Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Equality Naruto ❯ Everyones Strength ( Chapter 15 )

Disclaimer: Naruto is a manga, by Masashi Kishimoto…that I in no way own or take credit for.

 

 

Everyone's Strength

 

Zabuza gave the pink hair genin in front of him a once over. It was time he start sharpening his weapon, because as of right now, it was nothing more than a blunt peace of metal. She looked deadly with four swords on her body, but in reality…“Remove the swords and sheaths, there's no point in you wearing them, when you can't use them.” Sakura didn't bat an eyelash at the ruff order, and quickly remove the ties, that held the swords.

 

“You said, you want strength, you said you want to be noticed, you told me, you'd do anything. Your former sensei was strong, but as I saw he placed the majority of his talents into the Uchiha, and it seemed even the dog boy had been better trained than you, but in my opinion, they were both pathetic.”

 

Sakura gave a defiant look at Zabuza when he described her former team mates as weak; in return he slapped her across the face, sending her tumbling to the side.

 

“You will be many times, more powerful, than both your former comrades, because unlike Kakashi, I won't be babying you. Now stand up.”

 

Inner Sakura had grown quiet as she looked upon her new sensei. This was no joke, she'd chosen this life, and now, she planned to survive it. Standing up, she had to resist the urge to cradle her prickling cheek.

 

“I have a lot of enemies, so you'll have to become skilled quickly, if you want to live. Because you seem to learn quickly, you'll be able to master these swords quite adequately, but first I'll have to develop your speed, and more arm strength, than, would normally be necessary for a shinobi.” Placing his hands together Zabuza created a replica of himself. “You'll be learning the, form sets, aligned with kenjutsu, and for now you'll be practicing with these,” Zabuza withdrew a pair of metal poles and tossed them at Sakura's feet.

 

Sakura eyes open wide in disbelief as the poles crashed onto the ground sinking a good three to four inches into the ground. `He expects me to use those!'

 

“What are you staring for, get to work, you're wasting time.”

 

Sakura hurried forward, and lifted the two metal poles with an audible grunt of effort. `I can barely hold these things up.'

 

Zabuza watched with interest as Sakura attempted to hold the two training swords. `Pathetic, struggling with such a small set of weights, by her age I was only using those for light warm ups. I guess it could be worse.' He took a moment to watch her move through each kenjutsu set, his clone would demonstrate. She was executing the sets perfectly, but painfully slow, it was obvious this was going to take some time. Sighing he looked up at the sky. He wasn't happy about the incident, or the little arrangement that resulted afterward, but whatever…

 

(Flash Back)

 

The Shunshin swiped the last of his strength, as Zabuza lost ability to stand on his own. Sakura grunted heavily under the sudden increased weight, as she struggled to stand straight. Zabuza didn't bother to suppress his smirk at her futile attempts to drag him further into the wooded area. “Don't be absurd girl, the combined weight of Kubikiri Houcho, and myself, are too much for a mere Genin to handle, especially one as pathetic as your self.” He couldn't help but to laugh as she dragged him another twenty or thirty feet before sitting him against a tree. “Did you hope to prove me wrong with that sad display of strength?”

 

“What would you know; I wasn't the one about to be killed by Kakashi sensei, now was I?” Sakura snapped, fatigue loosening her tongue more than was wise.

 

Zabuza's hard gaze encased her petite form making her slightly uncomfortable. “You've got some never girl.” Sakura squirmed under the intense gaze. To him, it was obvious she hadn't planned this out properly, but she defiantly wanted something. “So…” He laughed roughly as the girl jumped about a foot into the air.

 

“H-Hai?”

 

“What is it, you want from me?”

 

“W-what?”

 

“Don't play stupid with me girl? Unless, you decided to save me out of the goodness of your heart,” He laughed again. “, that's something I wouldn't put pass a Konoha shinobi. As stupid as they are strong.” He was quiet for a moment. “Well girl, what do you want?”

 

“I,” Her mind struggled to answer the simple question, `Because Sasuke, Ino, Ki… NO, I wont think of that now!'. She managed to close off the thoughts of her past, even thought she'd already derived her answer form her half finished thoughts. “I'm weak, like you said, but I want to be strong, and for that I need someone to train me.”

 

“What makes you think I'd be willing to teach you? Is that why you risked your life, saving me? On a whim? Did you think I'd be so grateful I'd take you on as my pupil? Your, weak, obviously not to bright, and you look like a dress up doll. You would break during the first week of my training.” Zabuza couldn't help but, laugh.

 

Sakura gritted her teeth as she stared down at the ground as Zabuza continued to laugh. `Don't make fun of me, don't make fun of me. Don't…Make…Fun…Of…Me.' “SHUT UP! You'll train me or…” She withdrew a kunai and gripping it tightly with both hands “..Or I'll kill you!” She positioned the kunai threateningly at Zabuza. “I won't be looked down on any more! I can be just as strong as any Uchiha, Inuzuka, or Yamanaka, and if you stand in my way I'll, I'll kill you! I refuse to be weak!”

 

Zabuza studied the pink haired girl threatening his life. “Pathetic. Threatening me. Do you really think you can kill me? Even now I could hold you hostage with merely killing intent.”

 

“Damn it, I said, SHUT UP!!” She leaped forward kunai targeted for Zabuza's neck.

 

To Sakura's credit Zabuza was actually surprised when she attacked, but surprised or not Sakura was only a Genin, he turned his head to the side and caught the kunai with his teeth, before releasing enough killer intent to freeze Sakura in place. Her body visibly shook from fear as Zabuza jerked his head to the opposite side ripping the kunai from Sakura's shaky grasp, as the kunai came loose so did Sakura's footing, she fell forward onto Zabuza's chest, struggling to breath.

 

Zabuza chuckled as Sakura's eyes started to water from the lack of oxygen. He spit the kunai to the side. “You actually tied to kill me. For that you've earned your first lesson, killing intent can be a shinobi's greatest weapon,” He released his killing intent and Sakura passed out. “,or their worst nightmare.”

 

(END FLASH)

 

Zabuza glanced back down at the annoying girl skillfully mastering the art of kenjutsu. She truly was a prodigy in her own rights, but her physical state was fucking pathetic, she was ridiculously weak. At least she'd gotten ride of that ridiculous outfit, it reminded him of that carrot top from nearly a year ago. “Before next winters snow, I've obtained a fine piece of metal to forge, but I wonder if she'll be able to wield those twin swords efficiently?” He watched as she visibly struggled to complete the thirteenth sets involved in basic kenjutsu, for the twin blades. `Maybe four swords were a little much? We'll I'll see soon enough.'

 

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(????Mystery scene??? )spooky…lol

 

 

“How could I have been so foolish?” A fist tore through a tree trunk, causing it to fall to the ground. The full moons illumination, now unhindered by the trees foliage, revealed a dark, mask wearing figure. “I should have warned them, I knew what was coming and I ran! I chose my life over my families!” Another figure appeared behind the first, this one appeared to be older, with their superior height. A mask covered their features as well.

 

“You did what you thought was best, you saved some of our fam—”

 

“We only share similar blood! My family was—” The shorter figure was suddenly punched across the face and sent sliding across the ground.

 

“We are family, as are the other two, and even that monster, and we still have one that has been left out of our ranks, after all, the one left out is the one we must save.” The second figure shook his hand. `Damn should have gone for the stomach, these mask are fucking durable.'

 

“How could I ever face—”

 

“They'll understand when the time comes, in any case, you've already made your decision. What's happen in the past will stay in the past, unmoving, and frozen for all eternity, you have a future goal. That's why you'll continue fighting.”

 

“Your right about the first part, what happened in the past will remain unmoving, in the past, but the future goal you speak of was only a child's foolish dream of revenge. You know who we stand against. We stand against five generations of power…” The sentence was left hang as the downed figure stood up.

 

“Then if nothing else, we will die trying, and others along with us, we will never be able to live freely if we don't kill him! We are not alone in our ambition, other have been harmed by his actions. Don't forget we have the element of surprise. We will win.” The determination within the taller figures voice, held no doubts. “You started this revenge scheme, now finish it, if you don't the others will go without you and no doubt we'll lose. We'll need all our strength, I wont let another decide the fate of my family, I won't let whole families, clans, or groups die because of one mans whim.”

 

“I just wish thing could have turned out differently, but revenge is all I can live for.” Reaching out a hand, the other figure took it. “Thanks for getting me back on track.”

 

“Idiot, you're still off acting like a child, but that's alright for now.”

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(Back in Snow Country!)

 

 

As winter came Anko learned the hard way, as to why Snow Country, was indeed called, Snow Country. Feet, on top of feet of snow, blanketed the ground, making ground travel difficult or nearly impossible during certain times, and today wasn't any different. Naruto moved with practiced ease, across the snow sparring with Haku, while Anko watched from a distance.

 

`I should be at home, eating dango in a nice warm shop back in Konohagakure, but no, I have to be out here, freezing my ass off, while watching those two idiots trade love taps.' Finally having enough she stood. “Alright, alright, that's enough!” Her eye twitched as they continued to attack. “Hey gaki, I said, STOP!!”

 

“What the hell are you doing?” Naruto shouted as he and Haku came to and abrupt stop.

 

“Watch it Gaki, I'm not in the mood.” Naruto snorted, but Anko decided to ignore the provocation. “Naruto from now on you and I will be training together, your feelings for Haku keep you from fighting to your full potential. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but if you really want to become stronger, you'll have to actually try hitting your opponents. What you've been doing if completely useless. As for you Haku I'll have a shadow clone train you, while I get Naruto's ass in gear. I have two years to train you, and I won't have you going back to Konohagakure to embarrass me. ”

 

Naruto frowned. `I was doing just fine in my own training till you showed up, I had my books, scrolls, and ideas for all sorts of jutsu, but now that I've been train with you I never have time for half of those things.' Naruto frowned as he started to question Anko's training. `How much stronger have I actually become? Since she came here all we ever do is taijutsu training, I haven't even gotten a full understanding of Kyuubi's chakra, and now she tells me these last three months training with Haku have been useless! Just what the hell am I doing?!'

 

Anko sighed as she saw Naruto face; during her time around the colorful blonde she'd learned to read him like a book, only problem, some pages could still be surprising. “Aright gaki, remember your training isn't always physical! Now use that brain of yours and say what's on your mind; calmly.” She added as an after thought. He stood there breathing heavily, clinching and unclenching his fist, trying to calm himself down.

 

“Why…” He took a deep breath trying not to growl out his next words. “Tell me what I've been doing for these last three months, you just said everything was useless?”

 

`So that's it. I guess I did say that, didn't I. I wonder if that's what the Old Man meant by being brash.' …“I guess it wasn't completely useless, but you haven't really gotten much stronger.” She saw the flash of anger in his eyes. “Calm yourself Gaki, I only meant physically. That pea sized thing you call a brain seems to have absorbed some of those lectures I gave you.”

 

“What the hell's that supposed to mean! What then, was all this physical training for, if you were only training my brain? The whole point to training is to get stronger physically; strength wins battles, not your brain!”

 

Anko laughed aloud. “I guess that's one way to put it, training your brain, but if it's the physical part of training you're mad about; you failed that on your own.” His confused look only managed to annoy her. “I warned you after the first sparing session to stop pulling punches, but you didn't listen, therefore, your physical growth has been minimal, as has hers. Now, your last statement, is one of the stupidest statement a shinobi can make, but it has been said, may times, usually it's poorly trained shinobi such as Genin, or power hungry shinobi. Since you're my student listen carefully, I won't have you embarrassing me, with foolish remarks. Know this, battles aren't won by sheer force, not normally at least, I'd say, less than five percent of all shinobi battles are one by sheer force. A weaker shinobi can kill a more powerful by outsmarting his opponent, its called tactic. Remember during training I had you play shougi or chess?”

 

“Of course I remember! I still haven't won a single ga--” Anko's fist made contact with the top of Naruto's head. “What was that…” He closed his mouth seeing her glare, and instead rubbed his abused head.

 

“Don't interrupt me. Now like I was saying, you've learned to draw out the game, weakening defenses, destroying key pieces, making strategies. The same thing applies in the shinobi world. When an opponent is physically stronger, but weaker within their ability to think, then it's easy to destroy them. This is accomplished by attacking weaknesses, manipulating thoughts, over estimating, and simple trickery. These strong but foolish shiobi are defeated through well place traps, foolishly giving up their advantage in the heat of the moment, overestimating their own ability, thus leaving you free to take hold of the battle. I'll say this, I thought you were one of these people, Naruto, even though you were strong, an intelligent person could've overcome you easily, but to my surprise you weren't a complete idiot, you knew how to set traps and utilize your advantages, but with your last statement I'm starting to doubt myself.” Naruto had the decency to look sheepish as she continued. “The strongest shinobi are some of the smartest in the world, even those that aren't as physically strong know how to even out the playing field.” When she looked down from her short lecture Naruto looked like he'd just lost his only friend.

 

“Don't get all depressed, like I said it wasn't a complete failure. Your taijutsu has improved greatly, your sloppy footwork is solid now, and your strikes are well placed. Plus you've still been increasing your weights steadily. Your failure, just means you'll have to work twice as hard to make up the time, and with me here you'll be where I want you in no time.”

 

“Ok, so you'll be training me better from now on?” Anko's shrugging shoulders were enough to satisfy him. “Ok, then lets start right now!”

 

Anko lifted a surprised eyebrow at the sudden attitude change, but shook it off as Naruto being, Naruto. “Since you have enough chakra to create your own personal army, I think it's about time you learn the finer, points, of chakra control. Then it's back to taijutsu, you'll need something more than this basic crap if you want to survive, follow me.” Walking towards a tree Anko withdrew ten kunai, before impaling the tree with each, she repeated the process thrice, leaving a vertical ladder of kunai leading to the top. “You can walk on water, snow, and trees, now walk up this tree on the handle edge of these kunai. No cheating, walk on the handles tip! Not on top of it!! Hurry up Gaki, I want to get to the fun part.”

 

Naruto felt a cold chill run over his body. “And what exactly do you mean by fun?”

 

Smiling she turned away leaving him to ponder his own question. Looking to the side she saw Haku standing quietly, `She always so quiet, it's creepy. I wonder if I should be teaching her, she isn't really a fellow shinobi, then again Naruto is a run away.' A cry of the word, `Shit', Alerted Anko to Naruto's first attempt up the kunai tree; which place a small smile on her face, `I can't wait till he's walking on the point of the kunai.' With that thought Anko's little smile turned into a twisted grin. Sighing sadly at the thought of waiting, she placed a hand on Haku's shoulder before steering her away from Naruto's surprising receptive ears.

 

“So, what will you teach me?” Haku asked lightly as they stopped in an empty clearing.

 

“Actually, I'm not sure, to tell you the truth, I only taught you the basics because of Naruto's sparing needs. In reality, I have no obligation to teach you, and if you want to get really technical teaching you could be considered treason.” A frown appeared on Haku's face. “The truth of the matter is, you Haku, aren't part of Konohagakure.”

 

“So you don't want to teach me anymore? I won't let you make me weak, I'll get stronger by myself if I have to. You won't stand in my way.”

 

“Yeah, yeah, whatever, answer me this though. Why do you want to be strong? What are your dreams? Why do you fight? What do you want to accomplish? Naruto wants to become Hokage, but even though it's and impossible dream, it's a dream that I believe will transform him into a great shinobi.”

 

Haku stared blankly at Anko for all of ten seconds, “You're wrong you know? Naruto's changed his dream, it's not the same as it was last time, but that doesn't matter, because if he wanted to become Hokage he would.”

 

“Naruto's irrelevant to this discussion; I was just using him and his dream as an example. Why do you want to be a shinobi Haku, what's important to you?”

 

“Naruto's important to me, and I promised I'd help him towards his goal. So, I'll need the strength of a shinobi to do that.”

 

“You shouldn't live for others, it's a stupid thing to do; someday they'll end up hurting you. The only person you should live for; is yourself.”

 

“Naruto would never betray me, nor I him. I don't know about other people, but Naruto is different, his promises mean something. He'd die keeping a promise, and find someway to comeback to life just to keep another.”

 

“I won't train someone who doesn't have their own dreams; I've seen what happens first hand to those who follow others blindly. It won't end pretty,”

 

“You're wrong you know, I do have my own dream. I don't care if you approve or not but my dream is simple. I want to stay by Naruto side till the end.” A smile graced Haku's face. “I don't need your help, I'm already much stronger than you think.”

 

“That's a foolish dream, what happens when he marries, when he doesn't have any use for you anymore? What will you do?”

 

“Weren't you listening to Naruto's dream? He's going to be a Kage; there'll always be a place for me, even if it only fighting by his side.”

 

Anko snorted, `Think what you want.' “Whatever, I'll help you train, but just remember, I did warn you.” The determined look on Haku's face never faltered.

 

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