Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Go No Konoha ❯ Testing Techniques ( Chapter 2 )

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The shadows slid slowly to a shorter form as Naruto glared reproachfully at Sasuke. A cool breeze reminded him of the perfect morning he was wasting waiting for Kakashi. Their teacher was late, and Naruto saw no reason to be here if the teacher wasn't. Sakura and Sasuke were obviously both irritated, but seemingly for their own reasons. Glancing at Sakura, Naruto could tell she was brooding over what Sasuke had said the day before. He grimaced and glared again at Sasuke. This time though, Sasuke caught it and returned it. It was at this moment that Naruto realized Sasuke had thought of Naruto's words the previous day as a challenge for Sakura. Naruto did not think much of this; Sasuke was the type to take anything wrong if it was not in his plan. Standing up from his prone sitting position, he thought, I'm out of here!

"Tell Kakashi that I'm busy, and if he wants to do this some other time, be there at that time." Naruto started to walk away when he felt Kakashi's presence. "Perfect timing…" he mumbled under his breath.

"Sorry I'm late, and that's Kakashi-sensei, Naruto" Naruto rolled his eyes and sat down again, his legs folded under him, his arms on his knees. He closed his eyes and inhaled a long relaxing breath. "You weren't planning on leaving were you? That shows a bad sign of impatience. Well that's fine then, I suppose you'll simply finish your missions faster that way." Kakashi smirked slightly under his mask and Naruto furrowed his brow slightly.

He has something planned. Naruto straightened his legs out in front of him and leaned back with his hands behind his head. It was too late when he realized that Sakura had moved behind him. He had a quick glimpse under her skirt before she tried to stomp on his face. Rolling away he mumbled an apology. Sakura mumbled about his perversion, but Naruto didn't care. "Kakashi, why'd you make us come here so early?" He groaned, just after leaving from the meeting with Kakashi, he had immediately gone and trained by himself in the woods. He had spent the entire afternoon, and late into the night practicing his techniques.

"Did you all remember not to eat breakfast?" They nodded. "Good" Kakashi held up two bells and his smirk deepened. "I have two bells, and two of you have to take them from me. The one that doesn't, fails, and goes back to the ninja academy." Naruto smirked, and Sakura groaned.

"This'll be easy; you can't even dodge an eraser!" Naruto laughed.

"Gloat after you've taken a bell dead last!" Kakashi smirked. Naruto pretended to get angry, and created a clone while dashing off to the left into the forest where he activated his altered Kage Kakusu. Kakashi seemed not to notice. This is too easy; I'll have that bell in minutes, Naruto laughed as his clone drew a kunai and rushed forward. Kakashi moved just faster than Naruto could see. The blur that moved easily held the kunai to the clone's head. Sakura and Sasuke both gaped at their teacher, but Naruto grinned.

"Slow down, I haven't even said begin yet…" Kakashi snorted looking at Naruto. "Oh yeah, the one who doesn't manage to get a bell will be tied to that log over there, and the other two will eat in front of him." Kakashi said pointing at three large posts that were partially buried not far from them. "Begin!" The air flashed and both Sakura and Sasuke dashed off in different directions. This caused Naruto to smirk even more. He left his clone still standing before Kakashi. "I said begin, Naruto…" Kakashi had pulled a book out of his pouch and was reading it with mild disinterest.

"I think we should just go one on one Kakashi! You and me!" Naruto's clone retorted. Kakashi didn't respond. Naruto's clone rushed forward while Naruto flashed passed Kakashi from the side leaving a small illusion of two bells on his belt. Kakashi appeared to be oblivious to Naruto's movement. The clone slowed its attack and punched clumsily at Kakashi, and then followed with a spin kick that missed Kakashi's head and placed the clone with his back to the Junin, leaving itself wide open.

"Let me show you a special Technique of the Hidden Leaf! Konoha Special Taijutsu! Thousand Years of Pain!!" Kakashi placed his fingers into a hand seal over his book and thrust forward at Naruto's clone. The clone shot forward into the air and burst into a puff of smoke. "Wha-? A clone? Wow that was a really well made clone Naruto!" Naruto nearly coughed trying to stifle his laughter. He had let Kakashi fight the clone, but hadn't intended him using some stupid technique on it.

Some special Taijutsu, all he did was try to ram something up my ass. Lucky for me I wasn't there. That would have hurt, Naruto noted laughing inwardly as he sat in his concealed hiding place. I have both bells, who should I give one to? Not Sasuke, for sure, he can go back to the Ninja school, but then Sakura will be stuck with me, besides, Kakashi can't simply have a team of two. He'll need another member. I'll give on to Sakura, and then one to Sasuke. Naruto dropped his Kage Kakusu, and focused on Sakura's ki. He also felt that Kakashi was near her. He cursed under his breath, and flashed off towards them.

They were a good distance away, and Kakashi was using a technique, Naruto could feel it. He froze as he heard a loud scream. He could tell it was Sakura and sped up, drawing kunai.

"Byakugan!" He whispered swiftly activating his copy of the bloodline technique. Sakura was twenty meters away, and Naruto saw she was unconscious by the look of her aura. What'd you do Kakashi? If you hurt her-. He was cut off when he noticed a kunai sailing at him. Dodging it was simple, and he turned to his attacker.

"Stay away from her dead last!" Sasuke spat angrily. Naruto nearly laughed.

"You're being an idiot Sasuke, what reason would I have to attack her? We're on a team." Sasuke smirked. Naruto understood then that Sasuke wasn't accusing him of attacking her. He wants to be the one who saves her. "You're such an imbecile." Naruto turned to wake Sakura and another Kunai sailed at him. This time Naruto caught it, spun, and sent it back at Sasuke. The kunai split open Sasuke's sleeve.

"You're even more pathetic than I thought. You can't even hit someone ten feet behind you!" Sasuke laughed. Naruto rolled his eyes and walked to Sakura. He placed his hand under her head and leaned her up slightly.

"Hey, Sakura, are you alright?" He asked gently. She mumbled something about Sasuke, and Naruto winced slightly, and smirked lightly. At least she has a good heart. he thought bitterly. Opening her eyes, Sakura noticed Naruto was holding her up and blushed slightly. She quickly stood up, and noticed Sasuke standing there, perfectly find. Naruto realized why she had screamed. "Whatever you saw was probably an illusion." Naruto said, and then he whispered. "Kakashi's watching us…" He reached out and took Sakura's hand lightly in his own. "Take these, I'll lead him away, give one to Sasuke." Naruto released her, and jumped straight up to the tops of the trees, leaving Sakura behind. "Kakashi!!" Naruto yelled, rushing straight towards the aura he saw of Kakashi.

Naruto rushed toward the clearing and dropped down in the shrubs. He noticed the simply set rope trap and walked towards it. He glanced at the bell lying in the middle. Looks like he never noticed, he thought chuckling.

Nimbly leaping above the trap Kakashi set, Naruto created a clone to be captured. He used Kage Kakusu to hide again, and watched as Kakashi approached his clone. Kakashi was yammering on about something, but Naruto wasn't listening, he was waiting for Sakura to realize what he had given her. Finally deciding to acknowledge Kakashi, he turned and saw his clan hanging upside down looking angry. Naruto smirked and emerged from the trees, which caused him to become visible. Kakashi looked at him with disinterest, and Naruto's clone dissapeared.

"So you saw it." Kakashi said in a mocking tone. Naruto shrugged and smirked slightly.

"Your bells are gone." Kakashi's eyes snapped to his waist, and they widened when he realized the two small bells that had been tied to his belt were missing. "Sasuke and Sakura both have one each. I think that means I fail." Naruto turned to walk away, but Sakura was standing in his way.

"You're the one who managed to steal them, Sasuke kept his, but you're the one who deserves to pass." Sakura's eyes were focused. Naruto knew that he couldn't convince her easily. He decided not to bother trying.

"No, I didn't take those from Kakashi, it must have been Sasuke." It doesn't matter if I pass this test; I'm still closer to my goal now than ever. I'm almost done with it. Naruto stepped passed her, but a hand grasped his shoulder. Naruto could tell by the size it was Kakashi's.

"You all pass." Sakura's eyes widened, and Naruto's rolled. Slowly turning around, Naruto grinned slightly. "This was a test of teamwork." Kakashi continued to explain something, but Naruto paid no attention to the older man. He was too busy planning how he would raise among the ranks. He knew the Chunin exam was difficult at its easiest points, but he didn't know what to expect from it, or if when he'd be able to take it. All I knew is it's every six months, and that I must have Kakashi's direct permission to participate in it.

---

Naruto sat still, his back against a tree, watching a cat walk behind him with solid red eyes. Using the Byakugan technique he had copied was not simple, but he had mastered the most basic use of it. He was of course wasting energy using this technique on a cat, but he figured it was better than simply catching the cat. Perfecting any techniques one used was what Naruto called practice. The only way he could practice properly, was if he was on a mission, or completely alone. This way no one would see what he was doing.

Naruto continued to mask his eyes, because they did not simply change when he activated the seals for this technique, they changed to a deep blood red, often a sign of a demon. Naruto understood what most would immediately think of if they saw this. They would think he was possessed or being controlled by the demon within him.

At the time of inventing the technique to copy bloodline specialties, Naruto had expected flawless results. When he realized his eyes changed colors, it was after Choji and Kiba had noticed and jumped back in surprise. As the others first did it, their eyes had no visible change, so it hadn't occurred to Naruto his result was different. He remembered clearly the fear in their eyes, and the careful way they had approached him. He knew if he ever saw someone look at him like that again, it would be far too soon. Of course the illusion helped this, because the visible changes had occurred in his friends after they had trained hard to be able to use the technique, while masking their face so as to not alert someone that the technique was being used.

Of course using the technique was far more complicated than most would ever understand. Naruto hardly understood it himself, but he had realized immediately how imperfect it was, especially as a simple copy. During his first mastery over the limitations of bloodlines, he was surprised that the technique hardly enhanced his range of vision; most Hyugas could see someone walk behind them. Through months of training, he continued to feel the vast range of the technique's complete vision grow, and he continued to use it for longer periods of time. Slowly, he realized that it was no longer as difficult, but because he normally trained alone, he didn't have to train using the illusion covering his eyes, and his energy levels still dropped at an incredible rate when he held it for over thirty minutes. It was annoying, but he was improving.

Slumping slightly Naruto still felt the energy continue to pour out of him. Bordering exhaustion from another sleepless night, and another hard morning of training, Naruto was ready to do something than wait behind a tree. He had done all the control testing and focusing he could handle for one day, and was ready for some relaxation. Naruto leapt soundlessly from behind the tree, rebounding with equal deftness and silence, confused, and captured the cat, as though it was the simplest thing he had ever done. He held the black feline firmly as it attempted to claw him.

"Naruto, why do you always look exhausted after these simple missions?" Sakura asked as she stepped forward from the tree she had been hiding behind. Naruto didn't respond, he simply handed her the cat and walked away through the thick forest. He could tell his silenced annoyed her, but also that she had noticed his posture. Slumped shoulders and half closed eye lids were hard to miss. She was still talking about him as he left ear shot. He knew that waiting for Kakashi was pointless. They would report the mission, and then Kakashi would lead them somewhere and leave. He did it after every mission, almost hinting that they should spend time together and learn to work more as a team. Working more as a team isn't where I need to see improvement, it's the team that's the problem, Naruto thought bitterly.

---

Naruto was still sprinting; he would soon be late to meet with the others. They said they'd be there just before noon. As he slowed down before the Ramen shop, he sighed noticing they were also just arriving. He jumped up to the roof, and stopped, slightly wrinkling the cloth roof. He jumped slightly to untangle himself, and regained his composure just as the other four landed neatly from two other directions. Few realized that this Ramen shop was in the dead center of town, fastest access from any location. Three main roads and several smaller ones intersected to the small point where the Ramen shop lay. For these five, it was like the center of the universe, holding it all together, but to most, it was just a small shop where they stopped.

"Right on time, as usual. Good, now we can talk." Shikamaru stated simply.

"What exactly do we need to talk about?" Choji asked, "You never really told me."

"How many of you have finished experimenting with the techniques on your scrolls?" Naruto asked, immediately taking control of the situation.

"I have, naturally, and I made a copy, marking off all the ones I couldn't figure out, and highlighting my favorites." Kiba said, handing Naruto the scroll. Naruto slipped it away easily into a pouch hidden within his orange suit.

"Me too, but I figured all mine out, most of them were easy." Choji said plainly. "I made a copy highlighting the most effective, fastest, and made a note by the hardest to control. Basically the same that Kiba highlighted." Choji too handed his scroll to Naruto, who slipped it into a different hidden pouch.

"I finished them all, and made notes on each technique, as well as listing them in the order of most useful." Shino explained lightly. "I also made several hypothetical situations for when to use each one." He handed several scrolls to Naruto, who slipped them into a few pouches, each still completely unnoticeable.

"Show off," Kiba grunted.

"I finished mine, and all of them were successful, except one, which I revised several times trying to figure it out, but all failed. I wrote them all down for you, and notes on how I did them. I also revised every technique on mine, with hypothetical situations of each, and naturally ordered alphabetically. "Shikamaru enlightened, handing twelve scrolls to Naruto. No one even glanced at him. Not even slightly surprised Naruto then placed them all into pockets, and a few open pouches that were noticed easily. Shino and Kiba smirked at Shikamaru.

"I really wish I had one of those Shikamaru. It's true what Asuma says-that you only work hard when you think it's important." Choji said noting how Naruto seemed to have expanded in several spots. "Suppose there's a way to carry them that's completely unnoticeable?" Naruto shrugged, and they all nodded dropping down silently, walking in different directions.

---

Sakura had been walking only a few minutes, and she had passed through a good part of town. She had almost stopped in several shops, but decided to press on, towards her house. She was a few blocks from the Ramen Intersection, known for having the most successful Ramen Stand in town, and started to turn towards her house. She noticed as five figures dropped down from the Ramen shops roof, each leaving in separate directions down secluded streets. Sakura noticed that one was walking toward her. Deep in the shadows of the building, just before the intersection, she noticed his deep spiky blonde hair. His hand ran through it idly adjusting the Forehead protector that held his hair from his face. Sakura shivered when she saw how sharp his eyes were. They were locked on her conveying so many emotions that Sakura felt herself become nervous under his gaze. Coldness. Anger. Frustration. Rage. Helplessness. Anxiety. Melancholy. Rejection. Fear. Hatred. Each emotion pierced her heart. The boy stepped from the shadow and his eyes became bright, cheerful even clueless. Sakura stood petrified as a name fell upon her lips.

"Naruto." came out nothing more than a hushed gasp.

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Naruto glanced at Sakura and started to turn, he whispered the seal to activate his enhanced eyes. His eyes flashed red, and he immediately activated an illusion over his eyes, changing them back to their normal bright blue. He could see Sakura staring at him from behind as she fell into to step with him.

"I take it Kakashi went to report the mission. Good, maybe we can get a better one." Naruto looked back at her and smiled. When his gaze met hers, her body twitched slightly. Returning his gaze forward he watched her blush as she stared at him. What is she thinking? It's almost scary to think of it. He smirked slightly, and started toward the Ninja Registration Building.

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Sakura at the entrance, Naruto jumped nimbly to the stair rail on the third floor of the Hokage's mansion. Taking a squatting position, he glared mildly. He knew where the door before him led. He would get to see the old man again, yet he still wasn't ready to challenge him. Not yet, he told himself. Wait for Sakura. He spun around, his feet off the rail.

"Sakura, are you coming?" He grinned slightly as she watched him with a slight since of awe. Kakashi stood next to her, and started up the stairs first. Naruto turned again, and leapt softly off the railing, and immediately went into the Hokages office.

---

The door opened again, just as the Hokage started yelling. Stupid old man, you just don't understand, do you? Naruto continued mumbling about Ramen, content in pretending to ignore the explanation of missions and ninjas he had hear dozens of times.

"Hey! Listen!" The Hokage yelled in mock anger. Kakashi mumbled an apology, but Naruto snapped back.

"All you do is lecture! But you know what? I'm not the trouble making brat you think I am!!" Naruto turned away still in a cross-legged position. Stupid Hokage name, stupid wasted lectures. Why don't you die already! Naruto thought bitterly. Naruto though turned away, continued to watch the Hokage with his activated Byakugan mimic. The Hokage smiled slightly. Finally, I'm getting through to him! Which is better? A-rank sounds fun, but B-rank wouldn't be impossible with this team. Naruto started to turn around.

"Okay, if you want it that much. I'll give you a C-rank mission. It's to protect a certain individual." Naruto nearly leapt over the desk. He didn't know whether to hug the Hokage, or kill him. Of course which would be possible, he didn't know either. Kakashi left, and returned in a few minutes with Sasuke. Naruto had been pacing around the office waiting, and Sakura had taken to yelling at him for his energy. The Hokage then told a man to come out. Naruto glanced at the door, and a drunken man stepped forward. He was holding a bottle of whiskey, and smirking.

"Are these them? Just a bunch of brats if you ask me, especially the midget with the stupid looking face." Naruto looked surprised. "I thought I'd be getting some decent ninjas…" Naruto decided to test Kakashi. Lunging forward, cursing at the drunkard, Naruto's shirt was caught by Kakashi.

"No killing the man you're assigned to protect." Sakura giggled softly, and Naruto sighed.

He's skilled. Thank god, because the guy is definitely lying. I don't trust him for his shoe size. "What's your name old man?"

"I'm the super bridge builder, Tazuna-san." The old man smirked, and nearly dropped his bottle. He took a shuffled step forward. Naruto made a simple pose.

"Well remember my name Tazuna! I'm Uzamaki Naruto, and soon you'll be bowing to me with respect, because I'm going to be Hokage!" Tazuna lifted his bottle and took a swig. Naruto smirked, while everyone else in the room stared at him with a small amount of shock, with regard to how stupid they thought he was being.

"Bow down to you? Not even if you were Hokage." Naruto leapt forward again, this time much faster, and Kakashi still caught him. Just how fast is he? Naruto thought, struggling against Kakashi's firm grip.

"We set out tomorrow morning early. We meet by the gate at 7 am." Kakashi said, still holding firm on Naruto's collar. After Tazuna had left the room, Naruto was released. He bolted straight out the door. I've got to tell them! Running for a few seconds, Naruto moved quickly through the village, but could not find his team anywhere. Fine, I'll leave a note at the drop point. Naruto quickly turned his pace and headed home.

Once home Naruto pulled out a small scroll and scribbled a summary of the mission down. Shikamaru will find it, he thought, and added a few ideas about the skills he was testing.

---

Naruto woke very early and though he had plenty of time before he needed to meet Team 7 at the front gate he still rushed from his house. He had packed the previous night, and gone training, but he still hadn't told the others he was leaving. Naruto ran down the main road and turned four times, right, left, right, right, bringing him back to the same street he was on. This was a simple tactic to make sure no one was following him. As he slid to his reserved seat at the Ramen shop he noticed Ino eating with Shikamaru and Choji. Silently acknowledging each others presence Naruto dropped the scroll he'd written the previous night to his foot and kicked it to Shikamaru. Flipping it with his foot to his lap, Shikamaru placed the scroll in his pocket, and acted as though no exchange between him and Naruto had occurred. He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall behind the server. Noticing what time it said, he nearly screamed.

"Is that clock right?" Naruto asked shaking slightly. It can't be! He groaned inwardly, praying to himself.

"To the minute." The man replied turning to prepare another bowl of Ramen for Choji. It was then Naruto realized. The technique he'd been using in his apartment had set his clocks back several hours! He bolted up and ran straight away towards his apartment. Within three minutes flat he had his bag and was standing at the gate of the village.

"Naruto! You're late!" Sakura said growling in annoyance. She was tapping her foot slightly, and her glare seemed more friendly than usual. She seems almost amused he thought smirking slightly.

"Sorry, Sakura-chan!" he replied in an enthusiastic voice. Sasuke grimaced and glared at him. He returned it, and the team set off towards the Mist.

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What's this? An update? By me?? Wait, something must be wrong. Well if you didn't notice, I shortened off part of the old second chapter because it didn't fit well, and I haven't rewritten it yet! Hope you enjoy the chapter, please leave a review!

Second Chapter! Hurray! I'm trying slowly, to move up from amateur to efficient author, but I'm only doing so well. I've stopped using the apostrophes to convey thought, as you may have noticed, which is how most professional authors do it. Most reviews are beyond old; So, I'll wait until the third chapter to respond to any new ones. Still haven't put it up, but seriously, I'm working on it.

Ach! Talk about way late! So much for Fourth of July release!!! Oh well I'm working, seriously folks!

Also, if you think I should put the old unrevised chapters or 3 through 6 back up, then tell me in a review.

Fixed some of the errors, thanks to Kurai ko Doku for telling me! The spelling of Ramen to Raman is from the series of Ender by Orson Scott Card. Raman is a sentient being capable of communication with another sentient being and living in peace with them.