Chapter 12: Calm Before the Storm

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Kakashi's POV (Training Ground of Team Seven)

Kakashi was admittedly new to being a sensei. Hiruzen, when he had changed the academy curriculum, had delayed him significantly. Kakashi was further delayed by Hiruzen informing him he must take the team received. So on day one, the Cyclops had reservations. He had been rough on them the first day. Well, he was pretty rough on them most days but they had to grow quickly for his plan. Well, technically Hiruzen had come up with the plan. But it fits Kakashi's style to a tee. Kakashi had been told to push them hard. Not only in combat but professionally as well. They were solid kids and if they learned to work together they would only benefit. The sly old man was trying to guarantee the first crop of his plan would work well.

That had been why he had decided a face-off between Naruto and Neji was necessary. Neji was projecting but seemed to be secretly hoping to be proven wrong. Naruto was too prideful to let Neji slide. He felt the need to prove his strength to Neji. They kept clashing but hopefully, a full-blown battle would allow them to work through it. It had worked with Obito and him.

Yet the tense silence the team worked in as they completed his latest exercise almost made him second guess. They had been the same way yesterday as well. Naruto and Neji were already looking rough from the start. They had both been training for the upcoming fight. The two young men seemed to be mature enough to wait. But not mature enough to associate with each other in any real way. The tenseness seemed to affect Ino as well. Who by now would've complained about them working out on the water. All of them falling in at one point or another. But she maintained her silence, though it was pained. The woman used to being a social butterfly. Kakashi would have to rile them up then.

He picked up three pebbles juggling them with one hand to adjust to their weight. He then threw them all. The rocks sped off and pelted his cute Genin. They all immediately fell in, roars and sputters filling the air. Kakashi smiled as he stood and stretched. After all, his Genin were quite temperamental.

He ducked a flying knee from Neji. The Hyuga's pale eyes seemingly glowing with malice. Kakashi's eyes shifted to see the Uzumaki mere feet behind the Hyuga with his flying kick. Having aimed lower once the Jounin ducked. Kakashi dropped prone to avoid this. As he looked skyward he saw Ino flying through the air above him. She smiled cruelly as she fired off a barrage of kunai. Kakashi quickly drew his own and used it to deflect any kunai that came too close. But Ino merely smiled at him holding up a hand sign. Kakashi sighed as he prepared his body flicker. Disappearing right when the explosives went off. He appeared on the other side of the training field but had to counter a palm thrust from Neji. He allowed it to miss his head then picked up and slammed the Hyuga. Who gasped in pain but rolled away to escape punishment.

"Naruto Hammer!" Kakashi heard and trusting his instincts dived to the left. Watching as the blonde missed his human missile kick. Instead landing it on Neji hitting him in the chest. The two flew back, the Hyuga breathlessly gasping. Ino ever the opportunist slashed from behind but Kakashi caught this as well. Twisting her arm behind her back. He eased a kunai towards her throat and turned them both back to the two men. Who were bickering, seemingly on the edge of a physical altercation. They both froze when they saw Ino being held hostage.

"My my, for a second there my cute Genin were a team. It was a heartwarming moment, ne. But it was only a moment. Teamwork is imperative to the shinobi world. No one is faultless, so we must surround ourselves with allies to cover our weaknesses. Together a team of Genin like you could take down a Jounin. But as you are now you're merely playing at being shinobi. Ino is the only one so far to be mature enough to try to work together. But the two of you seem to think your beef is worth your comrade's life. I assure you, from personal experience." Kakashi dropped Ino and silently approached the two. He pulled down his mask. Exposing a handsome but pained face. He lifted his headband to show a sharingan eye. The three tomoe of it spun as the man silently cried. "It will haunt you when your incompetence costs you a friend." Kakashi walked back towards Ino, helping her to her feet.

"Tomorrow we will engage in joint team exercises. Hopefully, this helps install some camaraderie. If not then make no mistake. Someone who can't play ball is a liability. I won't stand for it." The Jounin then body flickered away, the usual poof and smoke missing.

There was silence between the three. All of them are seemingly affected by Kakashi's showing of emotions. Ino growled, knocking the other two out of their stupor. She rose to her feet and turned around facing the two young men down.

"He's right! Naruto I get it! Neji is an ass, a giant one! He keeps picking fights with you. It's not fair, but god damn it! You keep talking about being Hokage! Well, a Hokage knows how to win over his people. You are surprisingly charismatic so fucking win him over and be the bigger man! Neji you have no excuse! So you're a genius and came from a rough life. I'm sorry, I'm sure it sucks and I hope you can overcome it! Hell, we'll help you! We all wanna be shinobi. We all wanna do our damn best! SO GROW THE HELL UP ALREADY!" She screamed as she stormed off. Kakashi observing from a short distance away left with her. Confident the two young men had been cowed by them both.

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Naruto's POV (Training Ground of Team Seven)

The silence she had interrupted returned quickly as the two men sat silently now on their own. Naruto glanced at the Hyuga who sat silently nearby. Glaring where Kakashi had originally been. Naruto felt he was in the right. But maybe he had been rash. Everyone knows he had a temper. Guilt washed over the blonde. He may not like Neji and certainly was determined to kick his ass. But he knew full well how powerful numbers could be.

"Why do you hate me anyway?" The blonde asked bluntly.

"It's not hate. Admittedly your personality is grating. But to be honest I am being unfair. You seem similar to me somehow. Your eyes hold the pain mine does. Yet you're so… defiant. It infuriates me." Neji answered simply.

"You hate that I'm not some whiner?" Naruto asked, raising an eyebrow at the Hyuga.

"Not a whiner. But you deny reality. You're a clanless, talentless, and impulsive man. Yet you reach for greatness, you so blatantly declare you'll succeed. Yet the village seems to inherently dislike you. I pity you, it's truly unfair. Yet you need to accept the truth. Truthfully I intend to crush you. Not out of malice but the simple need to save you from someone else doing it." Neji said softly.

"Well, I think the truth is you envy me for not quitting like you." Naruto countered, rising to his feet. "Maybe we are similar, the difference is, I will never quit. I will be Hokage, I will defeat you, then I'll change your clan so no one ever is hurt as badly as you again." The blonde then silently walked off leaving Neji alone in the field.

"Part of me wishes you will succeed. That part will not stop me from crushing you. Nor will it spare either of us from our cruel fate." Neji said quietly. The two went their seperate ways, still determined to clash but peaceful for now.

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Naruto's POV (Uzumaki Residence)

Naruto walked into his home with obvious exhaustion. The Uzumaki were known for their endurance. As such she figured it might be an emotional one. When the blonde went straight to the backyard to the bench spot. She knew it for sure. He only did that when he felt particularly stressed. Kushina sighed before she poured him a cup of weaker sake. He is an adult now, besides it might help loosen him up. Even when he struggled he tended to be independent, preferring to silently suffer than ask for help. He had gotten better, but when he was particularly determined; he tended to fall back on old habits. She slowly walked out to the backyard and approached her son. He was seemingly meditating but it was clear by his frown he had yet to achieve total concentration. Kushina sat softly next to her son and nudged him with the cup. The blonde stubborn as ever ignored the first three nudges before, with a growl, opening his eyes and snatching the cup from her. He drank deeply before he choked and retched.

"It's sake, perhaps karma for acting like that towards your mother." She said with a sweet smile. "Sorry, I just wanted to help you relax. Plus your first drink is a big deal. Admittedly a father is supposed to do it. But I'm doing my best, ya know?"

"I know, I'm sorry ma. Just so damn annoyed… and confused… somehow guilty. My team has no teamwork. Worse yet, one of them has a grudge. And like the blockhead I am, I picked a fight. Even worse yet, I don't even know if I can beat him." Naruto explained his voice lacking its usual luster.

"That does sound rough. A lot for any person to deal with. But we can solve those. You realize teamwork is a problem so all you need to do now is lead by example. The grudge and fight well… admittedly I'm supposed to tell you to be a better person. And you really should, but backing down will make him not respect you even more. So try to be mature and wait for the sanctioned spar but…" Kushina said with an evil smile. "We Uzumaki's always have been the ass-kicking type." She unsealed her katana. "I think it's time we practice your birthright. Uzumaki were some of the most skilled swordsmen. Even acknowledged by the Land of Iron Samurai. The Kenjutsu style I use is based on the Uzumaki style. But mine is personalized. I think for now it'll fill you nicely. Eventually you'll make it your own."

Naruto smiled happily, as he drew his tanto. Kushina matched his smile with the two preparing for training. Naruto may be struggling, but she would guide him into the great young man he was destined to be.