Naruto : Chapter 36

It was Friday and the three jonin senseis had called their teams for the first team task of their bet.

"Okay, today you are going to show your skill in teamwork. We have set up an obstacle course you will have to complete as a team. Each team will go through the course timed and watched by us.

There are certain criteria we will be looking for, but we won't tell you what they are until the course is absolved by all teams. We will decide which team will do the course first by drawing matches. The longest match will go first, then the second longest and the shortest last." Asuma explained.

He held out his hand with three matches for Kakashi and Kurenai. They both drew one match and then compared the length.

"Okay, team ten goes first, then team eight and last team seven." Kurenai said.

Teams seven and eight sat down while team ten walked to the starting line.

"The course is marked with these markers." Asuma said showing a round paper about the size of a tennis ball. "They are in three colours. One for each team. You have the yellow marker, team eight has the blue marker and team seven has the red marker.

You are to collect all markers during the course. The obstacles you'll have to deal with will become obvious when you are on the course. We have placed some chunin in the course that will observe you and take notes on your performances.

As we are not objective, they'll give the points for this exercise. They have the lists what to look for. So if you spot Iruka Umino, Kotetsu Hagane or Izumo Kamizuri you'll know that they are part of the test."

The genins nodded and team ten got ready to go. When Kakashi gave the signal, they sped off.

"So how is your new taijutsu style coming along, Hinata?" Naruto asked.

"It's taking time, but I have a better feeling than before. And Kiba and Shino are great. They help me training all the adapted moves and give me pointers how they think I can improve." Hinata answered shyly.

"That's great. I'm sure you'll get it down and then be a force to be reckoned with." Naruto replied.

"You really think so, Naruto?" Hinata asked timidly.

"Sure. You are a good kunoichi; you just need to realize it and train hard to get your taijutsu style to fit you better. And when you get a few surprises in your repertoire that nobody expects you to have, you'll show them all." Naruto said.

"What kind of surprises do you think of, Naruto?" Shino asked.

"Well, every ninja, especially those from a clan that is well-known, should have at least one or two surprise moves that can take an opponent off guard.

I mean, take you for example, Shino. You are an Aburame and as soon as an opponent finds that out and has some information on your clan in general they will know that you work with your symbiotic bugs.

So they will use attacks that can keep your bugs away from them or are generally effective against them like wide spread elemental attacks. Or they could, if they have the time and the materials come up with bug repellent or bug spray. Now if you could also use for example kenjutsu, you would have an advantage they didn't expect.

I know that Aburames thanks to housing the bugs have very little chakra that can be used for jutsus outside your clan techniques. So perfecting using a weapon would give you an ace." Naruto explained.

"That sounds logical. I'll have to think about it. What would you think Hinata could learn?" Shino asked nodding his consensus to the suggestion.

"Hm, at least some ninjutsu to give her distance attacks. The gentle fist style is a close range style. But I think with her great chakra control she would gain the biggest advantage with genjutsu. She could trap her opponents in a genjutsu and then strike quickly." Naruto said.

"And what about me?" Kiba asked interested.

"Hm, you specialize in a feral taijutsu style in cooperation with Akamaru. That gives you short and middle range. What is your element, Kiba?" Naruto asked.

"Lightning." Kiba answered.

"Then your first step once you have mastered the basic chakra control exercises, meaning doing them instinctively without thinking about it in every situation, could be to incorporate lightning in your style.

If you covered your hands in lightning before you hit an opponent, the attack would be more devastating. Depending on how good you learned to control it, you could activate and deactivate it with a simple thought which meant it would be harder to figure out just what you did. 

I don't think normal weapons would work for you, as it would be hard to include in your normal style. I don't know if that is a crazy idea, but can Akamaru use jutsus?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, he can. You mean he should learn some jutsus as nobody would expect a dog to use them?" Kiba asked.

"Yes. And branch out from what your clan normally does. I'm not that knowledgeable about how you train your dogs, only that your combination attacks can be devastating." Naruto answered.

"Team eight, your turn." Kakashi called and they saw that team ten had returned.

Team ten got some instructions and then sat down.

"How was it?" Sakura asked.

"Sorry, we got orders to not tell you anything." Shikamaru said.

"We should have expected that much." Sasuke said.

"So, how is training with the resistance seals? You got them placed last week, didn't you?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, we did. They are so troublesome. I feel so slow. While I don't like haste, that's being ridiculous." Shikamaru answered.

"Ah, I'm sure I know a good way to get you used to them faster." Naruto said.

"What is that way, Naruto?" Ino wanted to know.

"Don't tell her, she'll be even more troublesome." Shikamaru pleaded.

"Shut up, Shikamaru. I won't be held back by your constant laziness." Ino shot back.

"Okay, the way you get used faster to the seals is by sending chakra to your muscles. Once you are used to the seals with chakra and can move like before, you reduce the amount of chakra until you don't feel the seals without chakra anymore.

And if you want to motivate your team-mates into more training, well, let me tell you that hunting others with senbons and the like lets them run faster." Naruto said grinning evilly.

"Sadist." Sakura mumbled.

"Be glad that Kakashi sensei only allows my clones to pepper you with rubber balls during the dodging exercises." Naruto gave back.

"What kind of dodging exercises does your team do?" Choji asked.

"Insane ones." Sakura answered.

"Funny ones." Naruto said. "I get to surround all members of our team with shadow clones and pelt them with rubber balls or in Kakashi sensei's case with senbons. Though I'm not allowed to use the poisoned ones sadly."

"Like I said, insane." Sakura said.

"Your sensei participates in your training?" Choji asked surprised.

"He doesn't only participate; he does more physical training than even Naruto. But that could have been expected by a former ANBU. We are really getting stronger under him." Sasuke said.

"Did you learn any new jutsus, Sasuke?" Ino swooned.

"No, not yet, but we learn tricks to better use the ones we already know. Kakashi sensei told us we would learn some jutsus once he finishes our basic training; should happen at the end of the month." Sasuke answered contently.

He had first been disgruntled that Kakashi wouldn't teach them any new jutsus before their basic training was done, but once he had experienced just what Kakashi considered basic training, he wasn't as angry anymore.

He knew he was building up his body strength and his speed; he was bettering his chakra control and his reserves and learned many important skills for missions.

He had found out about practical methods to ease transport, how to think like a ninja and improve his overall awareness. Kakashi was strict, fair but also had a sense of humour. And he knew how to train really hard. It was perfect to get closer to Itachi.

"Team seven, your turn." Kakashi called while team eight just ran over the finish line.

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