto, he’d was able to go back to bed after Tazuna's interruption. His teammate on the other hand looked tired and miserable. Even more amusing he was still dressed in a shockingly bright orange hard hat and tool belt which were had probably been given to him so all of his clones would be similarly equipped.

Sakura on the other hand looked like she’d just crawled herself out of the grave. “Good morning...,” she said in a long suffering groan. It was a tone that made Sasuke wonder if she was going to be asking for brains next, much to his eternal amusement.

Even Kakashi looked a bit stressed, his eyes darting from Naruto to the three morons at the table, on edge and awkwardly uncomfortable.

Sasuke on the other hand felt fine. He was calm. He was relaxed. He was talented and good looking and there was nothing not to like. He felt great, and they didn’t. Call him a dick, call it schadenfreude, but he actually was pretty okay with that.

“What’s the agenda?” Sasuke asked with a smile as he picked up a set of chopsticks. Tsunami-san was a wonderful cook and he’d miss it when he was gone. He hadn’t eaten this well for a long time, but he was in a good mood and he didn’t want to fuck it up by thinking about why he didn’t eat like this every morning.

“I intend to teach Naruto-kun the basics of Water Walking,” Haku replied calmly.

And there went his good mood. Why the hell did Naruto get a hot personal trainer and not him? Why did Naruto get all the cute, not useless ones? He’d have to try and fix that when he got back to Konoha. There had to be someone in the village who was half-competent and willing to help him with his training.

“Water walking?” Sakura asked looking up.

“Think you could show all of us?” Sasuke asked. There was no way in hell he wasn’t going to try and nudge in on learning another technique.

“Well,” Haku thought aloud, “The principles are relatively simple. If Kakashi-san would allow it I can show all three of you.”

Naruto pouted. “Oh man, I thought you were going to be giving me super awesome one on one training!”

Haku smiled. “I will tell them how to do it, but I’ll help coach you personally.”

Sasuke sighed. She was cute, strong, and quiet. Lucky bastard. Why did he get stuck with all of the annoying ones.

“Hey!” One of the idiot trio who he now knew to be Rari, asked over the table, looking at Sakura “You gonna eat that?”

Sakura blinked and then looked down at her meal, which Sasuke noted was completely untouched. “Go right ahead,” she replied, “I’m not eating it anyways. I need to stick to my diet.”

While she didn’t see it, Sasuke noticed Kakashi’s eye getting a little bit darker. And back came that happy feeling of it sucks to be you. She was going to regret saying that.

“Ma ma, Sakura-chan,” Kakashi said wagging his chop sticks at her. “You better eat up because you’ve got a long day ahead of you!”

She paled slightly. “I do?”

“Yes,” Kakashi replied, “I want you to go help Tazuna-san and Naruto-kun’s clones at the bridge by helping them move building materials.”

"Alright sensei..." she sighed deeply, obviously relieved.

"Is something the matter, Sakura-chan?"

“No, no,” She muttered, “It’s alright.”

Sasuke fought down a smile. Did he or didn’t he. Did he or didn’t he.

Fuck it, he did. “She was probably worried that you’d order her to move them all by hand or something.”

Sakura’s face twisted into a look of complete horror as Kakashi’s face twisted into a wide smile.

"You read my mind, Sasuke-kun!” he smiled and turned to Sakura, “Do it."

The sound that came out of Sakura’s mouth sounded more like a pig squealing in pain than an actual human word. He’d like to pretend that she’d said something poignant and honest. Something like ‘I’m an annoying bitch with a massive forehead and I deserve to suffer’, but it was probably something mundane, like ‘What’ or ‘Oh no’.

Kakashi smiled “Good good, now eat up because you’ve got a long day ahead of you!”

“Yes sir...” she whimpered piteously before slowly starting to consume her meal.

“I’m afraid that Water Walking will have to wait for tomorrow,” Kakashi said after a moment.

Haku glanced up and frowned slightly. Naruto on the other hand took this realization much more loudly. “Oh man! Why! I was going to get some super awesome personal training!”

“Oh, you’re going to get some special training today, don’t worry. Once Sakura-chan gets back from helping out at the bridge I have something special in mind for all of you.”

Sasuke noticed his sensei looking over to Haku who gave him a slight nod. She obviously know what that training was. This was interesting.

“But first I need to gauge your abilities,” Kakashi continued. “It’s come to my knowledge that certain aspects of your education may have been intentionally undermined.”

Naruto glanced at Haku agape. “W-what? You told him that?”

“While you are my precious person and it is my pleasure to teach you,” she replied “He is your sensei, Naruto-kun. To fail to do so would have been extremely disrespectful.”

Sasuke frowned somewhat. So, some asshole had something against Naruto enough to undermine him? Actually that makes sense. Nobody could naturally be that inept.

“So what do you intend to do?” Sasuke asked.

“I want you to fight him,” Kakashi replied, “Taijutsu only, sharingan active with the intention of prolonging the fight as long as possible. I’ll be watching with my sharingan as well. I want to see exactly where he’s at and I’ll work out a full remedial training plan for when we get back to Konoha.”

Then, he smiled. Sasuke really didn’t like that smile.

“Until then I want you to help him out with his basics. You know the core styles. I want to see what you pick up on.”

“Kakashi-sensei! Why do I have to learn from that asshole!” Naruto exclaimed, jumping to his feet.

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. Kakashi, you motherfucker.

“I guess I’ll just have to kick his ass and show you how awesome I am.”

“Fat chance, failure,” Sasuke replied, “And why are you still wearing that stupid helmet and the tool belt? What, you saw that it was eye-bleeding orange and decided it was all you or have you decided to quit being a ninja and take up construction?”

“Hey!” Naruto exclaimed, “I’m gonna have to send in new clones throughout the day so it’s best that I form them with the gear already on them!”

“Oh relax,” Kakashi interrupted, “Consider it a test for both of you!”

Sasuke sighed. Go fuck yourself with a tetsubo, scarecrow. “Whatever.”

- 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 -

Naruto smiled as the small group walked to the shoreline. Sure, his Taijutsu was flawed, and while he understood it needed to get fixed, he’d gotten a lot stronger than he’d been in the academy. Even with his fancy eyes, he was sure he was going to kick Sasuke’s ass in front of every!

He paused. Well, everyone except for Sakura. She working on the bridge.

“Alright everyone, here is the perfect location.”

Naruto paused and then he scowled. “Here? But we’re inside the swamp! We can’t fight here!”

Sasuke grunted. “I have to agree with the moron, we won’t be able to stand in this mess.”

“To the contrary, my cute little students!” Kakashi replied, “We’re in the perfect location. The ground here is mostly solid. It’s just surrounded by swamp.”

“But...” Naruto paused and frowned as he considered it. “But if we mess up we’re going into the swamp.”

“Then I strongly suggest that you don’t miss up,” Kakashi replied with zero missed cheer as Sasuke took up position on the other side of the ‘clearing’.

“Come on, Dumbass,” he taunted, “If you make this quick, I’ll try and aim you for the hard spots.”

“I’m sure you’ll do well, Naruto-kun,” Haku said with a smile. Though for some reason, Naruto suspected that her heart wasn’t entirely behind that little bit of encouragement.

He frowned. Did everybody think Sasuke was going to kick his ass?

“Oh man, this is going to be pathetic,” Mou laughed. “Seriously, Blondy is going to get creamed.”

Naruto twitched. Did everybody who mattered think he was going to get his ass kicked?

Kakashi never broke stride as he uncovered his Sharingan eye. “Alright. Sasuke, defend. Begin!”

Naruto gritted his teeth and charged, his arm cocked back and ready to deliver his strongest punch. Alright! All he need was one good hit and...

Sasuke side stepped his attack, grabbed his fist as he punched, and sent him him flying into the drink.

Naruto popped out of the water with an angry burble. That son of a... Wait.

Naruto looked down. The tool belt had dumped part of its contents on landing and his helmet was gone! Shit!

“Oh crap, the tools!” Oh crap! Oh crap! He couldn’t do his mission without them!

“Taiju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!”

“No jutsu, Naruto,” Kakashi pointed out.

“I have to find my tools and helmet! My mission!”

“Shouldn’t have left them on,” he observed. “Your clones can dig around in the muck while you continue.”

Naruto sighed and dumped his toolbelt, which sadly was looking a bit light off to the side before turning back to Sasuke. He’d avenge the loss of Helmet-san!

Sasuke just smirked looking twice as smug as normal. With a grunt Naruto ran forward, intent to commit a feint with a punch, then follow up with a high kick, and then... get knocked on his ass when Sasuke literally stepped into his blow, caught his leg on the shoulder, then swept his leg behind Naruto’s remaining limb, wrenching his foot out from under him and right onto his lower back, sending him to the ground in a tumble.

Naruto sneered. That was so cheating, and he was going to wipe that stupid grin off of Sasuke’s face if it was the last thing he did. With gritted teeth, he jumped to his feet, and attacked.

And attacked.

And attacked.

And so on.

And every time he ended up face down in the mud.

Sasuke smirked, his sharingan all but glowing in the dimply lit woods. “Maybe you should just give up before you hurt yourself.”

Naruto grumbled and pulled himself to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of stagnant, disgusting swamp water. Alright, he told himself, I need a plan if I’m going to put this asshole in his place. Those damned cheating eyes of his made every attack to tried to make, no matter how awesome, look completely transparent. He was sure he could kick Sasuke’s ass if he could fight him properly, but with Sasuke having the Sharingan and him having no awesome jutsu at all, well, he couldn’t go at him directly. He has to be tricky. He had to pull a prank.

Naruto smiled as a plan formed itself in his head. “Hey, Kakashi-sensei!”

Kakashi looked over, his red eye spinning in his scared socket. “Yes?”

“Can we use stuff like Tree Climbing?”

He shrugged. “If you think it would help.”

Naruto nodded and leapt towards Sasuke, charing with all of his speed and might. The other boy just smirked and fell into his stance. Naruto expected that Sasuke would expect him to attack, so he didn’t. Instead he jumped up and over him, connecting his feet with an overhanging tree branch before channeling as much chakra into his feet as possible, literally exploding off the branch at high speed as the combination of overloading the tree climbing technique and his own kick off sent him at Sasuke like a rocket.

Sasuke moved to defend, but by this point Naruto was moving faster than he could react to, and the blonde genin was rewarded with the meaty sound of fist on flesh as his punch connected with Sasuke’s smug face.

The Uchiha was sent flying into the ground by the force of the blow, dazed by the power of the impact.

Naruto grinned and pumped his fist. “Alright! The tide has turned, asshole. Get ready for for a beat down.”

Sasuke grunted and spat out a mouthful of bloody spit. “Lucky shot, moron.”

Naruto grinned and moved in to repeat the attack. He knew it wouldn’t work but he also knew it would have Sasuke guarding himself from attacks from below. So instead of shooting himself at Sasuke he fired himself into the water next to Sasuke, twisting in mid air so his feet were pointed down when he hit the water.

Then, with his hands formed into the rabbit seal to shape his chakra, he exploded from the swamp, propelled by twin jets of water from his feet as he aimed himself at his rival like a human missile. Again Sasuke was unable to react to the speed of his attack. Of course, Naruto also wasn’t able to do much beyond aim himself, the end result was Naruto headbutting Sasuke in the stomach at a truly ludicrous speed.

It hurt, Naruto had to admit. Especially the landing which sent him sprawling, but Sasuke was sent flying and that was what made it worthwhile. It was twice as amusing when the jerk landed in the swamp with a satisfying splash. To say nothing of the look on his face!

Yes! Lets see how you like it!

“Alright! So how did I do, sensei?” Naruto asked with a grin. He was sure that Kakashi would be impressed by his awesome.

“Sasuke, eighteen. Naruto, two,” Kakashi replied dryly. “You started to do well once you began to stretch the limits of the spar.”

Naruto frowned. “Hey! He had those stupid eyes!”

“Because I told him to tell me what openings he sees,” Kakashi replied, “But that doesn’t matter anyways.”

Naruto blinked feeling not just a little put off. “Huh? Oh come on, that was awesome! Why doesn’t it matter.”

“That’s because while I admit that was very creative, this is spar twenty-one.”

Naruto blinked. “So?”

Kakashi smiled. “It means its your turn to defend. Sasuke, if you will...”

Naruto felt a chill go down his spine as he turned towards his rival, who was soaked to be bone, dripping with water and muck, and looking at him with an insane sneer and glowing red sharingan eyes. He could almost see the manic glee on his face.

“Aw, shi...”

- 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 -

“I must say we have learned so many useful things today!” Kakashi said with the obnoxiously chipper tone that he loved to take whenever he had been given a chance to torture... teach! Yes, teach! The obnoxiously chipper tone that he loved to take whenever he had been given a chance to teach his subordinates.

Sasuke and Naruto stood at attention, with Sasuke looking quite annoyed, Naruto looking like he’d just gone forty rounds with the a set of nunchucks, and both of them looking thoroughly soaked and miserable. He smiled proudly. My work here is done.

“So, what have we learned today?” He asked never breaking his cheer, nor for a moment.

“Naruto really sucks.”

“The Sharingan is bullshit.”

The two both spoke at once, and as one they turned to the other, their baleful glares both promising death. Horrible, painful, torturous deaths punctuated by maniacal laughter.

“Oh, what wonderful observational abilities you have, my darling students,” he exclaimed, completely ignoring their bickering. “And now comes the second part of your training!”

“Second part,” Sasuke restated in a tone so dry it wouldn’t have been out of place in Sunagakure.

“Of course,”Kakashi replied, “Now, while I am going to take what I’ve learned to figure out a training program for Naruto-kun I wouldn’t like to get between that sacred bond between team mates that bonds the two of you like brothers.”

“What.”

Naruto glanced over at Sasuke, “Considering your brother, maybe he’s onto something.”

Kakashi was almost impressed by the speed of Sasuke’s punch. It had almost kinda sorta nearly had been almost difficult to catch.

“Ma ma, Sasuke-kun! So anxious to get started!”

“Get started with what?” He growled through gritted teeth.

“Why, you’re such a good teammate that you’re going to help Naruto workout the more obvious holes in his Taijutsu, isn’t that right?”

To his eternal amusement all anger drained from both of their faces, only to be replaced by that look of slowly mounting horror that he treasured so dearly.

“Oh hell no!” they exclaimed as one.

“Oh, yes,” Kakashi replied.

“Come on, Kakashi-sensei!” NAruto exclaimed, “I have Haku to help me out, right Haku-chan?”

She nodded from her place along the side of the clearing. “Of course, Naruto-kun.”

“Yeah, I’m sure she’ll do a much better job than I would,” Sasuke sputtered out, “I mean she already helped train those three idiots.”

“Is that a recommendation or a condemnation?” Kakashi asked with a peeked eyebow.

Sasuke just sputtered to a halt while the three worthless dirtbags glared at him, once again causing Kakashi to fight down his very real desire to simply murder the lot of them, as well as the desire to laugh hysterically.

“Thought so,” He replied cheerfully, “Anyways, if Naruto’s Konoha Academy style Taijutsu isn’t at least marginally passable by the time we return to the village, I might have to take emergency measures.”

“Emergency measures?” Naruto asked, looking confused. He paused for a second before adding, “Do I really want to know?”

“Probably not,” Kakashi replied, “But since you asked so nicely I’ll tell you. If I am forced to take drastic measures it will of course mean removing Team Seven from the field. That of course means nothing but D-rank missions until you meet my expectations. As for the training itself...” his smiled grew two sizes, visible even through his mask. It pleased him very much when both of his students and even the spectators turned bone white.

“I’m sure you’ll find it quite... youthful.”

- 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 8 -

“So where the hell are you taking me?” Naruto grumbled, shooting Sasuke a baleful glare.

Sasuke gritted his teeth and fought down the very real urge to check if Naruto was his ‘Best Friend’ by stabbing him in the liver with a Kunai. “Listen, moron, remember how I said I had something I needed to show you last night?”

“Yeah,” he replied, “So keep moving.”

Naruto frowned. “I don’t know, this is pretty suspicious.”

Sasuke sighed. Shingi better have some tea ready when they got there. “Listen, I thought you’d like something that was ‘super awesome’ and just for you.”

Considering how much of an attention whore Naruto was, he would have been shocked to find out that he had vanished after entering a mysterious cart labeled ‘free candy’.

Naruto paused pensively for a moment. “You sure it’s super awesome?”

Sasuke rolled his eyes. Of course. “Yes, it’s super awesome...”

“So what is it and why did Haku and the others have to stay behind?”

He sighed, “Because this isn’t for them,” he repeated again. The old bastard hadn’t said anything about companions and frankly they’d just complicate things. Not that he wasn’t sure that the girl wasn’t stalking behind them somewhere. If she was a tenth as obsessed with Naruto as she was with Zabuza, it would have been a sucker’s bet.

Naruto frowned as the two of them approached the clearing. Right before him was the very same shrine which he knew to contain the very same creepy old man.

“And old temple?” Naruto asked, “That’s not super awesome!”

Almost as if to punctuate his sentence the door slid open exposing the severe form of Shingi, whose face was twisted into its normal baleful scowl. “Disrespectful,” he snapped.

Naruto’s eyes narrowed and he pulled a kunai. “Who the hell are you?”

The old monk glanced at Naruto, then glared at Sasuke.

“You didn’t tell him where you were taking him did you?” he said with a growl.

Sasuke simply smirked. “No. Thought this would be more fun.”

The old monk snorted and then nodded. “Fine. Makes my job easier.”

Naruto tensed and he shifted his stance. “Yeah, well, who the hell are you?”

The old man stepped forward and looked down at Naruto. “My name is Oshinami Shingi,” he stated calmly.

Naruto blinked, confused

And then the man bowed deeply. “And I am a proud servant of the Uzumaki clan.”

Naurto’s jaw just dropped as he was left completely and utterly dumbfounded. Sasuke made sure to burn the sight into his memory with his Sharingan.

“And you can tell your retainer that their secrecy is not necessary.”

Sasuke smirked again. Called it.

 

[KurokamiDG]

“This is yours.” he said, holding the storage seal.

Tsunami slowly sat down next to them and looked over.

“What do you want, douchebag?

Just the lack of a question mark there.

Look underneath the underneath, Kakashi.

Not sure if you meant to have it as just under or underneath but...

Anyway, I have to say that the best part of this in my opinion is the fact that you don't make it seem like everyone's out to get Naruto and show that he actually had a pretty big hand in stunting his own growth.

Though, I am kinda weirded out by just how much Kakashi lusts after Haku, despite her being...16 I think.

And that whole thing with Rin knowing somebody in Kiri has me curious on where you're taking that idea. It may be Terumi Mei, but I'm not really sure.

 

[dwaite860@yahoo.com]

LOVE the new direction this is taking, I really want to hear more on what Tsunami was going to say about Naruto being a "True Uzumaki", and The Triplets reactions as to WHY Kakashi hates them

 

[Psyckosama]

Anyway, I have to say that the best part of this in my opinion is the fact that you don't make it seem like everyone's out to get Naruto and show that he actually had a pretty big hand in stunting his own growth.

I'm of the opinion that early on he had the potential and desire to be a good student but all of the teachers were uncomfortable around him so they didn't interact with him. So Naruto started acting up. So they started reacting to his misbehavior. So he kept acting up. And by the time they'd gotten over the preconception of "The fuck are we supposed to do with the Kyubi Kid" they saw him as that "hopeless, Loud Mouthed Troublemaker". Iruka was the only one able to see that this was simply him screaming for attention and by the time he'd picked up on it the behavior had become hopelessly ingrained.

Mizuki was the only person who actively sabotaged him and that was less a premeditated agenda and more taking advantage of opportunities to help the brat shoot himself in the foot.

Though, I am kinda weirded out by just how much Kakashi lusts after Haku, despite her being...16 I think.

Its less he's lusting after her especially and she's a hottie and occasionally he has a dirty thought, and when then only while at rest.

And that whole thing with Rin knowing somebody in Kiri has me curious on where you're taking that idea. It may be Terumi Mei, but I'm not really sure.

Rin knowing someone in Kiri?

LOVE the new direction this is taking, I really want to hear more on what Tsunami was going to say about Naruto being a "True Uzumaki",

You will.

and The Triplets reactions as to WHY Kakashi hates them

Hm. Good idea.

 

[KurokamiDG]

Rin was very close to... one of Kiri’s most terrible enemies of the time and student of the man who was then the most probable candidate for Yondaime.

I guess I read this part wrong. I assumed she knew someone in Kiri.

 

[Psyckosama]

Rin was very close to... one of Kiri’s most terrible enemies of the time and student of the man who was then the most probable candidate for Yondaime.

I guess I read this part wrong. I assumed she knew someone in Kiri.

No, she knew someone who was a terrible enemy of Kiri.

 

[datakim]

I did like Naruto convincing Kakashi, but at the same time failing, in that even if Kakashi is willing to give those three a fair chance, he still thinks they are idiots anyway. That being said, they are just genin at this point, and its not like Naruto himself was all that brilliant to start with. I would think that Kakashi would be more concerned about their loyalty, since realistically their lack of skill could be dealt with easily enough by a competent teacher. Getting 3 free genin for Konoha that don't have to go through the academy should be beneficial, even if they are not top prodigies.

I did not understand what you mean with "concessions to get Sanbi back"? Sanbi would have died with Rin, and respawned sometime later somewhere. And if someone other than Mist found and captured Sanbi, then someone like Kumo would almost certainly have offered much more than Mist would have. And if you imply that Konoha found Sanbi, then it makes NO sense for Konoha to return Sanbi to someone who planned to release it inside Konoha to wreak destruction. The only way it makes sense for Sanbi to be sealed in the Mist Kage (Yagura I think?), is if Sanbi respawned quickly enough somewhere near Mist, and was quickly caught again.

In truth, I feel somewhat uncomfortable with the idea that Naruto has been sabotaged and mostly self-taught and Kakashi has no idea. Haku is cool and all, but Kakashi is ultimately the jounin here. If Haku could see it all so easily, then Kakashi who is a jounin should realistically have seen it near instantly. How do you explain that despite being Narutos teacher for some time now, he is so completely ignorant of everything Haku can see and learn in basically a single day? The way things are written now make Kakashi look like a total idiot in some ways.

If you want to keep it this way, maybe there should be something to justify it? Like Kakashi explaining that he has been focused too much on teamwork and that he had screwed up by not properly focusing on Naruto as an individual yet? Or something! Because as it is, Kakashi kinda comes off as an incompetent.

Also not really sure how I feel about Sandaime directly not telling Naruto that he is good with traps. That felt pretty damn stupid all things considered. Sarutobi could simply have given Naruto direct orders that as a genin, he is now too "dangerous" to use his "awesome" trapping-skills on non-enemies like civilians and such and that would have been that. Directly not telling Naruto that he is good at something is just plain moronic. And if Naruto is this trapping genius, why would Kakashi for example have not taken advantage of it against Zabuza earlier.

So the priest is not an Uzumaki directly then, just someone who worked with them? If so, I am a bit curious how you plan Naruto to, for example, learn Kushinas chain technique then, since presumably thats more sharingan like KG rather than an ordinary technique that non-Uzumaki could learn or teach. Then again, I guess if he KNOWS he can do it, Naruto has the potential to instinctively learn it on his own. Karin certainly had no trouble pulling those chains out of her ass when she needed them.

 

[Psyckosama]

I did like Naruto convincing Kakashi, but at the same time failing, in that even if Kakashi is willing to give those three a fair chance, he still thinks they are idiots anyway. That being said, they are just genin at this point, and its not like Naruto himself was all that brilliant to start with. I would think that Kakashi would be more concerned about their loyalty, since realistically their lack of skill could be dealt with easily enough by a competent teacher. Getting 3 free genin for Konoha that don't have to go through the academy should be beneficial, even if they are not top prodigies.

Oh, he still has his bias just he is no longer holding it against them. More he's simply saying "Alright" and washing his hands of them.

I did not understand what you mean with "concessions to get Sanbi back"? Sanbi would have died with Rin, and respawned sometime later somewhere. And if someone other than Mist found and captured Sanbi, then someone like Kumo would almost certainly have offered much more than Mist would have. And if you imply that Konoha found Sanbi, then it makes NO sense for Konoha to return Sanbi to someone who planned to release it inside Konoha to wreak destruction. The only way it makes sense for Sanbi to be sealed in the Mist Kage (Yagura I think?), is if Sanbi respawned quickly enough somewhere near Mist, and was quickly caught again.

Rin's seal was not standard. As for trading it to Kumo, not happening. Ever.

Basically they forced Mist over a barrel during the peace treaty with the Sanbi as their collateral

In truth, I feel somewhat uncomfortable with the idea that Naruto has been sabotaged and mostly self-taught and Kakashi has no idea. Haku is cool and all, but Kakashi is ultimately the jounin here. If Haku could see it all so easily, then Kakashi who is a jounin should realistically have seen it near instantly. How do you explain that despite being Narutos teacher for some time now, he is so completely ignorant of everything Haku can see and learn in basically a single day? The way things are written now make Kakashi look like a total idiot in some ways.

In truth the only one who sabotaged him was Mizuki and the self-taught is just Naruto's bitterness and the fact he was a horrid student.

If you want to keep it this way, maybe there should be something to justify it? Like Kakashi explaining that he has been focused too much on teamwork and that he had screwed up by not properly focusing on Naruto as an individual yet? Or something! Because as it is, Kakashi kinda comes off as an incompetent.

Haku only discovered it after a heart to heart. Not exactly in Kakashi's character.

Also not really sure how I feel about Sandaime directly not telling Naruto that he is good with traps. That felt pretty damn stupid all things considered. Sarutobi could simply have given Naruto direct orders that as a genin, he is now too "dangerous" to use his "awesome" trapping-skills on non-enemies like civilians and such and that would have been that. Directly not telling Naruto that he is good at something is just plain moronic. And if Naruto is this trapping genius, why would Kakashi for example have not taken advantage of it against Zabuza earlier.

The reason is because he knew Naruto was a chronic prankster and was hoping to give him some time to break the habit before letting him know the skills were useful. The boy was a pain in the ass beyond compare and frankly he didn't want to run the risk of him getting WORSE.

So the priest is not an Uzumaki directly then, just someone who worked with them? If so, I am a bit curious how you plan Naruto to, for example, learn Kushinas chain technique then, since presumably thats more sharingan like KG rather than an ordinary technique that non-Uzumaki could learn or teach. Then again, I guess if he KNOWS he can do it, Naruto has the potential to instinctively learn it on his own. Karin certainly had no trouble pulling those chains out of her ass when she needed them.

You'll see.

 

[Ashaman]

In truth, I feel somewhat uncomfortable with the idea that Naruto has been sabotaged and mostly self-taught and Kakashi has no idea. Haku is cool and all, but Kakashi is ultimately the jounin here. If Haku could see it all so easily, then Kakashi who is a jounin should realistically have seen it near instantly. How do you explain that despite being Narutos teacher for some time now, he is so completely ignorant of everything Haku can see and learn in basically a single day? The way things are written now make Kakashi look like a total idiot in some ways.

Just to point out, Kakashi is aware of Naruto's deficiencies. What he's not aware of is how Naruto feels about them.

On some level, Naruto blames others for his failings, if he acknowledges those failings at all.

The truth though, is that his impatience and general attitude to the ninja arts is also to blame.

 

[Ashaman]

In truth, I feel somewhat uncomfortable with the idea that Naruto has been sabotaged and mostly self-taught and Kakashi has no idea. Haku is cool and all, but Kakashi is ultimately the jounin here. If Haku could see it all so easily, then Kakashi who is a jounin should realistically have seen it near instantly. How do you explain that despite being Narutos teacher for some time now, he is so completely ignorant of everything Haku can see and learn in basically a single day? The way things are written now make Kakashi look like a total idiot in some ways.

Just to point out, Kakashi is aware of Naruto's deficiencies. What he's not aware of is how Naruto feels about them.

On some level, Naruto blames others for his failings, if he acknowledges those failings at all.

The truth though, is that his impatience and general attitude to the ninja arts is also to blame.

Because Kakashi thinks he knows the whole picture, he misses out on Mizuki's contribution to Naruto's growth.

 

[Psyckosama]

Just to point out, Kakashi is aware of Naruto's deficiencies. What he's not aware of is how Naruto feels about them.

On some level, Naruto blames others for his failings, if he acknowledges those failings at all.

The truth though, is that his impatience and general attitude to the ninja arts is also to blame.

Because Kakashi thinks he knows the whole picture, he misses out on Mizuki's contribution to Naruto's growth.

Correct. And the Mizuki factor could only be figured out by talking to him.

Remember, Mizuki was a Ninja himself and a full time teacher. He's smart enough to know how and when to undermine someone's abilities and make it look natural, if only by teaching him to make the same mistakes that the other students make without ever correcting them.

It's not like some of those OTHER fanfics where he was taught a specifically designed "Going to get you killed" style. To Kakashi his Taijutsu just looked SLOPPY. Most would think Lazy Student, esp when put in the context of his horrible study habits.

It's a reasonable assumption and you can believe that Kakashi is going to be kicking himself. This has made a fool out of him and he's enraged that he missed such a critical failing in his beloved sensei's only child who was trusted to him to protect and groom into a capable ninja.

He'll making a request to the Hokage to have 2 hours alone with Mizuki to 'question him' as to the extent of his sabotage of Naruto's practical ninja abilities....

 

[Morsamare]

I was a little surprised that Naruto knew about Sasuke had a brother, let alone wanted to kill him. Didn't recall Sasuke ever saying who he wanted to kill.

Also want to see Naruto and Sasuke train under Gai, and love Gai for it, training that has definite results in getting stronger something they both desperately want.

Hell, with Sasuke's realization of the sharingan's weakness of the bodys ability to keep up, Gai's training might be more effective than anything kakashi can offer for putting down his brother.

Liking the character interactions a lot more in this version. Can't wait for the next chapter.

 

[alucard964]

any news on a new chapter?

 

[Psyckosama]

any news on a new chapter?

Um. Done?