Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Demon's of Konoha ❯ Training ( Chapter 4 )

The rain was beating on the four kids as they continued to run, ignoring the screaming of muscles in their legs. You could hear the splatter of the mud as they were pounding into the pavement. The rain did nothing to cool down the bodies of the sweating squad. It was almost hard to tell what sweat was and what was rain.

 

“MOVE IT MAGGOTS. YOU WANT TO BE NINJAS? WE WILL BE HERE ALL NIGHT MAGGOTS UNTIL YOUR LAPS ARE DONE! Itachi yelled at the group of runners. He couldn't help but smirk at the progress the group was making. One day they would thank him for this, but he just knew that it wouldn't be this one.

 

When Itachi had come back from his mission he tested the group on the information he left them to read. They had absorbed all the information that they could from the scroll and Itachi was impressed they had memorized it completely. He began to train the group completely in secret, even his own brother. He didn't want anyone to know what he was doing.

 

He had outfitted the kids with special weights that absorbed chakra. They had to run with an extra hundred pounds on their bodies, twenty five on each wrist and ankle. The purpose: to increase speed without using chakra. If they can get faster using the weights without chakra, Itachi smiled and thought about how fast they would be without weights, with chakra.

 

In the few months that he had been training them he was impressed by how well they absorbed the information and yearned to learn new things. Looking over at the group he saw Hinata barely in the lead. The girl had taken to wearing her hair almost touching her shoulders but kept it pulled back by a sweat band as she ran with the group. She was obviously the smallest out of the group but they all thought they had something to prove. In Hinata's cause it was to stop being considered weak. Itachi figured she would crawl up by her nails if she needed to. She already refused to be treated differently then the boys, and every time he thought about the incident he got a growing respect for the twelve year old.

 

*******************************FLASHBACK************************* ****

 

Hinata was on her hands and knees panting at the kick that was delivered to her stomach. Itachi was teaching them the basics of Tai Jutsu, and was not going easy on any of them. Hinata was no exception.

 

“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?” Naruto and Gaara yelled at Itachi. Sasuke just stood there in shock that his brother wasn't pulling punches with the future kunoichi.

 

“SHE'S A GIRL. YOU DON'T HIT GIRLS AND IF YOU DID YOU PULL BACK” Naruto yelled as Gaara was beginning to gather sand around him to attack Itachi with.

 

“STOP IT” Hinata screamed as she slowly pulled herself up first onto her knees, then wearily standing up. “PULLING PUNCHES WILL NOT HELP ME.”

 

Softening his tone Naruto said “but you could be hurt. I don't want you to be hurt.”

 

Happy that Naruto was worried about her, yet sad that he wanted her to be treated differently. Hinata shook her head and said “Do you think that the enemy would pull punches? My own family didn't so I don't expect the enemy to. I need to learn to protect myself. If I can't do it who will?”

 

“I will” Naruto said “and if I'm not Gaara and Sasuke will be.”

 

“You will not always be there Naru-chan, and neither with Gaara and Sasuke. I promise to NEVER have to rely on a man for anything. If I can't do it myself, then I need to learn how to do it. I will not be considered weak because I am a female. If I achieve something it will be because of my skill and strength and not because they need more female ninjas.” Hinata exclaimed getting into the basic Tai Jutsu stance again.

 

“AGAIN” Hinata screamed to Itachi as he got into a similar stance. Within moments Itachi began he attack on Hinata again, this time she was blocking better and even getting in a few hits of her own.

 

Naruto looked like he wanted to say something when he noticed that Gaara and Sasuke were each standing next to him. “She's got a point, Dobe” Sasuke said.

 

“We may not like it but you have to respect her decision, Naruto” Gaara said. “Hinata's always been hardheaded. She will get it, and she refuses to be treated differently. You got to respect that. Besides Itachi won't do anything to her he don't think she could handle.”

 

Clenching his fists Naruto said “your right” as he took in the sights of Itachi and Hinata going blow for blow. Itachi could only smirk at Hinata's determination and decision.

 

**********************END FLASHBACK*********************************

 

Sasuke was next finally not beating the girl at running. At first he had a `kunai up his ass' as Naruto put it but Itachi was glad that the kids like Sasuke for him and not for being an Uchiha. Things weren't easy for them though at the Uchiha complex. Sasuke and Itachi had to keep the training sessions a secret and it wasn't hard to see why.

 

***********************FLASHBACK********************************* ****

 

“Sasuke” Itachi said “I don't want mom and dad or rather anyone in the clan knowing I am training you guys alright. Can you promise me that?”

 

“Itachi” Sasuke asked hesitantly as they were heading home after staying with Hinata, Naruto and Gaara for those first few days. “Why don't you want them to know?”

“They will not like it, Sasuke” Itachi explained to his younger brother. “I can't tell you why, but we can not act any differently at home then we have been. We can not let them know.”

 

“Alright Itachi, but you will still train us right?” Sasuke asked, glad he made new friends and hoped to be closer to his brother.

 

It wasn't until later that night did someone make slip about the `demon, freak, and the disgrace' hanging out with an Uchiha. Hearing the negativity of the comments towards his friends, Sasuke could see why Itachi wanted to keep it a secret. After getting a promise not to associate with them without Itachi there to protect him, Sasuke began to find a new purpose.

 

**********END FLASHBACK*******************************************

 

Itachi knew that Sasuke wanted a better relationship with him, and frankly Itachi wanted one also. He also wanted Sasuke to have a somewhat normal childhood. As long as their father concentrated on Itachi, Sasuke can have peace, and hopefully not have to grow up sooner then he needs to. Luckily it was beginning to fall into Sasuke's head. Sasuke was motivated by recognition and not from the villagers, but by his own family. He was going to make it that they didn't think he would need a protector, ever. He would be the protector, and Itachi was willing to help. Itachi wanted to smirk again at knowing Sasuke wasn't going to fit in his parents mold either.

 

Naruto, Itachi looked at the blonde with normally spiky hair that lost looked flat due to the rain and sweat, had also progressed nicely. Itachi's reasoning for training Naruto came when Itachi was in school. He had seen the way Naruto was treated and didn't like it. When he had become an ANBU, Itachi knew he could help Naruto without worrying about the repercussions. That was only a few months before Itachi started to train the kids.

 

*************************FLASHBACK******************************* ****

 

“HEY DEMON” a villager screamed at Naruto. “HOW DO YOU FEEL KNOWING YOU ATTACKED THE VILLAGE? YOU KILLED INNOCENT PEOPLE AND NOW WE WILL KILL YOU!” The villager screamed at Naruto as he began running. Gaara wasn't with him that day, saying he didn't want ramen and wanted to read a book. Naruto went out without his best bud, and had forgotten to go a less traveled path when traveling alone.

 

Itachi hearing the commotion after heading home from a mission watched at Naruto ran turning left and then right trying to hide into an ally only to discover that it was blocked off. Naruto skidded to a stop upon realizing he was trapped and turned around to see that a crowd had gathered to watch the drunken villager attack Naruto.

 

Naruto tried to block repeatedly but to no avail. Getting tired of always being beaten on Naruto pulled back a fist and swung, hitting the villager on the face. Soon a cry was heard “the demon is attacking, kill him” as the crowd ran to attack Naruto only to be stopped by an ANBU member in full gear with blood still on his uniform with his mask firmly in place.

 

“You know the rules, leave him alone” Itachi said, being the ANBU member but still concealing his identity. “Take another step and I will be forced to kill you.” The crowd heard this and began to leave slowly mumbling all the way. When the crowd had dispersed Itachi turned to Naruto and said “you can fight back you know. Sometimes it's the only way to get them to respect you.” After seeing the determination in Naruto's eyes Itachi left jumping rooftop to rooftop heading home.

 

******************END FLASHBACK*************************************

 

Naruto was there to become Hokage, apparently after that night being saved that became his goal. If he was Hokage then everyone would HAVE to respect him, no matter what, and in order to become Hokage he had to be the best ninja first. Naruto definitely had the determination to do it.

 

Gaara was another story, Itachi thought watching the boy with faint dark lines around his eyes showing lack of sleep. His red hair was plastered to his head but he was more quite then the rest of the group, making Sasuke seem like a loud mouth. It always seemed like he didn't have a care in the world and didn't care about anyone, but Itachi knew that that was true. He had proved it the day Hinata was attacked.

 

***************************FLASHBACK***************************** **

 

“Hey guys” a males voice said belonging to three boys in the Leaf High uniforms. “Will you look at this, a freaky redhead and the girl who hangs out with a demon? I heard she was so bad she got kicked out of her own clan. I saw we show her she doesn't need to hang out with losers.” The males began crowding around Gaara and Hinata as they were heading back from the library.

 

“No thank you” Hinata said politely while gritting her teeth “I am quite happy where I am.”

 

“That wasn't a request girly” one of the guys said grabbing her arm and pulling her towards his chest.

 

“Leave me alone” Hinata said struggling to get free.

 

The boys started laughing until they felt a strong wave of killer intent hitting them. Turning to find the source their eyes widened slightly at Gaara with an evil smirk on his face. “I believe my sister said to leave her alone. I suggest you do that and leave” Gaara said looking at the boy holding Hinata straight in the eyes, causing a shiver to go down his back.

 

Slowly letting go of Hinata the boys decided to run off unsure of what Gaara would do to them with such a large source of killer intent. Itachi watched from a tree and smiled, glad he didn't have to step in, but wanted to assess Gaara's handling of the situation. When the boys had ran off Gaara and Hinata resumed their track back to the apartment.

 

**********************END FLASHBACK*********************************

 

Gaara's goal, Itachi figured was to protect his sister no matter what, yet allowing her to try and defend herself first. If Gaara could harness all the power seeping off of him, then Itachi knew he would make good on his goal. As protective of Hinata as he was, Itachi was mildly surprised that he allowed Naruto around the girl. Itachi knew Naruto had a crush on Hinata and Itachi suspects that Gaara knows it also. Why he approves Itachi doesn't know, and as long as it doesn't interfere with training Itachi figures he doesn't care.

 

“ALL RIGHT MAGGOTS, IT'S TIME FOR JUMPNG JACKS. I WANT A THOUSAND OF THEM AND I WANT TO HEAR SNAPPING PEOPLE.” Itachi yelled as the group assumed the jumping jack position. “LETS COUNT THEM OUT SHALL WE” He finished as the group began moving as one slowly counting out each jumping jack making sure to smack the sides of their legs when they came down. Itachi had a good feeling about this group, until almost an hour later he began to feel the tingling feeling of being watched. When the group was done with the jumping jacks Itachi sent everyone home, with training resuming at six in the morning, the kids begin their first day of school in two weeks and Itachi wanted them on a schedule. With Sasuke, Itachi headed home trying to find the source of the observer.

 

“Man Itachi is a drill sergeant” Naruto said panting for breath next to an equally exhausted Hinata and Gaara.

 

“True” Hinata said “he may be tough but he is fair. He treats all of us equally even his brother. I think it's just Itachi's way of teaching, what about you Gaara?” Hinata asked her brother.

 

“I have to agree Hinata. He may seem like a drill sergeant wanting perfection, but he is getting us prepared the best way he knows how.” Gaara said as they began walking slowly towards their apartment on the other side of town. “You heard him though, we have to meet at six tomorrow morning, so I don't know about you guys but I'm taking a shower and going to bed.”

 

“Sounds like a plan to me, but I want a bath.” Hinata said slowly stretching her arms as she kept pace with her brother, trying to ignore the pain in her body. A good soak would do her sore body good, especially since she felt like she was cramping again. Hinata had started her period a few weeks ago and it caused a calamity in the house. Naruto thought she was dying when he saw the bloody sheets as it was his time to do laundry, and Hinata wanted to cry.

 

Hinata had learned about periods and everything years ago from her `mother'. She had came across a tampon and asked what it was for. That day Hinata found out about the birds and the bees, scaring her so she couldn't sleep that night. Naturally when she was scared she went and talked to Gaara and told him about what she was told.

 

************************FLASHBACK******************************** ****

 

“So basically” a six year old Gaara said gulping “a woman will bleed for almost a week straight and will not die? But will be in a lot of pain and have mood swings? How can you bleed that much and not die?”

 

“I don't know” Hinata said equally shaking “it just doesn't seem natural. I don't want to bleed Gaara.” Hinata said sobbing onto his shoulder. “What if I accidentally bleed to death?”

 

“You won't” Gaara said thinking about it “I mean if your going to bleed it must mean at that time you have too much blood. Don't worry I am sure we can find a cure someday.”

 

“Yeah your right” Hinata said slowly cheering up.

 

*************************END FLASHBACK***************************

 

The day Hinata and Gaara got attacked heading home from the library was when they were borrowing books on menstruation and jutsu's to explain to Naruto with. They had forgotten that Naruto had no one to explain this stuff to him about. Naruto took it all in stride after passing out a few times at the visuals about the birds and the bees. That day forward though Hinata took over the laundry, she didn't want to die of embarrassment at the others knowing about her `womanly problems'.

 

Tomorrow after training the group is going to turn in their applications for Leaf High. They were ready to become Ninja's.