Chapter 67: Preparation...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ino's POV (Surrounding Forest of the Hidden Leaf Village)

Ino had always been a social creature. She enjoyed catching up with friends, discussing the newest gossip, and fawning over boys. She knew her father had never approved; even her mother had sometimes scorned her. But it worked well for her; being charismatic was a trait of a leader after all, her parents would begrudgingly say. She had found less time for her more social hobbies as she continued her career. Upon forming Team Seven, she was lucky to do so occasionally. Once she had befriended her teammates, it had become even more of an oddity. The group often hung out between missions and training, sometimes just her and Naruto whenever Neji was too busy. Which may never happen again after she opened her big mouth.

Ino had come to see socializing and gossip as a way to destress. A way she could relax in her element, as it were. Now that she was much too busy and arguably hated, she missed it. It made her days longer, and she questioned her reliance on those aspects of life. She had heard from Kakashi that Naruto had been limited to the Forest of Death. Which had killed her plans to talk to the blonde. Which annoyed her because she was constantly thinking about him. Ino felt terrible about how she reacted. She certainly had her own reasons, but she should've handled it more tactfully. Certainly not suggest it was his fault…

Ino normally would talk to her mother or father in times like these. Her father was a licensed psychologist, and her mother would talk her through the most difficult of topics with ease. She knew the value of talking through one's grief. It was a healthy way to live.

Anko seemed to disagree.

Ino had almost looked forward to Anko's depraved training. At the very least, it would take her mind off Naruto. But the older woman had seemed to sense her inner turmoil, at least in her words. In truth, she had seen Ino cry a couple of times. Ino had expected compassion, maybe some kind words and encouragement. Instead, the woman had said in sadistic glee.

"Don't worry, princess! I'll work you right out of that funk!"

She hadn't lied.

Though as hard as the training was, Ino was more demanding on herself. She may have hurt Naruto purely because of her reliance on social status. It may be important to her, but was it more important than her loved ones? The fact she hesitated before saying no haunted her.

Luckily Ino could do nothing more than collapse at the end of the day. If she did so before she reached home, Anko would bring her to her home. Allow her to rest on the couch, feed her. All the better to work her to the bone the next day. It was a rough schedule, one the old her would never attempt. All the better, she didn't want to be someone who would hesitate to be there for people because of the thoughts of others. Not anymore, not after the look of pain Naruto had given her.

After the first week, Team Seven focused on training while Naruto was limited. Ino figured the rest of the training would fly by. Soon enough, she would excel in the exams and work things out with Naruto. But between Anko's training and her turmoil, somehow still churning during training. The training seemed to drag on endlessly.

Anko would start each day by running her through various stretches. Insisting such was necessary for the training. She swore after seeing the poses they would attempt she would never do so around others. They then continued with Anko throwing kunai at her from multiple angles at different speeds. Dodge Practice, as she had lovingly dubbed it. In reality, Ino would desperately try to survive as Anko slowly turned her into her practice dummy.

Next was her practice for her new close-range fighting style. Ino had thought she and the other Genin were masterful with kunai. But Anko had quickly shattered that little bubble she used to live in. They were useful weapons with a lot of applications she never considered. Her unique kunai, a gift given to her recently from her father, became a deadly weapon. It's unique length lends itself well with her new style. With Anko's gift, Ino quickly turned herself into a mid-range fighter into a more well-rounded kunoichi. This was mildly less painful than dodge practice, but Anko was a perfectionist. Drilling her on each form, move, and counter with precision and ensuring she gained not knowledge but mastery.

If not working on her close game, Anko would drill her on Ninjutsu. Though upon hearing of Ino's success in using only a single hand for jutsu before insisting she must be able to do so with every jutsu in her arsenal. It was long, monotonous work, most spent with explosions and failed jutsu. Though Ino did not complain. Not after the technique Anko and her had made.

Finally, Anko would have Ino strategize against potential opponents or specific scenarios. Anko told her she may very well be one of the weaker participants, which Ino had known; truthfully, she doubted she could win it, certainly not defeat Naruto or Neji. But Anko had cheerfully replied that even the strongest could be killed once they lowered their guard. The smile on her face would've unnerved her before now she merely nodded. She had her prepare game plans for each opponent, cheekily suggesting that Ino could try to seduce Naruto. Ino had attempted to punch the woman, but it seemed those extra weights on her chest didn't slow her down as much as she had hoped…

Ino had thought Anko must surely be right. With this level of training, she would surely be too occupied to dwell on Naruto and her new status as a pariah. But every day, through training, her mind did just that. Thinking over how she would ever recover socially, how could she even consider such a thing when Naruto needed her, would Naruto be welcomed as a soldier of his home? Would Naruto understand why Ino said what she said? Should she tell him why it affected her? How should she deal with her feelings for Naruto?

While it had only been three weeks, it may as well have been months for Ino. But she could not deny she could tell her improvement. Her body before lovingly petite, she now had gained a small amount weight. Now she has limited muscle. She simply had no choice but to improve with Anko around. Oddly enough, she also managed to find some level of peace. She couldn't affect her new reputation in any meaningful way, nor could she afford to care for it. Ino had changed during this training. She would try to focus more; she wanted to become someone that even Naruto could count on. She would show her village and Naruto that she was different.

Ino would fix things now; she was done playing games.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 Kushina's POV (Uzumaki Residence - Hidden Leaf Village)

Kushina had never been a patient person. She was temperamental and unafraid to tell others what she thought. Kushina had always preferred to act if something was bothering her. Minato had always been the more considerate one, reining her in whenever she may go off. It took a lot of mental discipline to be a single mother.

Yet this was the first time she encountered a problem like this. Her own status as a jinchuriki had never been revealed. Most people in the village were unaware there even was one. Now, her son had been exposed as one. Kushina knew this may be a problem but had yet to learn how much of it would be. Naruto had been shunned and attacked; even his friends had been targeted. It took more discipline than Kushina knew she had to not smash the hateful villagers. Even more to not show the council the wrath of a mother for banishing her baby to the Forest of Death.

Kushina watched her pot of stew bubble. Naruto and Jiraiya had nixed her idea of her camping with them. Jiraiya insisted Naruto needed to be able to focus on training and didn't need her babying him. Naruto claimed it would be embarrassing. As such, she had brought them meals to eat and whatever supplies they requested. It allowed her some access to her son. But the blonde seemed to be laser-focused on his training lately. Silently, her son worked, often until he could not even stand. It worried her, but Jiraiya would rebuff her each time she sought to console the blonde. Telling her simply to let the blonde figure it out. It hurt her to not aid him, but it did seem like the blonde preferred to mull on it himself.

Kushina gasped as the stew bubbled over, hissing as it touched the rack of the stovetop. She quickly lowered the flame and stirred. She sighed and relaxed once it was clear she hadn't ruined the stew. It was times like this when she wished Minato was still around. His calm and logical personality had always centered her in situations like this. Worse yet, the village scorn was not her biggest concern. Ikam, apparently a relative of theirs who seemed hellbent on tormenting the remaining Uzumaki, lurked in the background. Kushina had only fought with him momentarily, but he had easily countered one of her most substantial moves. Orochimaru supposedly worked with the man and seemed to want the Leaf to pay. If those two weren't enough of a threat to her baby, a whole group of S-rank missing shinobi also pursued him.

Kushina had to support and protect her child, but she wasn't wise enough or strong enough. But she had to be; she had to become better. Kushina was confident that with the aid of Naruto's friends and his natural strength, he could get through this latest problem. But it would be a moot point if he was killed by some criminal scum.

But even more than that, she was afraid of change, the simple fact that those villagers would change her son and rid him of all his innocence and hopes towards this village. The childlike need to just need her mom or see her at times. It was not as simple as if you have friends, then you will be okay. This whole ordeal….. was changing him, changing how he viewed the world. He only desired to live a average life, yet all of them just mindlessly torture him day by day in every way possible within the rules of the village.

As much as she hated to admit it, she did not face those stares and whispers thrown at her baby. Minato made sure that it remained that way. It was taking a toll even on herself and Kakashi; she could not know what was going on behind those reflectionary faces of his friends. His friend, Neji, was hard to read behind his stoic face. She could subtly interrogate Ino, but she was nowhere to be seen these days.

Kushina needed strength, and she needed it quickly. She glanced at the clock and her stew. Seeing she had hours before she was due to bring the food and the stew was practically done, just needing to be kept warm, she decided upon her next move. There was only one way to garner the strength necessary to keep her son safe…

Kushina sat on the floor in a meditative pose. Little did Naruto know she had struggled to meditate, but just like him, she had found it to be something she did often. She relaxed her muscles and slowed her breathing. Her mind cleared with practiced ease. Right as she fully relaxed, she whispered out loud. Preparing herself to face an old foe of hers.

"Kyuubi."

As soon as the word left her mouth, she felt her consciousness be pulled somewhere deep in her mind. She appeared standing on a large cloud. Somehow, the condensed water form held her weight. Her surroundings were a vast open sky full of clouds and a dark reddish sky. Kushina ignored this, instead gazing upon the being she came to visit.

"This One's eyes must deceive him." The Kyuubi stated amusedly. It contrasted his position, which was wrapped in a complex web of scarlet chains carved with inscriptions of Fuinjutsu. Each limb of the beast was extended and bound. Further chains wrapped its tails in a bundle, and even the mouth of the beast was muzzled with chains. "Last time This One saw of you, t'was a decree from you, what were your words…"

"Kyuubi," Kushina stated firmly, glaring at the beast with contempt. "We need to talk."

"Ah, This One does remember. You said you would never work with a beast like me. This One was nothing more than a battery for you to drain. That you would ensure this one would stay contained. You were a much smaller child then. Why is This One cursed to suffer in your presence once again?" The Kyuubi seemed to ignore the words and offered the best glare it could from its position.

"I need to access more of your power." Kushina said defiantly, "I am here to take it."

The Kyuubi laughed cruelly. "All these years, you can barely manage to wield even a fraction of my power. How do you intend to use more?"

"The same way I did before. By force!" Kushina said, roaring as she formed hand signs. The Kyuubi merely laughed, recognizing her intent while being unfazed. Kushina did not let this stop her, though. She needed this! "Admentite Chains: Draining Bind!" The chains glowed brightly and seemed to tighten slightly. The Kyuubi continued laughing, though the pain could be heard in its voice. Kushina continued flowing chakra into the technique, determined to increase the limit of chakra she could take. She had done this before for her Jounin Exam, just barely managing to take the three tails worth she could currently wield. Her chains acted as a natural boost to her seal and allowed her to maintain complete control of the chakra taken. But even as she felt her impressive reserves dip towards the bottom. No chakra from the beast flowed into her besides the amount she could hold. Kushina growled as she released the technique. Her rage only grew at the continued laughter from the Kyuubi.

"Your sealing chains are impressive, human, but they cannot truly hold one of This One's stature. Without the seal binding me here, they would never hold me long. Do you think you can force control of my full power?! To wield the full power of one of my kind, you must have the consent of us! With my utter hatred of you and the darkness all humans hold, you will never achieve this. You will fail your child just as you've done before." The Kyuubi taunted.

Kushina growled as she willed herself to leave.

"You will never wield my strength while you live with darkness." The Kyuubi said one last time as Kushina faded out.

Kushina opened her eyes and threw the wooden spoon in her hand so hard it shattered against the wall. She rose to her feet and growled again before she sighed. She silently put the pot of stew in a container for travel and some dishes and water for the boys. Quickly, she left her home and rushed to her son's side.

But Kushina could hear the last words of Kyuubi ringing throughout her mind.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Eagle continued to be quite the teacher. Exposing his past ties to the Hyuga had somewhat made Neji respect the man. As someone who also had suffered from the Hyuga's constricting and ruthless laws, he could sympathize with wanting to leave. He found it incredible to have been banished from the Hyuga and still had reached as far as he did. Neji could see why Kakashi had set him up with him.

In truth, Neji appreciated a new teacher who knew his style so well. He wanted to win the exams. Neji knew better than to be envious of Naruto, especially with how hard he worked. But he felt left behind.

Naruto had defeated him fairly and convincingly. Taking his best attacks and smashing through his defense. When an S-rank criminal came, Naruto had fought him head-on while he had been quickly taken out. Gaara had focused on Naruto with an unnerving aim. Neji had moved to aid him, but it had been straightforward to Neji in the brief exchange. Gaara was on another level than them all and fully intended to kill or take Naruto. Neji would not allow him to do so, but he doubted he could stop him.

But Neji had never been one to give up. Even in his Fate Stage (what Naruto and Ino had annoyingly dubbed it), he had trained hard and defied the laws placed on him. Mastering main house techniques and eclipsing even the heiresses in terms of skill. So he did what he often did when worried. Train himself into the ground.

Neji had never had a choice on how to fight. It had been drilled into him even as a child. Strict forms, precise strikes, and grace were his fighting style. Mastered over the generations by the Hyuga. Neji had taken to it well, but Eagle seemed to think something else would be needed.

"The Gentle Fist is certainly one of the best fighting styles in the world. But it does not cover the full capacity of combat."

Such simple words not only annoy but free the genius.

Eagle first taught him ninjutsu in depth. Eagle had merely stared when Neji had questioned this due to the Hyuga clan shaming those who used non-Hyuga ninjutsu. Neji had attempted to stare back, activating his Byakugan once staring at the mask became too much. Though he had simply met the Byakugan of Eagle in turn. For the first time in Neji's life, he had been out-stared. Neji dutifully listened from there on. Eagle was not someone who repeated himself.

Next, he altered his forms and strikes. The changes were untraditional and felt odd initially, but Eagle had insisted such minor changes would have a noticeable effect in combat. And much to Neji's chagrin, he found Eagle was right when he did better in their spars upon enacting such tweaks.

Finally, he taught him some variations of the Hyuga techniques he used. By the time three weeks were up, Neji felt his old confidence return. He felt powerful and now knew he could stand as he always had.

It was soon time to show them just what a genius could do.