(no subject)
Title: Train Me!
Chapter: Six
Rating: Pg 13 light cursing
Pairing: Naru/Kaka
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto… I just drool over him!
Summery: Before the final phase of the Chuunin exams, Naruto begs
Kakashi for extra training and is denied! Naruto doesn't take it very
well.
"Please Ero-Senin?" I pleaded. "What's the difference really?"
"A happy brat that I like and a moody brat I don't." he replied.
I thought about my argument for a moment. "He wants to be stronger so bad that it is tearing him apart and while I accept that life has no shortcuts, he doesn't."
I could tell that I still wasn't getting through. "He needs to get out of this village so that the only progress he can see is his own. Here, people who grow at different rates distract him."
"You do know that you are only hurting your case right? Why would I want to train such a spoiled little brat that is weak enough to let other peoples abilities hurt his own?"
I peeked at the white haired man from under my lashes and attempted a new angle, "I know that he will be a great student. Even Kakashi-Sensei says that he has better potential and aptitude than I do."
"That is utter bull shit and you know it! You have so much potential within you that your lack of decent training is intolerable! "
"I don't know what you mean Ero-Senin." I hedged.
"I spent fifteen minutes, spread out over three weeks, explaining one of the world’s hardest jutsu to you. You managed to learn it perfectly and still try to claim that your potential isn't great?! I even know that you learned the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu in just one hour!"
I sighed heavily. "He is my best friend and I would rather see him happy than be happy myself."
His eyes softened into a look that I have only ever received from Iruka-Nissan before. He bent down till his eyes where even with mine, "That is why I would rather spend my time with you. You will be our greatest Hokage one day and I need to make sure that you are well prepared and alive when that day comes."
He straitened up and turned to the door, "Isn't that right Sasuke-Kun?"
Sasuke slowly opened the door he had been listening at. He had the strangest expression, "What the hell are you asking him to do Naruto?"
`Oops' I thought that he would be away getting tested by the doctors a lot longer, "Before all of this happened," I gestured around the hospital room, "I was asked by Jiraiya to go on a long training trip."
He nodded his understanding.
"Well," I stalled, "I was just asking him if he wouldn't rather have you. You know, since you want to get stronger so bad and he is more powerful than the snake bastard."
Sasuke's eyebrow rose, "No." he replied.
"What?" I screeched.
"Not only do you deserve it more then I do, but I am sure that he had his reasons for choosing you to go with him."
"Huh!" I was too surprised to even fake intelligence with decent reply.
I already know that my brother's organization is after him." He directed at the pervert. "You want to keep them from finding him until he is strong enough to handle it." Sasuke never looked more arrogant.
Jiraiya sighed, "Yeah."
"Then please, don't wait. That man already took everyone else that mattered to me and I won't allow him to take Ani too. Don't bring him back until he can beat them all into the ground and by then I will be able to help him." Sasuke appeared determined.
Jiraiya appraised him momentarily. "That settles it."
I tried to interrupt but my teacher wouldn't allow it. "You will both be going with me." Both of our jaws dropped. "Meet me at the gate tomorrow at sunrise."
Long after the pervert disappeared, we still stood there staring at each other.
The first few days where a little awkward, Sasuke was not comfortable around Jiraiya yet and I wasn't used to being myself around Sasuke.
I am not going to try to say that I'm not a loudmouth moron. I know my own faults very well. The only thing is that I tend to play up my worst attributes when nervous or unsure.
I have always found that the dummy act can diffuse any situation. Traveling with people can be very nerve wracking until you fall into a rhythm together. Normally, I would have hammed it up after about five minutes out on the road.
This time I planned to change that. I knew the importance of this trip and was resolute that I would grasp all knowledge with both hands and absorb it fast. I did not have the time to goof off. Instead of playing up my faults, this time I would try to overcome them.
This was very hard to do, as bad habits are the hardest to break. I continually started speaking only to stop one syllable in, which annoyed my companions immensely.
It was almost a relief when we came across a caravan of pretty girls who distracted the ultimate pervert long enough for Sasuke to bop me over the head and return us all back to a semblance of normal.
We finally fell into our own routine from that day on. Jiraiya would spend a few hours telling us what to train on and how. Then, if we where near a village, he would head off to do his so-called research.
If we weren't by a town, then we would pester him till he taught us more. Finally we would eat and pass out for the night till the sun rose and we were at it again.
Time always crawled in Konoha for me so it came as a great surprise to me when nearly a year passed by.
Sasuke and I were training as usual while thinking that Jiraiya was out peeping again. Suddenly, he popped out of the bushed and shouted at me, "Happy Birthday!"
The idiot was holding a huge cake on his head and a brightly wrapped present under his arm.
"Birthday?" asked my confused teammate. He shot me a puzzled glance and nearly fell over.
Apparently, the raven-haired boy had never seen me cry in happiness before.
"Ani?" he sounded concerned.
I really tried, but I couldn't talk at that moment if my life depended on it.
"Jiraiya took pity on me and spoke for me.” You have never had a real birthday before have you kid?"
I could only shake my head through my sobs.
He placed his items on the ground and pulled me into a loose hug. "I promise that as long as I live it won't be your last."
"Could someone please tell me what on earth is going on?" came the indigent voice of our comrade.
I pulled away from the embrace to look at my friend closely. I had wanted to tell him the truth for a long time now and felt that to do it on October tenth seamed appropriate sum how.
I turned to Jiraiya, "Can I?"
He seemed to be surprised that I was willing to talk about it but gave me his permission with a nod.
I looked back at my friend and realized that wanting to say something and actually doing it are two very different things. One is much harder.
I got several false starts before Sasuke lost his temper and demanded that I spit it out.
Squaring my shoulders, I decided to act like a man….
I used walking over to a log and getting comfortable on it to stall as long as I could.
"Come on Naruto. I thought you were a big tough ninja who wasn't afraid of anything. Just say what you want to say."
I was actually grateful for once to have such a blunt friend. He gave me an idea of where to start my story at.
"I am actually afraid of a lot of things." I began.
I know that he would have said something scathing and hurtful if a large hand had not wrapped around the lower half of his face first.
I had to laugh. "I suggest you listen quietly Ani. This is hard for me to talk about and you don't know where Jiraiya’s hands have been lately.
Sasuke eyes resembled large dinner plates as he swung around to spit violently on the ground and harshly wiped his face.
Jiraiya looked offended but I didn't care because the mood had eased considerably. It suddenly wasn't nearly as hard to talk.
"As I was saying, I am afraid of a lot of things. I am just really good at hiding it."
Collecting my thoughts better I continued, "I am afraid of ever being truly alone again. I am afraid of losing the few precious people that I have learned to trust. I am afraid of walking down the streets of Konoha by myself."
That last one caught his attention. "Right now I am truly terrified of how you are going to react to my secret."
He started to open his mouth but seeing a perverted hand move out of the corner of his eye he snapped his mouth shut again.
"A new law was made the week that I was born," I pressed on. It prohibited anyone from telling the younger generation anything about what happened to me the day that I was born."
I took a deep breath to still my nerves. "The strange red chakra of mine that you keep asking about is not really mine," I tried from a different direction. "On the day that I was born, the Kyuubi was sealed into me by the Fourth."
I had come this far and now raced through the rest as fast as I could. "The villagers can't tell the difference between a container and the actual demon even though I am considerably smaller and less powerful. Not to mention, I am not evil."
They cursed at me, and tried to hurt me every chance that they got when I was young. They taught their children to hate me too and encouraged them to gang up on me." I began crying without realizing it.
"The Ramen stand people where the only ones willing to sell me edible food and Iruka-Sensei was the first person to show me true kindness."
Running out of steam I realized how much I had said and tried to bolt. Two strong hands grabbed my arms tight.
"The villagers are stupid and I am the only one who could be called a demon here since I tried to kill my best friend for something as stupid as power." Sasuke growled from my left.
Jiraiya piped up from my right, "you are not alone any more and as your teacher, I command you to enjoy today to the fullest."
Relief washed over me. `They support me and won't make me talk about it any more.' I thought.
They dragged me back to my seat and shoved a slice of cake into my hands.
We ate in comfortable silence. It was just too hard to brood with the sweet icing of a giant frog shaped cake in your mouth.
After the treat had been devoured, I received my first present ever.
Jiraiya pressed the package into my hands and I stared at it in wonder. "What do I do with this?" I whispered.
Sasuke cleared his thought suspiciously, "You rip the paper off as fast as you can to see what is inside." He explained.
My head shot up, "Are you sure? Won't that ruin the paper or something?
Jiraiya laughed softly, "No kid that is half the fun."
I started hesitantly but the ripping off the paper really was kinda fun and I found my self shredding the shinny stuff and tossing it in the air.
Inside was a simple box that I assumed I was supposed to open also. In the box was a pile of neatly folded fabric.
"New clothes?" I asked in awe.
`Yeah, I know it's not real fun to get clothes on your birthday but I didn't know what else to get." He explained.
"No!" I shouted. "I am not upset. I have never received new clothes before."
"What?" He asked.
"I always get my clothes from behind the charity shop. I root through the stuff that they reject.
"That is why you wear that ugly outfit?" Sasuke burst out appalled.
`Of course, it was either this, or an outfit like Lee's." I answered.
I stood up and dashed behind the bushes to change. A pair of black ninja pants that was soft and light. Perfect for any mission. Next was a black fish net shirt with a tight weave. Finally, a black sleeveless t-shirt with an orange swirl on the left side that wrapped around to my back completed the outfit.
I pulled my sandals back on and rejoined my friends, their looks of surprise where priceless.
"Naruto," Jiraiya began, "I can't believe what you were hiding under that horrible outfit."
"I tilted my head in question.
"You have a nicely defined body and a handsome face that the huge coat of yours completely hid." He declared.
`What are you smokin?" I asked.
"No Naruto," Sasuke chimed in. "You look one hundred percent better."
Still not believing them I strolled over to the nearby pond to look for myself. The reflection in the water was a surprise. I really did appear almost handsome.
`Wait till Kakashi sees this!' I thought.
Chapter: Six
Rating: Pg 13 light cursing
Pairing: Naru/Kaka
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto… I just drool over him!
Summery: Before the final phase of the Chuunin exams, Naruto begs
Kakashi for extra training and is denied! Naruto doesn't take it very
well.
"Please Ero-Senin?" I pleaded. "What's the difference really?"
"A happy brat that I like and a moody brat I don't." he replied.
I thought about my argument for a moment. "He wants to be stronger so bad that it is tearing him apart and while I accept that life has no shortcuts, he doesn't."
I could tell that I still wasn't getting through. "He needs to get out of this village so that the only progress he can see is his own. Here, people who grow at different rates distract him."
"You do know that you are only hurting your case right? Why would I want to train such a spoiled little brat that is weak enough to let other peoples abilities hurt his own?"
I peeked at the white haired man from under my lashes and attempted a new angle, "I know that he will be a great student. Even Kakashi-Sensei says that he has better potential and aptitude than I do."
"That is utter bull shit and you know it! You have so much potential within you that your lack of decent training is intolerable! "
"I don't know what you mean Ero-Senin." I hedged.
"I spent fifteen minutes, spread out over three weeks, explaining one of the world’s hardest jutsu to you. You managed to learn it perfectly and still try to claim that your potential isn't great?! I even know that you learned the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu in just one hour!"
I sighed heavily. "He is my best friend and I would rather see him happy than be happy myself."
His eyes softened into a look that I have only ever received from Iruka-Nissan before. He bent down till his eyes where even with mine, "That is why I would rather spend my time with you. You will be our greatest Hokage one day and I need to make sure that you are well prepared and alive when that day comes."
He straitened up and turned to the door, "Isn't that right Sasuke-Kun?"
Sasuke slowly opened the door he had been listening at. He had the strangest expression, "What the hell are you asking him to do Naruto?"
`Oops' I thought that he would be away getting tested by the doctors a lot longer, "Before all of this happened," I gestured around the hospital room, "I was asked by Jiraiya to go on a long training trip."
He nodded his understanding.
"Well," I stalled, "I was just asking him if he wouldn't rather have you. You know, since you want to get stronger so bad and he is more powerful than the snake bastard."
Sasuke's eyebrow rose, "No." he replied.
"What?" I screeched.
"Not only do you deserve it more then I do, but I am sure that he had his reasons for choosing you to go with him."
"Huh!" I was too surprised to even fake intelligence with decent reply.
I already know that my brother's organization is after him." He directed at the pervert. "You want to keep them from finding him until he is strong enough to handle it." Sasuke never looked more arrogant.
Jiraiya sighed, "Yeah."
"Then please, don't wait. That man already took everyone else that mattered to me and I won't allow him to take Ani too. Don't bring him back until he can beat them all into the ground and by then I will be able to help him." Sasuke appeared determined.
Jiraiya appraised him momentarily. "That settles it."
I tried to interrupt but my teacher wouldn't allow it. "You will both be going with me." Both of our jaws dropped. "Meet me at the gate tomorrow at sunrise."
Long after the pervert disappeared, we still stood there staring at each other.
The first few days where a little awkward, Sasuke was not comfortable around Jiraiya yet and I wasn't used to being myself around Sasuke.
I am not going to try to say that I'm not a loudmouth moron. I know my own faults very well. The only thing is that I tend to play up my worst attributes when nervous or unsure.
I have always found that the dummy act can diffuse any situation. Traveling with people can be very nerve wracking until you fall into a rhythm together. Normally, I would have hammed it up after about five minutes out on the road.
This time I planned to change that. I knew the importance of this trip and was resolute that I would grasp all knowledge with both hands and absorb it fast. I did not have the time to goof off. Instead of playing up my faults, this time I would try to overcome them.
This was very hard to do, as bad habits are the hardest to break. I continually started speaking only to stop one syllable in, which annoyed my companions immensely.
It was almost a relief when we came across a caravan of pretty girls who distracted the ultimate pervert long enough for Sasuke to bop me over the head and return us all back to a semblance of normal.
We finally fell into our own routine from that day on. Jiraiya would spend a few hours telling us what to train on and how. Then, if we where near a village, he would head off to do his so-called research.
If we weren't by a town, then we would pester him till he taught us more. Finally we would eat and pass out for the night till the sun rose and we were at it again.
Time always crawled in Konoha for me so it came as a great surprise to me when nearly a year passed by.
Sasuke and I were training as usual while thinking that Jiraiya was out peeping again. Suddenly, he popped out of the bushed and shouted at me, "Happy Birthday!"
The idiot was holding a huge cake on his head and a brightly wrapped present under his arm.
"Birthday?" asked my confused teammate. He shot me a puzzled glance and nearly fell over.
Apparently, the raven-haired boy had never seen me cry in happiness before.
"Ani?" he sounded concerned.
I really tried, but I couldn't talk at that moment if my life depended on it.
"Jiraiya took pity on me and spoke for me.” You have never had a real birthday before have you kid?"
I could only shake my head through my sobs.
He placed his items on the ground and pulled me into a loose hug. "I promise that as long as I live it won't be your last."
"Could someone please tell me what on earth is going on?" came the indigent voice of our comrade.
I pulled away from the embrace to look at my friend closely. I had wanted to tell him the truth for a long time now and felt that to do it on October tenth seamed appropriate sum how.
I turned to Jiraiya, "Can I?"
He seemed to be surprised that I was willing to talk about it but gave me his permission with a nod.
I looked back at my friend and realized that wanting to say something and actually doing it are two very different things. One is much harder.
I got several false starts before Sasuke lost his temper and demanded that I spit it out.
Squaring my shoulders, I decided to act like a man….
I used walking over to a log and getting comfortable on it to stall as long as I could.
"Come on Naruto. I thought you were a big tough ninja who wasn't afraid of anything. Just say what you want to say."
I was actually grateful for once to have such a blunt friend. He gave me an idea of where to start my story at.
"I am actually afraid of a lot of things." I began.
I know that he would have said something scathing and hurtful if a large hand had not wrapped around the lower half of his face first.
I had to laugh. "I suggest you listen quietly Ani. This is hard for me to talk about and you don't know where Jiraiya’s hands have been lately.
Sasuke eyes resembled large dinner plates as he swung around to spit violently on the ground and harshly wiped his face.
Jiraiya looked offended but I didn't care because the mood had eased considerably. It suddenly wasn't nearly as hard to talk.
"As I was saying, I am afraid of a lot of things. I am just really good at hiding it."
Collecting my thoughts better I continued, "I am afraid of ever being truly alone again. I am afraid of losing the few precious people that I have learned to trust. I am afraid of walking down the streets of Konoha by myself."
That last one caught his attention. "Right now I am truly terrified of how you are going to react to my secret."
He started to open his mouth but seeing a perverted hand move out of the corner of his eye he snapped his mouth shut again.
"A new law was made the week that I was born," I pressed on. It prohibited anyone from telling the younger generation anything about what happened to me the day that I was born."
I took a deep breath to still my nerves. "The strange red chakra of mine that you keep asking about is not really mine," I tried from a different direction. "On the day that I was born, the Kyuubi was sealed into me by the Fourth."
I had come this far and now raced through the rest as fast as I could. "The villagers can't tell the difference between a container and the actual demon even though I am considerably smaller and less powerful. Not to mention, I am not evil."
They cursed at me, and tried to hurt me every chance that they got when I was young. They taught their children to hate me too and encouraged them to gang up on me." I began crying without realizing it.
"The Ramen stand people where the only ones willing to sell me edible food and Iruka-Sensei was the first person to show me true kindness."
Running out of steam I realized how much I had said and tried to bolt. Two strong hands grabbed my arms tight.
"The villagers are stupid and I am the only one who could be called a demon here since I tried to kill my best friend for something as stupid as power." Sasuke growled from my left.
Jiraiya piped up from my right, "you are not alone any more and as your teacher, I command you to enjoy today to the fullest."
Relief washed over me. `They support me and won't make me talk about it any more.' I thought.
They dragged me back to my seat and shoved a slice of cake into my hands.
We ate in comfortable silence. It was just too hard to brood with the sweet icing of a giant frog shaped cake in your mouth.
After the treat had been devoured, I received my first present ever.
Jiraiya pressed the package into my hands and I stared at it in wonder. "What do I do with this?" I whispered.
Sasuke cleared his thought suspiciously, "You rip the paper off as fast as you can to see what is inside." He explained.
My head shot up, "Are you sure? Won't that ruin the paper or something?
Jiraiya laughed softly, "No kid that is half the fun."
I started hesitantly but the ripping off the paper really was kinda fun and I found my self shredding the shinny stuff and tossing it in the air.
Inside was a simple box that I assumed I was supposed to open also. In the box was a pile of neatly folded fabric.
"New clothes?" I asked in awe.
`Yeah, I know it's not real fun to get clothes on your birthday but I didn't know what else to get." He explained.
"No!" I shouted. "I am not upset. I have never received new clothes before."
"What?" He asked.
"I always get my clothes from behind the charity shop. I root through the stuff that they reject.
"That is why you wear that ugly outfit?" Sasuke burst out appalled.
`Of course, it was either this, or an outfit like Lee's." I answered.
I stood up and dashed behind the bushes to change. A pair of black ninja pants that was soft and light. Perfect for any mission. Next was a black fish net shirt with a tight weave. Finally, a black sleeveless t-shirt with an orange swirl on the left side that wrapped around to my back completed the outfit.
I pulled my sandals back on and rejoined my friends, their looks of surprise where priceless.
"Naruto," Jiraiya began, "I can't believe what you were hiding under that horrible outfit."
"I tilted my head in question.
"You have a nicely defined body and a handsome face that the huge coat of yours completely hid." He declared.
`What are you smokin?" I asked.
"No Naruto," Sasuke chimed in. "You look one hundred percent better."
Still not believing them I strolled over to the nearby pond to look for myself. The reflection in the water was a surprise. I really did appear almost handsome.
`Wait till Kakashi sees this!' I thought.