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"Seriously? They don't teach this in Konoha's academy?" Naruto muttered to himself, perched on a high branch as he watched Sasuke's repeated attempts to climb the tree. "Even civilian-born students in Kumo learn this by their second year."
The Uchiha's determination was admirable, if misplaced. Each time he fell, he'd get back up, mark his progress with a kunai, and try again. His chakra control was inconsistent - sometimes too much, splintering the bark, sometimes too little, causing him to slip.
"At least he's persistent," Naruto acknowledged, standing up to leave. "Though persistence without proper guidance is just wasted effort."
"Naruto!"
The call made him pause. Turning around, he saw Sasuke on the ground, chest heaving with exertion. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and his Sharingan blazed in both eyes, the tomoe spinning slowly.
"Fight me," Sasuke demanded, pushing himself to his feet.
Naruto tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. "Why?"
The question seemed to throw Sasuke off balance. He'd clearly expected either an immediate acceptance or a dismissive refusal.
"Because..." Sasuke's trademark smirk appeared, though it looked forced. "You're afraid you might lose this time?"
"Cut the crap, Uchiha," Naruto said, his voice level. "I'm asking you seriously - why do you want to fight me? What's your actual reason?"
The smirk faltered. Sasuke's eyes narrowed, but the Sharingan remained active. "...Fighting... stronger opponents is the fastest way to improve. You're stronger than me - for now. Therefore, fighting you will make me stronger."
"Huh." Naruto jumped down from his branch, landing softly. "That's actually pretty logical. Wrong, but logical."
"What do you mean, wrong?"
"Fighting stronger opponents doesn't automatically make you stronger," Naruto explained. "It can help you identify your weaknesses, sure. But if you don't know how to address those weaknesses, you're just getting beaten up for no reason."
Sasuke scoffed. "The Sharingan-"
"Will copy my movements, yeah," Naruto interrupted. "But can your body keep up with those movements? Do you have the chakra reserves to maintain them? The muscle memory to execute them properly?"
"I..." Sasuke faltered.
"Look," Naruto sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You can't even climb a tree using chakra yet. That's basic chakra control - something academy students learn in Kumo. How do you expect to keep up with high-level techniques if you haven't mastered the basics?"
"Then teach me," Sasuke said suddenly.
Naruto blinked. "What?"
"Teach me the tree-walking technique," Sasuke repeated, his pride visibly warring with his desire to improve. "If you're so confident it's basic, prove it."
A laugh escaped Naruto. "You know what? That's a much better request than asking for a fight. But why should I teach you?"
"Because..." Sasuke struggled for a moment. "Because we're supposed to be working together on this mission. How can we work together effectively if our skill levels are so different?"
"Now that's interesting logic," Naruto grinned. "Alright, Uchiha. I'll give you some pointers, but first, turn off those eyes. You need to feel this, not copy it."
Sasuke hesitated, then deactivated his Sharingan. "Fine."
"First thing - you're using way too much chakra. You're treating the tree like an enemy you need to overpower. It's not about force; it's about balance."
"Balance?"
"Yeah. Watch." Naruto walked toward a tree, placing one foot on the trunk. "You need just enough chakra to create adhesion. Too much pushes you off, too little lets you slip. It's like... holding a leaf to your forehead, but vertical."
"We did the leaf exercise in the academy," Sasuke admitted, watching intently.
"Good, then you understand the concept. The trick is maintaining consistent chakra output while moving. Start by finding the right amount of chakra at the base of the tree. Once you've got that, try walking up slowly - don't run. Running comes later."
Sasuke approached his tree again, placing a foot against it. His first attempt still used too much chakra, but less than before.
"Better," Naruto nodded. "But still too much. Think smaller. You're trying to stick to the tree, not punch through it."
After several more attempts, Sasuke managed to walk up three steps before falling. He landed on his feet this time, progress already visible.
"That's more like it," Naruto said. "Keep practicing that. Once you can walk up and down consistently, then you can try running."
"Why are you helping me?" Sasuke asked suddenly.
Naruto shrugged. "Because you asked to learn instead of just demanding a fight. That shows you're not completely hopeless."
"Hn." Sasuke turned back to the tree, but paused. "What's after this?"
"After you master tree-walking? Water-walking. But one step at a time, Uchiha. One step at a time."
"Water-walking?" Sasuke's eyes widened slightly. "You can walk on water?"
"It's standard training in Kumo," Naruto said. "All genin learn it before taking missions outside the village. You mean Kakashi Hatake hasn't taught you this stuff?"
"We've only been genin for six months," Sasuke muttered defensively.
"Six months?" Naruto whistled. "Man, Konoha's really different. In Kumo, we don't become genin until we can demonstrate these basic chakra control exercises, along with at least two elemental jutsu."
"Two elemental jutsu? At graduation?"
"Yeah. It's why we graduate later than Konoha. Quality over quantity, you know?"
Sasuke absorbed this information, his expression thoughtful. "That explains a lot about the difference in our skill levels."
"Hey, you're not bad," Naruto said. "You've got good instincts and decent raw talent. You just need proper training. Though I have to ask - why does Konoha wait so long to teach these basics?"
"I don't know," Sasuke admitted. "I always thought what we learned was standard."
"Well, every village has their own methods, I guess. Though I'm surprised Kakashi hasn't-" Naruto stopped, glancing at something behind Sasuke. "Speaking of your sensei..."
Kakashi stood at the edge of the clearing, his visible eye curved in what might have been amusement. "My, my, what an interesting sight. A Kumo nin teaching a Konoha nin. Should I be concerned?"
"Only about your teaching methods, Hatake," Naruto replied cheerfully. "Tree-walking is basic chakra control. Why haven't you taught your team yet?"
"I was waiting for the right moment and I have been teaching them how to work together," Kakashi said smoothly. "Though it seems you've taken that decision out of my hands."
"Right moment?" Naruto raised an eyebrow. "We're on a mission where we might face jōnin-level missing-nin, and your team can't even walk up trees? That's not waiting for the right moment; that's negligence. Teamwork is good and all, but teamwork is pointless if the genins have to face someone much stronger than them."
Sasuke tensed, but Kakashi merely chuckled. "You're quite direct for someone so young."
"And you're quite casual for someone responsible for three lives," Naruto countered. "But hey, what do I know? I'm just a Kumo nin who learned these basics years ago."
A moment of tension passed between them before Kakashi spoke again. "Perhaps you have a point. Sasuke, continue practicing. I'll go collect Sakura and Sai - they should learn this as well."
As Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves, Naruto turned back to Sasuke. "Well? Those trees aren't going to climb themselves."
Sasuke nodded, turning back to his tree with renewed determination. As he began practicing again, Naruto couldn't help but wonder about the differences between their villages' training methods.
"Hey, Uchiha," he called out. "When you master this, maybe we can have that spar. But a proper training spar, not a fight to the death or whatever dramatic scenario you had in mind."
Sasuke paused mid-step. "I'll hold you to that, Yotsuki."
"Just don't expect me to go easy on you," Naruto grinned. "Now focus on your chakra. You're using too much again."
As he watched Sasuke return to his practice, Naruto felt a strange sense of satisfaction. Teaching wasn't something he'd ever considered before, but there was something rewarding about helping someone improve, even if that someone was a prideful Uchiha from Konoha.
"Omoi's never going to believe this," he muttered to himself, settling in to continue supervising Sasuke's training. "Me, teaching a Konoha nin. Yoruichi's going to laugh her ass off when she hears about this."
Later
Naruto found his team resting near their temporary camp. Omoi was methodically sharpening his sword, while Yugito lounged against a tree, her sharp eyes immediately focusing on him as he approached.
"So," Omoi spoke first, his voice carrying its usual thoughtful tone, "you were teaching the Uchiha kid tree-walking?"
"News travels fast," Naruto commented, sitting down beside his friend.
"Darui-sensei mentioned it," Omoi replied, testing his blade's edge. "He seemed amused."
"I still don't understand why you helped him," Yugito interjected, her cat-like eyes narrowing. "He's been nothing but a pain in the ass since we met their team. Always challenging you, acting superior... it's annoying."
Naruto fell silent for a moment, his mind drifting to that conversation with his grandfather, Ay. The words still burned in his memory, making his stomach churn with anger and disappointment.
"What would you have done to her?"
"You don't want to know, Naruto."
Those words, and the cold, matter-of-fact way Ay had delivered them, had shaken Naruto's perception of his home village. The rage bubbled up again, as it always did when he remembered that conversation.
"I understand him," Naruto finally said, his voice quiet but firm.
Yugito sat up straighter, confusion evident on her face. "Understand him? How? You have A-sama, Ay-sama, and Killer Bee-sama. Your family is alive and well."
Naruto's eyes flashed with anger, making Yugito flinch slightly. "That's exactly why I understand him, Yugito. Because I have a family, I can understand what it means to lose one."
"But-"
"Have you ever really thought about what happened to him?" Naruto cut her off, his voice gaining intensity. "We've all heard the rumors about the Uchiha Massacre. But have you ever actually thought about what it means?"
Omoi had stopped sharpening his sword, listening intently.
"Sasuke was what, seven or eight years old?" Naruto continued. "He came home one day to find his entire clan - his family, his friends, everyone he knew and loved - being slaughtered like animals. And who was doing the killing? His own brother, Itachi Uchiha. The person he probably looked up to most in the world."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
"Can you imagine that?" Naruto asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Walking through streets filled with the bodies of your people? Finding your parents dead? And the worst part, this wasn't done by an enemy, but by someone you thought was family?"
Inside his mind, Naruto felt a stirring.
"The Uchiha were always too emotional," Kyuubi's voice rumbled. "Their love turns to hatred too easily. The world is better without that clan of red-eyed demons."
Naruto mentally acknowledged the comment but continued speaking. "The fact that Sasuke can even function as a shinobi is remarkable. The fact that he's not completely insane is a miracle. Yes, he's arrogant. Yes, he's obsessed with power. Yes, he can be a real pain in the ass. But considering what he's been through? He's surprisingly stable."
"I... hadn't thought about it that way," Yugito admitted, her expression softening slightly.
"Most people don't," Naruto said. "They see the proud, angry Uchiha who demands fights and acts superior. They don't see the traumatized kid who lost everything in one night."
Omoi nodded slowly. "That's why you agreed to teach him? Because you understand his pain?"
"Partially," Naruto replied. "But also because I saw something in him today. When he stopped demanding a fight and actually asked to learn instead - that took humility. For someone like him, admitting he needs help probably felt like swallowing kunai."
"But he's still from another village," Yugito pointed out. "We're not exactly allies with Konoha."
"True," Naruto acknowledged. "But you know what? Maybe that's part of the problem. Villages keeping secrets, hoarding techniques, treating each other with suspicion... look where that got us. Look what it almost did to my mother."
The last words came out bitter, making both his teammates exchange glances.
"You're still angry about that," Omoi observed quietly.
"Wouldn't you be?" Naruto asked. "Finding out your home village once tried to kidnap your birth mother for her special chakra? Learning they would have..." He stopped, taking a deep breath. "Maybe it's time someone tried something different."
"How naive," Kyuubi commented. "Human nature doesn't change so easily, brat."
"I'm not trying to change the whole shinobi world," Naruto continued, both to his teammates and the fox. "I just... I saw someone struggling to learn something basic, something that could help keep him alive. Would it really have been better to let him struggle? To potentially get himself or his teammates killed because no one taught him proper chakra control?"
"They are still enemies Naruto, they are not allies. Sometimes is better to just turn your back, and walk away." Yugito conceded.
"Not everyone is an enemy, Yugito." Omoi said, not liking his friend's thought process.
"Maybe...but this is how this world works, Omoi. The only people you can trust are the ones who wear the same colors as you." Yugito said with conviction, making it clear she wouldn't budge from that. Naruto knew Yugito's experience with her mother....he didn't know much, but he knew her mother had done something terrible because of the religion.
"Besides," Naruto added with a slight grin, trying to change the subject, "you should have seen Kakashi's face when I called him out on not teaching his team these basics. Worth it just for that."
Omoi chuckled. "You called out the Copy Ninja?"
"Someone had to," Naruto shrugged. "They're on a C-rank mission that could turn dangerous any moment, and his team can't even walk up trees. That's not just poor teaching; it's dangerous."
"Speaking of dangerous," Yugito said, "we should probably discuss our plan for dealing with Zabuza and his apprentice. Darui-sensei wants to meet soon to go over strategies."
"Right," Naruto nodded, grateful for the change in subject. "Though I already told Haku they can either join Kumo or die. Seemed pretty straightforward to me."
"You told her what?" Omoi's eyes widened. "What if she gets offended and decides to attack us in our sleep? What if Zabuza hears about it and decides to flood the entire area while we're sleeping? What if-"
"Omoi," Naruto and Yugito said simultaneously, making him stop his spiral of worst-case scenarios.
"Sorry," he mumbled, returning to sharpening his sword.
As they settled into discussing their mission plans, Naruto could still hear Kyuubi grumbling about the Uchiha clan in the back of his mind. But for once, he found himself disagreeing with the fox's assessment. Maybe some people, like some clans, deserved a second chance. After all, hadn't his own life been shaped by both the best and worst of human nature? A mother's sacrifice, a father's heroism, another village's attempted kidnapping, and ultimately, the choice of a man to raise someone else's child as his own.
Perhaps that's why he could look at Sasuke and see past the pride and anger to the wounded soul beneath. Because sometimes, the most important thing wasn't where someone came from, but where they might go - if only given the chance to learn and grow.
Zabuza
Zabuza lay in bed, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. The bandages that usually concealed his shark-like teeth lay discarded beside him, allowing him to gulp in air more freely. His dark eyes fixed on Haku, who had just finished relaying her encounter with the Kumo shinobi.
"Naruto, huh?" Zabuza's voice was rough. "And their jōnin wasn't around when he made this... offer?"
Haku shook her head, her long dark hair swaying with the motion. "No, Zabuza-sama. Just the young shinobi."
A harsh laugh escaped Zabuza's throat, ending in a painful cough. "Maybe Gato's not as useless as I thought. Hiring Raiga might actually work in our favor."
At the mention of Raiga's name, Haku's usually composed features twisted slightly in disgust. She quickly tried to smooth her expression, but Zabuza had already noticed.
"What's wrong, Haku? Don't like our new temporary ally?"
"He's... disturbed, Zabuza-sama," Haku said carefully. "The way he buries people alive, then weeps at their funerals as if he cared for them. It's..."
"Sick?" Zabuza finished for her. "Of course it is. The man's completely insane. But that makes him perfect for what we need."
"And what exactly is that, Zabuza-sama?"
Zabuza pushed himself up slightly, ignoring the pain that shot through his body. "Nothing changes in our plan. Once I'm back on my feet, we move on the bridge. I'll take care of Kakashi and you will deal with his brats."
"And Raiga?"
A predatory grin spread across Zabuza's face. "He can keep the Kumo team busy. Probably get himself killed in the process, but that's not our problem."
"You think he'll lose?" Haku asked, curious.
"Against a Kumo jōnin and three trained genin? He'll be lucky if they make his death quick." Zabuza's grin widened. "But he should last long enough for me and you to finish our part."
"And then?"
"Then," Zabuza's eyes gleamed with calculation, "I'll have a proper chat with the Kumo jōnin about their generous offer. No genin, no matter how strong, has the authority to make that kind of proposal. But a jōnin? That's different."
Haku processed this information. "So we're using Raiga as a distraction?"
"More like a sacrifice piece," Zabuza corrected. "The man's too unstable to be trusted long-term anyway. Might as well get some use out of him before he inevitably self-destructs."
"What about Gato?"
Zabuza's expression darkened. "That little parasite? Once we've dealt with the bridge builder and the shinobi, his usefulness ends. I'm sure you can handle him and his thugs, can't you, Haku?"
"Of course, Zabuza-sama." A small, cold smile graced Haku's features. "It would be my pleasure."
"Good girl," Zabuza chuckled, then winced as pain shot through his ribs. "Now, tell me more about this Naruto kid. Something about him must be special if he's making offers like that."
"He's... different," Haku said thoughtfully. "Strong, but not arrogant about it. When we spoke, he seemed more interested in avoiding unnecessary conflict than showing off his power."
"Unusual for a Kumo nin," Zabuza mused. "They're usually more... aggressive in their approaches."
"He mentioned something about change being necessary," Haku added. "About how the old ways of doing things might not be the best."
"Idealistic brat," Zabuza snorted. "Still, if he's got the backing of his jōnin..." He trailed off, lost in thought.
"Zabuza-sama?"
"Keep an eye on Raiga," he ordered suddenly. "I wouldn't put it past him to try something stupid before we're ready. And make sure Gato doesn't know about the Kumo offer. The last thing we need is that little rat running his mouth."
"Yes, Zabuza-sama." Haku moved to leave but paused at the door. "What if... what if their offer is genuine?"
Zabuza was quiet for a long moment. "Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Assuming we haven't destroyed it first." He laughed at his own dark joke, then grimaced in pain. "For now, focus on the plan. And Haku?"
"Yes?"
"If Raiga starts talking about holding a funeral for you, kill him immediately. I don't care about the plan at that point."
A soft smile touched Haku's lips. "Understood, Zabuza-sama. Please rest now. You'll need your strength."
As Haku left the room, Zabuza lay back, staring at the ceiling. A legitimate offer from Kumo... that could change everything. But first, they had to survive the coming battle. And knowing Raiga's instability, that might be more challenging than he'd like to admit.
"Kakashi first," he muttered to himself. "Then we'll see what Kumo really has to offer. Besides," his shark-like grin returned, "if their jōnin is strong enough to take down Raiga, they might be worth joining after all."
Team 9
The evening sky painted the makeshift camp in deep purples and oranges as Team Darui gathered for their strategy meeting. Darui sat on a fallen log, his usual lazy posture betraying none of the tactical acumen that had made him one of Kumo's elite jōnin.
"Tomorrow morning," Darui began, his voice carrying its characteristic drawl, "we're hitting Gato's headquarters. Full clearance operation - we take anything valuable and eliminate any bandits we find."
"And what exactly will you be doing, sensei?" Omoi asked, absently twirling a lollipop between his fingers. "Going for a morning swim?"
"So dull," Darui sighed, running a hand through his white hair. "Actually, I'll be keeping an eye on our friend Zabuza. He's likely to make his move tomorrow, and I need to make sure Kakashi doesn't kill him before we can make our offer."
"You mean before we can steal him from right under Konoha's nose," Naruto grinned.
"I prefer to think of it as aggressive recruitment," Darui replied with a slight smirk. "The offer extends to his associate as well - the one you met, Naruto."
"Haku," Naruto supplied. "From her chakra. I would say she is very skilled."
Yugito, who had been unusually quiet, shifted uncomfortably. Her feline eyes darted toward the misty treeline before focusing back on their sensei.
"There might be a complication," she said, her voice low and serious. "I think Gato may have hired another shinobi after Zabuza's failure."
Darui's posture straightened immediately, all traces of laziness vanishing. "What makes you say that?"
"The fog here makes it difficult to track scents," Yugito explained, her nose wrinkling slightly. "But about two hours ago, I caught something new on the wind. Something... different."
"The girl's instincts are good," Matatabi purred inside her mind. "There's definitely another predator lurking nearby."
"Different how?" Darui pressed.
"Like ozone and earth," Yugito continued. "And I saw someone watching us from the tree line. The way they moved, their posture - everything screamed 'shinobi.' Definitely not Zabuza or his associate."
Naruto frowned. "Could it be one of Gato's regular thugs?"
"No," Yugito shook her head firmly. "This was different. Professional. Trained."
"Oh no," Omoi's eyes widened. "What if it's an S-rank missing-nin? What if they're planning to attack us in our sleep? What if they've already poisoned our water supply? What if-"
"Omoi," Darui cut him off, "focus."
"Sorry, sensei."
"Did you get a good look at them?" Darui asked Yugito.
"No, they stayed in the shadows. But..." she hesitated. "There was something odd about their chakra signature. It felt... unstable. Erratic."
"Like lightning in a bottle about to explode," Matatabi added, though only Yugito could hear her.
"This could complicate things," Darui mused. "Naruto, what did Haku say about Gato when you spoke?"
"Nothing specific about other hires," Naruto replied. "But she seemed disgusted by something. Maybe she knew about this new player?"
"Or maybe she was just disgusted by Gato himself," Omoi suggested. "He doesn't exactly inspire warm feelings."
"Either way," Darui stood up, his hand unconsciously moving to the cleaver sword on his back, "we need to adjust our plans. Yugito, can you track the scent?"
"With this fog? It's difficult, but I might be able to with Matatabi's help."
"Good. Tomorrow, while you three hit Gato's headquarters, I'll deal with both Zabuza and our mystery guest." He paused, considering. "Actually, Naruto, I want you to stay close to the bridge. If things go south with either Zabuza or this new player, I might need backup."
"What about us?" Omoi asked.
"You and Yugito should be more than capable of handling Gato's thugs," Darui said. "Just remember - we want his accounts and any evidence of his operations. The boss will be interested in knowing who else he's been dealing with."
"And if we run into this mystery shinobi?" Yugito asked.
"Retreat and regroup," Darui ordered firmly. "Don't try to be heroes. Especially if your instincts about their chakra are right - unstable shinobi are the most dangerous kind."
"Well, this just got more interesting," Naruto grinned. "Think they'll be open to joining Kumo too?"
Darui gave him a flat look. "Let's focus on surviving tomorrow before we try recruiting any more missing-nin, shall we?"
"Speaking of surviving," Omoi piped up, "what if this new shinobi can control the weather? What if they summon a tornado? What if-"
"Omoi!" everyone shouted in unison.
"Sorry," he mumbled, shoving his lollipop back in his mouth.
"Get some rest," Darui ordered, standing up. "Tomorrow's going to be... interesting."
As the team dispersed to their sleeping spots, Yugito lingered, her eyes still scanning the misty treeline. The scent was faint now, but it was there.
"Hey," Naruto's voice broke through her thoughts. "We've got this. Between your tracking, Omoi's sword skills, and my... everything," he grinned, "plus Darui-sensei? We're golden."
Yugito smiled despite herself. "Your confidence would be more reassuring if you hadn't spent today teaching tree-walking to enemy shinobi."
"Hey, that was a strategic recruitment initiative!"
"Sure it was," she laughed, finally turning away from the treeline. "Just try not to adopt any more strays tomorrow, okay?"
"No promises," Naruto called after her, his grin audible in his voice.
The sun of dusk cast long shadows across Tazuna's property as Naruto made his way back from his meeting with his team. His black and purple Kumo uniform, adorned with the distinctive lightning bolt insignia, was slightly dusty from the day's activities. The cool coastal breeze carried the salt-laden air inland, rustling through the sparse trees that dotted the landscape.
A rhythmic grunting sound caught his attention, accompanied by the whoosh of something cutting through the air. Naruto's sharp hearing, led him toward the backyard of Tazuna's modest home.
There stood Inari, his small frame determined despite his obvious exhaustion. The boy wore simple brown shorts and a green striped shirt, both showing signs of wear. Sweat matted his dark hair beneath his striped bucket hat, and his hands gripped a wooden spear that was clearly meant for an adult. The weapon, weathered but well-maintained, bore the marks of years of use – presumably by Inari's father.
The boy's form, while far from perfect, showed natural talent. His grip was positioned correctly, and his stance, though amateur, displayed an instinctive understanding of balance. He thrust the spear forward repeatedly, each movement accompanied by a grunt of effort.
"Your form's not bad," Naruto called out, his voice casual and friendly.
Inari spun around with surprising speed, the spear point instantly directed at Naruto's chest. His eyes were wide with alarm, but when recognition set in, they narrowed with barely concealed hostility. The boy's shoulders tensed, and his grip on the spear tightened until his knuckles whitened.
"What do you want?" Inari's voice was barely above a whisper, thick with emotion. He lowered the spear but kept his eyes averted. "Come to gloat about how strong you are?"
Naruto leaned against a nearby tree, his blue eyes studying the boy thoughtfully. "You must think pretty poorly of me if you believe I'd come here just to mock a kid."
The statement seemed to catch Inari off guard. His grip on the spear loosened slightly, and his eyes flickered briefly toward Naruto before returning to the ground.
"Why wouldn't you? Look at me, I can barely use this spear. I can bet you can use it easily without much trouble, and much better than I can ever hope to do." Inari muttered. "You're a shinobi. You're strong. You probably think we're all weak and pathetic."
"Strength comes in many forms," Naruto replied, pushing off from the tree. He gestured to the spear. "That was your father's, wasn't it?"
Inari's hands instinctively tightened around the shaft again. "How did you-"
"Your grandfather mentioned he was a fisherman," Naruto explained. "Said he was one of the best spearfishermen in Wave. From what I just saw, that talent runs in the family."
A flash of pride crossed Inari's face before being quickly suppressed. He stared at the spear in his hands, running his fingers along the worn wood. "What's it like?" he asked suddenly. "Being a shinobi?"
Naruto moved closer, sitting cross-legged on the ground near Inari. His purple and black outfit contrasted sharply with the green grass beneath him. "It's not what most people think," he said thoughtfully. "It's not about being the strongest or the most powerful. It's about protecting what matters to you."
"But you have all those amazing powers," Inari protested. "You can do things normal people can't."
"True," Naruto nodded. "But having power and knowing how to use it properly are two very different things." He glanced at the spear. "It's like that weapon you're holding. In the wrong hands, it's just a stick with a sharp end. But in the right hands – like your father's – it becomes something more. A tool to provide for family, to protect what's important."
Inari's grip on the spear relaxed slightly. "Did... did you always wanted to be a shinobi?"
A small smile played across Naruto's face. "I was born into it, actually. My father – well, the man who raised me – is a powerful shinobi. So was his father before him. But that doesn't mean it was easy. I still had to work hard, train every day, learn to control my abilities."
"Like that purple lightning?" Inari asked, a hint of curiosity creeping into his voice.
"Exactly like that," Naruto confirmed. "I am no where near mastering it, and my Sensei told me that it will take years until I master Purple Lightning. Just like I bet it took your father years to master that spear."
Inari looked at the weapon with new eyes. "He used to practice every day, even after fishing was done. He said that anything worth doing was worth doing right."
"Sounds like a wise man," Naruto said softly. "You know, being strong doesn't always mean having the biggest jutsu or the most powerful technique. Sometimes it means standing up for what's right, even when you're scared. Sometimes it means protecting others, even when you're not sure you can."
The sun was setting now, painting the sky in brilliant oranges and purples that reflected off the distant water. Inari's shoulders had gradually relaxed during their conversation, and he no longer seemed to be trying to make himself as small as possible.
"Do you..." Inari hesitated, then continued in a rush, "Do you think you could show me how to use this properly? Not to be a shinobi or anything, just... to use it right. Like my father did."
Naruto stood up, brushing grass from his uniform. "I think that's something your father would have wanted. But first," he grinned, "we need to find you a spear that actually fits you. That one's a bit too big for proper training."
For the first time since Naruto had arrived in Wave, he saw a genuine smile cross Inari's face. It was small and hesitant, but it was there.
"Thank you," Inari said quietly.
"Don't thank me yet," Naruto warned with a playful smile. "Training isn't easy, whether it's with chakra or spears. But if you're willing to work hard..." He left the sentence hanging.
Inari straightened his spine, holding the spear with renewed determination. "I am. I want to be strong – not just for me, but for everyone here in Wave. I want to protect my mother and my grandfather."
"Then that's your first lesson as a student," Naruto said, his blue eyes twinkling. "True strength isn't about being powerful – it's about what you do with that power. Now, let's see about finding you a proper training spear before your grandmother calls us in for dinner."
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