Chapter 18 - Training

After the Kirigakure Anbu took away Zabuza Kakashi almost collapsed from overuse of the Sharingan. Since the eye is not originally his the chakra drain is many times more taxing than if he were an Uchiha clansman. I gave Kakashi a bit of my chakra in order to keep moving and get to Tazuna's little village.

After arriving, Team 7 and I put our stuff down and assessed our situation in Tazuna's house. Kakashi was recovering but faster than in the original story thanks to giving him a bit of my chakra so he didn't need crutches. I tried to dilute it as much as I could considering it became thick and vast because of my physical and spiritual growth with Ki. That was why it looked like a bijudama when I tried to treat chakra like Ki. Tazuna lived with grandson and Daughter. We discussed what happened when Kakashi fought Zabuza up to when the Kiri-Anbu took him away. I played dumb and told Kakashi that Zabuza's death seemed odd. The Kiri-Anbu should have just took Zabuza's body in a scroll instead of carrying him. Since only dead bodies can be carried in the scroll I told Kakashi that Zabuza will most likely return and that we should train for when he does.

Kakashi took his team just outside the village for chakra training. Kakashi demonstrated how to walk on solid surfaces by casually walking on the side of the tree and stood upside down on a branch. Kakashi was going to teach them chakra control. Sasuke and Sakura were impressed, except for Naruto and me. I told Kakashi that Naruto and I will be training something else, to which Kakashi nodded. Sakura looked jealous while Sasuke just looked on in hatred. If Sasuke would have said something to me instead of being a moody asshole I would've helped.

Sage: Naruto, we will start with the usual warm ups. Since we have a river we will warm up on top of the water. Start your finger push-ups upside down with your pinkies first. 50 Every finger. With every finger I will more weight so remember to sustain and balance yourself.

Naruto: Yes Sage-nii.

After we finished our warm up, we began to spar on the water. Naruto tried the same strategy he had used against Zabuza but it didn't faze me at all. He knew I was there and saw the whole thing so using the same techniques meant he changed them in some way. I sensed that the Naruto making the hand seals for the Multiple Phantom Shuriken was a clone and he had transformed himself into a shuriken to try to catch me off guard. After blocking all the shuriken, Naruto turned himself back and tried to use a Rasengan from a dead angle. I infused my index finger with Ki to take on the attack and quashed Naruto's Rasengan in his hand. Surprised and angry, Naruto tried an Odama Rasengan this time. I used my finger again and dispersed the Rasengan. Naruto stopped moving, indicating that he wanted to stop sparring and work on something else.

Naruto: Sage-nii, how did you find me among the shuriken?

Sage: I saw everything from the fight with the Kirigakure ninja, I just had to look for what you did different with the strategy. Try infusing chakra into your senses like your eyes, nose, and ears and also coat your skin. That way you can smell, see, hear and feel your surroundings much better.

Naruto: Ooohh, ok. Let me try it.

Chakra flowed into Naruto's eyes. I picked up a shuriken and threw it softly hitting a tree over 250 yards away. I told Naruto to find it. He was able to find it 3 hours later. Sasuke kept looking back at us training and still refused to ask for help. Sakura came up to me to ask for advice, I told her to mold chakra as much as she can to increase her capacity. She may have good control but has a small amount. I told sakura to try and extend her training by trying to walk on water, which was the next step. She sunk a few times but she managed to do it but because of her capacity she couldn't maintain it for too long. To walk on water the user has to be emitting a constant stream of chakra from the bottom of their feet and using the repellent force to walk across the water's surface. This technique was much harder than the tree climbing because the amount of chakra that needs to be emitted changes constantly. Sasuke was struggling alone still trying to climb up the tree falling and throwing glances at Sakura and Naruto. Once Sakura started practicing on her own, Sasuke approached her.

Sasuke: Hey Sakura, what did that guy tell you?

Sasuke clicked his tongue and walked away from Sakura but refused to ask for my help, instead he went to Kakashi to ask for advice. I told Naruto to train his senses as he was lacking a little in not seeing through his surroundings and some opponents. I told them that I was going to do my own training a little far off from them so I told Naruto to let loose his chakra as much as he can if he or the others are in danger so I can come back.

Once I was far enough I got rid of my restrictions. Utilizing the Ki technique of cloning myself by Tien Shinhan, I made a clone with half my strength and ordered it to fight with me until a day before Zabuza and Haku attack so I can heal up. For the next couple of days thunderous noises can be heard in the distance. The shock waves of the fight between me and my clone could be felt miles away. The terrain was changed beyond recognition.

Back in Zabuza's hideout. Zabuza was laying on a bed bandaged and bruised.

Zabuza: Dammit Haku you didn't have shoot me with your senbon that hard.

Haku: Sorry Zabuza-san, I had to make it look real. Although the ninja guarding the woodworker most likely knew what we were up.

Zabuza: Oh, you mean the weak guy standing to the side? If I could have just killed Kakashi, he would've been an easy kill.

Haku: I doubt that Zabuza-san. The moment I picked you up the next moment he was right there next to me. He told me to make sure when we both return to be a little stronger, he wouldn't want us both to break down before his little brother has chance to grow further.

Zabuza: Then that guy must've been another Jounin. We should prepare then.

Haku nodded then left some medicine with Zabuza. Haku was not only worried about what I said but the immense pressure she felt when I smiled at her. She knew that if they wanted to get this job done, killing me and Kakashi was top priority.