Chapter 15: Training time


Mitsuki walked to the Inuzuka home and rang the doorbell. It was Tsume, Kiba’s mother, that opened the door. “Hello, what can I do for you?” she asked gently. “Is Kiba at home? I would like to ask him something.” Mitsuki said. “I’m sorry, he isn’t. He and Akamaru are training on training ground 9.” “Okay, then I’ll go look for him there, thank you.” “No problem.” Mitsuki went on her way to training ground 9.

“Are you sure you want to do this, I mean he was the one who didn’t trust you at all at first sight,” Rakuna complained. “Don’t be so mean, people change and Kiba did in some way. Besides he is the one who can help us.” Rakuna sighed.

They arrived at training ground 9 and saw Kiba standing focussed on the field. Then he suddenly ran over to somewhere and came back eight minutes later with a little ball. “Sorry Akamaru, you should try better.” “Ano…Kiba?” Mitsuki asked. Kiba looked around. “Ah, Mitsuki!” Mitsuki walked over to him. “How did it go, are you in the third round?” Kiba asked immediately.

‘See what I mean?’ she thought and gave Rakuna a look.

“Hai, I’m in. I have to battle a Suna shinobi in the second round. But what are you doing?” “Hm? O, I am trying to increase me range of smell and also the one of Akamaru.” “How?” Mitsuki asked interested. “Well, we just hide this little ball somewhere far away from this place. It has almost no scent, what makes it even harder.” Mitsuki sniffed at the ball. “Ah, your right, I can barely smell it.” With a grin Kiba threw the ball in the air. “So far I found it three times from the ten,” he grinned. “That’s pretty bad,” Mitsuki replied.

Kiba looked motionless at her and the ball hit on his head. “Can you do it any better?!” he shouted pissed. “Probably not, that’s why I’m here,” Mitsuki said normal. “Huh?” Kiba looked confused, meanwhile Rakuna had laid down.

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Naruto stretched his arms and stepped out of bed. Scratching his head he walked to the kitchen while yawning. He made himself a breakfast, surprisingly not ramen but toast. Reason; he came to the conclusion he had no ramen. ‘I have to buy new,’ he thought sleepily, while he sat down on a chair to eat his breakfast.

“I wonder… what should I do for training? Ero-senin is off what I heard… Kakashi-sensei is paying more attention to his book than to my training…hmm.” He got a new bite and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “Maybe bushy brows would be a good idea, to increase my tai-jutsu skills.”

“What about your purple eyed girlfriend.”

Naruto was knocked for six and fell of his chair after hearing the Kyubi’s voice.

“Kyu-Kyubi?!”

“What is it brat?” Kyubi snapped.

‘Well you’re not sounding evil anymore…’

“What the…! What are you saying! I am the Biju king! Of course I’m evil! Little scamp!”

Naruto snorted, ‘I mean you are no longer under the effect of the poison.’

“O that. Annoying stuff it is. Ask old granny to hurry up with the antidote, I’m getting crazy of it,” Kyubi grumbled.

Naruto looked at his tail and sighed. “Me too.” He stood up, ate the last piece of his toast and began to change. ‘Maybe training with Hinata wouldn’t be a bad idea. I definitely need to improve my chakra control.’

So after Naruto had changed he locked his apartment and went on his way to the Hyuga complex. At the gate he rang the bell and waited for someone to come. To his surprise and fear it was Hiashi. ‘O no, what if he suspects something….uhm uhm…,’ Naruto panicked.
“IcametotrainwithHinataandNejitoimprovemychakracontrolforthechuninexam,” he said fast and without breathing. Hiashi stared at him, trying divide the sentence in separated words and eventually he nodded. Naruto was surprised by that, but smiled. “Thanks,” he said as he followed Hiashi. “I’ll be watching you. If I see you do one thing I don’t like, I’ll kick you out and you’re not allowed to come again.” “H-hai,” Naruto said, starting to feel uncomfortable.

‘Damn with him watching us all the time, I can’t kiss Hinata or even hold her hand.’ Kyubi laughed at him. ‘Shut up, overgrown fuzzball!’

They entered the living room. “Hinata, Neji there is someone here to see you,” Hiashi said. Naruto showed up with an uneasy grin on his face. “H-hey,” he said, “I hoped you two could help me training for the chu-nin exam.” He scratched his neck while saying that. “S-sure, of course,” Hinata said while looking form Naruto to her father and then back to Naruto. “I’ll help too. Let’s see how much you improved since our last battle, Naruto,” Neji said with his usual smile.

Naruto nodded and the three went to the dojo on the Hyuga grounds.

Hinata was nervous. This because they were followed by her father and Hinata knew very well that wasn’t because he wanted to see Naruto fight. She knew it was in order to make sure Naruto didn’t do anything wrong. And with wrong she meant he didn’t cause any trouble.

“Let’s first fight, then we can see what to improve,” Neji said. Naruto only nodded. Neji stepped into his fighting stand. “Okay, let’s start,” Neji said. Like during the last time Naruto fought Neji, Naruto made Kage Bunshin, that charged to Neji. “Heh,” Neji said with a smirk and punched the five Kage Bunshin, they disappeared in no time.
‘He’s faster than before,’ Naruto thought with a smile. “Such a trick is useless against me, you know that, don’t you?” “Heh, of course I know. I was just wondering how fast you became.”

Hinata watched the fight closely from a seat against the wall. Her father was sitting on a seat near to her, watching Neji more than Naruto. ‘This time you won’t win, little Kyubi brat.’
Hinata looked at her father, he looked angry and amused at the same time.

‘Okay, let’s do this.’ Naruto began to run in Neji’s direction; a kunai ready in his hand.

‘He’s faster than last time. Even compared with the time he summoned that red chakra during the battle at the chu-nin exam.’ Neji was just in time to avoid the kunai and hit Naruto with the palm of his hand what made him fly through the air.
Naruto landed on the wall with hands and feet. ‘Finally, this is more exciting than the battles in the Forest of Nightmares.’

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“I hoped you would be able to help me training for the chu-nin exam,” Mitsuki said while kneeling down to pet Akamaru, who was laying on the ground. “After all, you and I have one thing in common and that is our fighting partners. You have Akamaru and I have Rakuna. That’s why I thought you might be able to help me.” Akamaru swiped his tail, enjoying the petting from Mitsuki.

“Why? I don’t think that is needed. Back in the hideout of your father you were pretty good, not to forget fast,” Kiba said. “Because at that time I was protecting a friend, I was protecting Rakuna from getting hurt. If you protect someone dear to you, you get stronger than you normally are. You do know that, right?” Kiba nodded, “But still…” Mitsuki stood up. “Being in the Forest of Nightmares with Naruto made me realise how much I have to improve. He might not have showed a lot, but I am sure he is far stronger than I am now. And to save my friend I have to get stronger.”

“Save your friend?” Kiba asked. “He’s kidnapped by my father and used the controlling jutsu on him.” “Heh heh, than you are just like Naruto. He’s after a friend as well.” Mitsuki sighed. “Why do you guys keep comparing me to other people?” “Huh?” “Naruto said I was sounding like Sasuke, after I told him I need to go after my father alone.” Kiba looked a bit confused but that didn’t hide the grin he had. “Why do you have to go after your father alone?” “The main reason for that is that I don’t want anybody else to get hurt. Next to that he has haunted down a lot of people with a bloodline limit; killed several and took their secrets. He has the ability of around twelve blood line limits now and only I know all of them. He also can put his chakra through peoples veins in order to control them, like what he did to Rakuna. Only I am able to undo that and with more people it’s hard to make sure nobody gets controlled. Than we must not forget he is always on the move and has a lot of allies. I know how to get around most of his allies or how to kill them, but I have to move fast and the group must be small. So that’s why only me and Rakuna are going after him.”

“Summing up so many facts, already planning out the whole battle, you sound like Shikamaru,” Kiba said. Mitsuki sighed. “O great, I am like Sasuke, Naruto and Shikamaru; whoever he is. And I am also like you because I have Rakuna as my partner,” she said annoyed. Kiba started laughing. “Okay, I get. I’ll stop teasing you with whoever you are like. Let’s start training then.” “That’s more like it,” Mitsuki smiled, “just one question. Could you teach me how to walk on water? I never learned that.” “Sure, come let’s go to the lake.”

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Naruto ducked to avoid Neji’s fingers from closing one of his tenketsu (chakra points) and hit him surprisingly; Neji wasn’t able to use Juken or block the fist. Making a somersault over his opponent Naruto landed behind Neji. Neji slid over the ground on hands and feet and soon charged at Naruto who was just in time to avoid the attack.

Neji saw Naruto jump to the side, make around twenty five new Kage Bunshin. Looking around, Neji started using gentle fist and saw one standing out. Not sure if it was the real Naruto he did dash towards him. Thinking it could as well be a shadow doppelganger. When the Naruto poofed away, Neji quickly turned around to hit the leftover Naruto. Only one was now standing to face him. “You’re in my range,” Neji said, standing ready, “Hakke Rokujuu Yonshou!”

Hinata watched how Naruto got hit by Neji, her father got a smile on his face. ‘Naruto-kun…’ She had seen this before, during Naruto’s last chu-nin exam, at that time he somehow had managed to beat Neji. She always wondered how and how he would do it this time.

“Are you gonna draw that chakra again like last time?” Neji asked while looking at Naruto, not dropping his guard. “Heh heh, so you remember I can reopen the tenketsu,” Naruto smiled. He slowly stood up. “Don’t make assumptions so fast, you aren’t looking in the right way.” Naruto poofed away and Neji quickly turned around to face the real Naruto who had jumped of the high ceiling and came straight at him. ‘When did he...!’ “Eat this, Neji!” Naruto shouted, going straight at him with a fist.

But what Naruto hit was nothing more than a chakra cocoon from Kaiten, what threw him to the ground. ‘Crap, how to get through that, maybe…’ Naruto jumped up and meanwhile Neji had stopped rotating. Naruto made a shadow clone and it helped him with the Rasengan. Yes he could make a Rasengan without a shadow clone, but that one would be too large. The Kage Bunshin made him able to decrease the power of the chakra, that was now swirling around.

‘What?! That is…!’ Hiashi thought staggered.

Neji looked at the attacked with activated eyes. ‘It’s…chakra?’ Naruto dashed over to him with Rasengan ready to hit. Neji started Kaiten again.

Two chakra hit each other. Naruto was able to maintain the Rasengan and pushing it forward. But the pressure became too much and a big explosion was the conclusion. Both Naruto and Neji got blown away and hit the sides of the room. Naruto crawled up, ready for more, Neji did the same. But just before the two charged at each other again it was Hiashi that stopped the fight.

Hinata stared at her father in disbelieve when he had said ‘enough’.

Naruto looked confused at the Hyuga leader. “Where did you learn that technique? You do know it’s the Fourth’s?” “I know,” Naruto answered, “and I learned it from Er…eh…Jiraiya. He taught it me when we went searching for Ba…Tsuande.” Naruto thought saying ‘Ero-sennin’ and ‘Baa-chan’ would be a big mistake when around Hiashi. “It’s also an incomplete jutsu, Kakashi-sensei told me that it was the idea to manipulate it with nature chakra. I kinda managed to do that, but because of it I broke my arms, I have still to perfect it. Heh heh.”

Hiashi stared at Naruto, but not out of surprise. His face was serious and what he was thinking, no one would be able to tell that. Naruto didn’t like the stare, but didn’t avoid the eye contact.

“Hiashi-sama?” a woman’s voice said. Hiashi took a moment or two to turn his head away from Naruto and face the woman. Well, facing would be the wrong word. She was bowing and looked at the floor. “Homare, what is it?” “The council is asking you to come. They have very important business to talk about with you.” “Very well.” Hiashi stood up and walked to the door. “Homare, I want you to watch our visitor. Make sure doesn’t make any trouble.” Naruto sweatdropped at that comment, not feeling insulted in the slightest bit, for he knew how every grownup thought of him. It was okay with him, as long as he had friends he could face these kind of things. As long as he had Hinata, it was okay.

“I will, Hiashi-sama.” Hiashi gave Naruto one last glare and then left. Actually he only closed the door behind him and waited a few moments. He knew a conversation would start soon and he was right.

“Okay that was kinda unpleasant,” Naruto said, looking at the door. “Hiashi-sama is right in a way, Naruto. You always make trouble,” Neji said. “Hey! That’s not nice, by the way that’s not the reason why someone needs to watch me.” Naruto faced the woman. The woman looked back at him, with some surprise. “You do know about it as well, I guess. After all every grownup knows about it.” The woman stared at him for a while and eventually nodded. “Hai, I know and I agree that you assumed right about the reason. Though you have to understand I totally agree with Hiashi-sama. You could be a danger to Hinata-hime.”

Neji was wondering what this all was about and what the others seem to know and he didn’t. “In any case, why did he let me train with Hinata and Neji if he sees me as a danger?” Naruto asked, “did he except me or so?” “I don’t know his reasons,” Homare answered. “O, okay. Hinata shall we give it a try?” “H-hai.”

Meanwhile in the hallway Hiashi had heard enough. It seemed like it was just friendship and nothing more, or else the boy would have gone straight to his daughter even though there was a cadet branch member around, excluding Neji. The Hyuga heir had a grimace on his face, thinking about the words the Kyubi container had just said.

‘Don’t think I excepted you, Uzumaki monster. The only reason I allowed you to train with my daughter and cousin is because you are the son of my best friend. But like I told him, I won’t accept you, little Kyubi container.’

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“Okay, you bring chakra to your feet, just like tree walking, I assume you can do that,” Kiba said looking at Mitsuki. “I can.” Kiba nodded once. “The difference with the tree walking exercise is that you now consistently have to bring tiny amounts of chakra to your feet. Give it a try.” Mitsuki brought chakra to her feet and stepped on the water where Kiba was standing. Just when she thought she did it, she sank through the water surface.

“Mitsuki!” Rakuna shouted. Mitsuki swam up and climbed out of the water. “Okay, that didn’t go very well, did it,” she said. “Don’t worry, it takes some time before you get the knick of it. It took me about two days, so don’t worry.” “Yeah, okay, but did you fell in such cold water as this?” Mitsuki said, shaking from the cold. The wind that was blowing didn’t really help either. “Okay, again,” she mumbled and gathered chakra to her feet again.

Meanwhile Kiba had started staring at the girl in front of him. Because of her wet clothes that stuck to her body, her figure was much more visible. Through her normally loosely hanging green shirt you could now see where her bra was also her sides were showed of. All of this made Kiba blush a little as he averted his gaze.

“GHAAA,” Mitsuki shouted as she sank into the water again for about the seventh time. “Sheesh, I didn’t think it would be this difficult.” She climbed on the shore and sat down, pulling of her sandals. “Uhm… Mitsuki?” “What?” Mitsuki asked not looking up to Kiba. “What are you doing?” “Can’t you see?” Mitsuki said while she pulled of her shirt, “my clothes will only get wet all the time. I pull them out so they can dry, while I try that water walking exercise. You have a problem with that?” With that last sentence she was standing in panties and bra only and had one hand on her hip.

‘Not at all,’ Kiba drooled in his head.

“Don’t give me such a look, Kiba. Haven’t you ever seen a girl in a swimsuit, ‘cause it’s the same as what I am wearing now.” “S-sorry,” Kiba said smiling uncomfortable. Mitsuki whispered a ‘pervert’, but unluckily for her Rakuna had heard that and started snorting. “Didn’t we came to the conclusion you were one as well, Mitsuki? Remember the Forest of Nightmares?”

And again Mitsuki sank into the water with a blush on her face. Coughing she came out of the water and shot her wolf partner a look; Kiba looked confused. “You’re a pervert? No way, can girls be perverts too?” He asked the question more to himself than to Mitsuki.

Mitsuki tried to ignore Kiba as hard as she could and gather chakra to her feet again.

After hours of practising, Mitsuki finally managed to remain standing on the water for a few minutes, before falling through the water surface out of exhaustion. “Okay, that’s enough for now,” Kiba said, while pulling her out of the water. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” “Let’s go eat something, it’s past noon.” Kiba set Mitsuki down on the ground. “I’m not saying no to that one, but can I first go change?” Kiba laughed, nodding as if saying ‘of course’. The two shinobi and their animal comrades walked to the Hyuga residence. They were surprised to see Naruto there.

Mitsuki left to change while Kiba watched the little spar.

Naruto jumped to the side, but Hinata had managed to hit his arm. Once again. ‘Damn, why can’t I concentrate while fighting her.’ But who could blame him. After all he was sparring with his girlfriend and she made moves that made Naruto almost drool and wanting to jump her. The reason he hadn’t done that yet, was because Homare was watching them and will tell Hiashi if Naruto suddenly jumped on Hinata and starting to kiss her. No it would be a bad idea to do such a thing.

“Haha, Naruto you’re screwing up badly,” someone laughed. Naruto looked to the side. Hinata did the same. “Kiba? What are you doing here?” Naruto asked. “Hey, I AM Hinata’s team mate,” Kiba said. “Do we have a mission?” Hinata asked.

“No,” answered another voice, “he was waiting for me to change.” “Mitsuki?” Naruto said, “So you went to Kiba for training. I could have guessed so.” “We were about to go eat something, you guys wanna join?” Mitsuki asked. “Sure, as long as it is ramen,” Naruto smiled. Hinata giggled, something that wasn’t unnoticed by Homare.

“Ramen is fine with me,” Mitsuki said. “What? You can’t be serious, are you a ramen freak just like him?” Kiba practically shouted. “No, I am just in the mood for ramen,” Mitsuki answered.

And so it happened that the four were sitting on stools at Ichiraku Ramen. They discussed several fights and fighting techniques or just daily stuff. Until Naruto had finished his second bowl of ramen and asked for a third. Mitsuki did the same and everyone was staring at her. “No ramen freak you said,” Kiba said to her, making a not believing face. “I am not, I am just hungry.” Naruto laughed. “Well you are one of the few that asks for a third bowl, as far as I can remember next to me only Choji does that.” “I just have a big appetite that’s all.” They received their bowls of ramen, Hinata and Kiba just watched them eating, they were already finished after one bowl.

“Mom always said I eat as much as her younger brother,” Mitsuki said while stuffing the food into her mouth. She swallowed the food and stared at the remaining in the bowl. “Unfortunately he died not long after his marriage. Because of that I never ate ramen before, it was one of his favourite dishes.” She started eating again. “That sounds sad,” Naruto said. Mitsuki nodded, “Too bad I can’t remember a lot about him.”

They paid for their ramen and walked over the streets. “By the way, Naruto, did you already decide how to pay Konohamaru back for his deed in the Forest of Nightmares?” Mitsuki asked out of nowhere.

Both Kiba and Hinata looked confused and glanced over at Naruto, whose face had started to glow. “The fact that his face is as red as a tomato must mean it was something embarrassing. Did he kick your butt?” Kiba snorted. “What did Konohamaru do?” Hinata wanted to know. “You haven’t told her?” Mitsuki glanced over at Naruto and then turned to Hinata. “He…”

“DON’T TELL HER!!!” Naruto suddenly shouted.

Mitsuki chuckled.  “Ow, come on…” “I swear, if you say one word…” “What did he do Mitsuki-chan?” Hinata asked curious.

“HINATA YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!”

“O yes she does,” Mitsuki grinned, “Konohamaru had changed himself and his Kage Bunshin into two naked people that were doing it.” Hinata looked wide-eyeded at her. Kiba had started to laugh. “That’s not all…” “MITSUKI!” But Mitsuki ignored Naruto. “The two persons he had changed into were you and Naruto.” “Wh-wh-what?” Hinata whispered unbelievable, starting to turn as red as Naruto. Kiba started to laugh even more than he was already doing. He could barely breathe and had to lean against a wall so not to fall.

“You asked for it!” Naruto pointed over to Mitsuki. Kiba stopped laughing, well at least he tried, and looked at Mitsuki. “I did ask if he could do something else than yuri or yaoi, but I didn’t ask him to change into a naked you and Hinata.” “So you are a pervert,” Kiba snorted to Mitsuki. “I’m not,” Mitsuki said simply.

Meanwhile Hinata was trying to process all this, but failed and eventually fainted with a very red face. “Wha, Hinata-chan!” Naruto said and was just in time to catch her. “Look what you did,” Naruto snapped to Mitsuki with a flushed face. Mitsuki could only laugh.