Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Life of a Kunoichi ❯ ~Practice Makes Perfect~ ( Chapter 28 )

Chapter 28

 

 

~Practice Makes Perfect~

 

 

One month has passed since her sister returned home, and Haru smiled as she walked to the BBQ restaurant to meet with her sensai and team. Walking in she smiled at the group seated at the large table. “Bout time you showed up any longer and Choji would have eaten everything.” Shikamaru smirked as he slid over so she could sit down next to him. Ino and Choji sat on the other side and Asuma sat on a chair at the end of the table. “So why are we here sensai?” Haru asked as she picked up a piece of meat and proceeded to eat. Asuma poked his own chopsticks in and grabbed a piece, “well we haven't been together in a while since technically we are no longer a squad. I just wanted to see how everybody is doing, that's all.” Haru smiled as she chewed her food, “well we're doing fine.” She said as she motioned to her self and Shikamaru, Shikamaru just smiled and sat back, not really hungry. Asuma smiled, then straightened his face to one of concern, “how's Phoenix?” Haru paused mid-bite and turned her attention back to her sensai, “she's fine, why?” Asuma smiled and shook his head, “ah just wondering. We haven't seen her in a while.” Haru laughed, “yeah I think Kankuro convinced Gaara to keep he on lock down, something I know she's not happy about.” The team shared a happy laugh because they knew how much Phoenix hated to sit still.

 

“Hey, so what's up you two?” Haru turned to the familiar voice, “Hey Naruto. We're headed off to do some training.” The blonde's face lit up, “can I join in?” “Sure.” She smiled back. The three made their way to the training grounds, where Lee was already waiting along with Kiba and Akamaru. “You're late.” Kiba stated. Lee just smiled. “Yeah, yeah keep on your shorts dog-bog.” Haru played back. “Alright well if we are going to do teams we need another person.” Naruto chimed in, a smirk on his face. “Why, who do you have in mind?” Shikamaru asked. “Shino.” Everyone looked to Kiba, “I think he's on a mission.” Naruto sighed he was hoping to get to spar with the bug user. “Oh well. Let's just spar.” Haru said with a hint of excitement in her voice. It had been a while since she last `let loose', and she was itching to do so. Naruto perked up at the excitement evident in her voice, “alright! Let's do it!”

 

2 hours since we started. Haru sighed, looking around at her surroundings she could feel a presence but had yet to see it. Alright come out. Looking quickly to her left she dodged a kick from Lee. Back flipping off the branch she was standing on she landed gracefully on her feet. Looking up she was able to dodge another blow from the green clad ninja. “Haru-chan, your speed has much improved since we last fought.” Haru smiled at the praise, “training with Phoenix and Ryu is starting to pay off.”

 

~~Flashback~~

 

“Ooowww, Damn.” Haru hissed as she held her hand to her bleeding arm. Ryu who was standing near her, her blood running down his blade, closed his eyes and hissed. “Haru I told you to come at me with the intent to kill.” Looking up at her brother she stood and brought her sword back in front of her. She glanced over to see Shikamaru staring intently at their sparring, concern clearly written across his face. Finding her resolve she stared her brother down, “I'm ready.” Ryu smirked and without hesitation he started towards her, then in an instant he was gone. Damn it, flash step. Haru tried to find him and managed just in time to turn around and block his sword from cutting her back. “Good.” He smiled. Breaking apart they slid along the sand, kicking up dust as they came to a stop. Ryu stood and pulled his second sword from his back, “now the real training begins.” Haru groaned as she prepared for another intense fight with her much stronger brother.

 

“Concentrate, build up your chakra.” “Aarrgh! It's not working!” “Calm down Haru. Becoming frustrated won't help.” Turning to her sister the red head threw her hands in the air with defeat, “I can't do it. You and Ryu make it look like it's….it's second nature, like breathing!” Smiling at her sister Phoenix replied, “that's, because it is.” Haru turned her head to face the other way. Phoenix approached her sister and placed a hand on her shoulder speaking softly, “Haru..flash step is something that is kin to the Dragon clan. You will learn it and it will be as easy for you to use as it is for me and Ryu. The more we train with you the faster you will become to anticipate our attacks and eventually without even knowing that you've done it, you will have mastered flash step.” Sighing Haru looked up to her sister and frowned, “do I have to fight both of you today?” Haru got her answer as a cocky smile. That's a yes.

 

~~end flashback~~

 

Haru concentrated on Lee heading towards her at such a speed he was almost invisible. Smiling she closed her eyes and concentrated. Lee dropped out of the sky and landed his attack right on target. Jumping out of the crater he noticed that once the dust cleared, Haru was gone. “Don't let your guard down Lee!” Haru shouted as she landed a kick to the shinobi throwing him into a near by tree. Lee who recovered quickly stood and stared at his fellow shinobi, “How….when did you? I never saw you move.” Haru smiled as she realized just what her siblings had told her, before you even know it, you've mastered flash step. Haru was soon overjoyed at what she had just accomplished. Now she just needed to see if she could do it again. Looking around for her target, she smiled when she caught a glimpse of him, and without hesitation she was gone. Shikamaru jumped at the sudden appearance of his girlfriend, “SHIT!” he hollered as he jumped back. Haru laughed at his confused face and jumped up and down, her face full of happiness. “I did it Shika! I mastered flash step!” Shikamaru smiled at her happiness, “I'm glad Haru, just, don't do that again.” She calmed her self and showed off her new talent to the rest of the group. “Great, now there's three of them that can pop up where ever, with out notice.” Kiba laughed. Haru was about to speak when she was interrupted, “Haru. You're needed at the Hokage's office for mission details.” Shaking her head at the ninja, to acknowledge she understood. Then turning her attention to the others she smiled and kissed Shika before she vanished. Be careful. Shikamaru thought as he looked up into the blue sky. He was brought back to reality by Naruto and Kiba arguing about the importance of ramen and why it is essential for a ninja to eat, well at least Naruto was arguing that point, Kiba was just yelling how stupid Naruto was. Shaking his head he sighed, “you two are worse than Ino, arguing about the importance of make-up and cute clothes.” Turning, he yelled out as he thru his hand up walking away from the three, “and you're just as troublesome.”

 

Appearing in front of the big doors to the Hokage's office, Haru knocked waiting to be allowed in. “Come in.” Entering the office Haru walked up and stood in front of the big oak desk. Lady Tsunade looked up from the piles of paper work on her desk and held out a folder to the chunnin in front of her. Haru walked up and opened the folder, quirking a brow at the contents she about to ask her question when the Hokage beat her to it. “These are new genin. I want you to accompany them on a mission.” Haru looked up, “but Lady Hokage, I'm not a jonin. Aren't jonin suppose to lead a team of genin outside the village?” Lady Tsunade folded her hands in front of her and sighed, “Yes Haru, normally a jonin would escort these genin. But their sensai was killed in action last week.” Haru was shocked. She didn't recognize the photo of the jonin that was in the folder, she had not seen him before. “I'm sorry. What about Shikamaru, I think he would be better...” Tsunade interrupted, “Shikamaru has his own mission I'm sending him on. Yours is not a hard mission. They need to stay on top of it, otherwise they may regress.” Haru shook her head and stood awaiting the details of the mission.

 

Well this shouldn't be hard, it's just a C rank mission. We just have to escort a man to the land hidden in the grass. About five days to and from. I can handle this. She thought as she waited for the team to arrive. Kakashi entered the office with the three genin. He smiled when he saw Haru, “Hello Haru. How are you?” smiling back she answered, “Just fine Kakashi-sensai.” Looking to the three younger ninja, she listened as Kakashi started to introduce them, “Haru this is Yoshiro, Maeko, and Shoda.” “Hello.” Haru replied. She received mock waves and curt smiles. Lively bunch. Well I guess they did just loose their sensai. “Shoda here is the oldest, followed by Yoshiro and then Maeko. Shoda specializes in ninjitsu, so far. Maeko is better at med-nin and genjitsu. Yoshiro, well Yoshiro is kinda like a younger Naruto.” Haru quirked a brow, “and?” Kakashi smiled, “you'll see.” And with that said he left the office. Bowing to the Hokage she turned to the man they were to escort and motioned for them to leave. Closing the door behind them she couldn't help but think, this will be fun.