Chapter 56

The two Jinchuuriki remained where they stood. While they were both powerful...they knew their place. Their lives were a precarious thing held by mere convenience of having them battle ready, rather than their tenants be confined to gennin with years left before they could be fully effective.

They'd have left if any place was any different.

People like them were born and tolerated because of convenience.

People didn't want them in the village.

Why trade one master with a leash for another with a whip?

They railed against this status_quo, particularly Han, who took every opportunity to push and tug at the leash around his neck...

...But they knew their place.

Right now though Onoki seemed to be in no mood for that. It's been decades since either of them had seen the Tsuchikage so murderous.

The Sandaime was getting ready to untie the leash holding back his attack dogs it seemed.

Roshi stepped forward clearing his throat. "What is it that you need?"

-0-

Naruto was beginning to dislike earth chakra.

Wind he picked up quick...well...because he'd doneit before. And when he did it before he had the luxury of clones and a giant vulpine in his gut.

He doesn't have nearly so many luxuries now.

So he had to concentrate to pick up something new.

Now mind you that was always the intent, regain his techniques with age and time and add to his experience and power as he grew older and got back to his teens.

To try and pick this up now seemed more...intimidating/frustrating than it perhaps should have been.

Especially because earth just felt so different.

With wind you had to picture a blade. Two masses of chakra rubbing together until they formed a fine edge. This was because you couldn't see wind so you had to picture it and your chakra molded itself to bring about your will.

With earth it was just the opposite.Picturing the earth coming up, forming a dragon head and eating Orochimaru wasn't gonna do jack. He had to make it do what he was imagining as opposed to imagining it and watching the results.

It was a completely backwards process from what he was used to.

That was why most of the time earth techniques were more simplistic. Walls, spikes, mud. You could coax the unbending rock to move just so. Whereas wind was complete freedom.

Orochimaru had a feeling this would be his hardest element to master, and he was getting the feeling the bastard was right. That was why they started this now, to see if he could get it down in time to try and practice at least some rudimentary water techniques.

Before moving on to Kyofu though the sannin had surprisingly turned to Haku.

"What is it you want to learn girl?"

Naruto perked up. Aha! Haku was a girl this time!

The Kiri gennin scowled. "Don't call me girl. My name's Haku."

Naruto's eyes narrowed.

Was that a demand to speak her name? Or did that imply that she wasn't a she?

He could feel his teeth grinding together in frustration.

Why couldn't someone just flat out say it!

After a moment of Orochimaru's staring Haku shrugged. "Kisame-sensei says my Taijutsu is still sub par."

"Show me." He demanded.

Haku turned taking up a stance before the sannin scoffed.

"Don't do a Kata girl. Hit me." He demanded.

Haku flushed, whether it was from irritation or embarrassment none could really say before she jumped, spun and aimed a spin kick at the Sannin's face.

It missed.

The serpent hadn't even moved the foot passed so close to his face it ruffled his bangs.

Haku cursed as she landed.

The serpent raised an eyebrow. "More than sloppy." He surmised. "How in the world did you manage to remain so inept at close combat with a sensei like Hoshigake Kisame?"

"Sh-shut up!" She growled "Kimimaro does the close range combat on our team I'm long range support!" She seemed to blanch as she realized her tone.

"You are inept at it." He said.

"Hey stop putting Haku down!" Naruto demanded.

"Yeah!" A distant voice cried through the trees. "Leave princesses' crush alone!" He could all but hear the snickering laughs before the sharp, loud "OW!"

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "We'll work on that. Seeing as how Kisame is already helping Ryoko with her choice of weapon. Uzumaki, mind your own training not hers. Kyofu-"

The girl stepped forward, all but dancing on her tip toes.

"I won't be giving you my serpents." He declared flatly, watching the girl deflate at the news. "Manda would more than likely eat you. You will memorize the two hundred and fourty three handseals needed for the first summoning then we will perform it once you have and we will find you your contract animal."

-0-

It was later in the daythat the teams were, by the insistence of Ryoko and Naruto, choosing to eat together.

For Naruto's part he didn't trust Kisame. Not by a long shot. The man was part of the organization that had been hunting him his entire life. The man had helped Tobi. That was enough to put him firmly on the 'do not trust/kill as soon as needed/possible' list right beneath Orochimaru.

But Haku was...a friend...the Haku he'd known had been his first real friend and the one that taught him what it was to have precious people.

Even with all the pain it had brought him that lesson was still worth it...

He'd like to be friends with this one if it was possible.

And its not like he could do anything about Kisame anyway.

He hated being six. Insufferable age.

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