The Kikimora, which was apparently the name of that creature, had shown him exactly how lacking his entire team had been. There was absolutely no doubt in his or Inaho's mind - if that ninja tiger hadn't been there none of them would have survived.
So here he was in Training Area #4, waiting for their replacement team member. Training. Or trying to. The problem being that he knew what he wanted but had no idea how to get it. What he NEEDED was some ninjutsu. Some awesome technique to defend himself and his team, or to strike the enemy down, or to find an enemy that was hidden away. The problem was finding such a technique and self-teaching himself to use it.
In the absence of such things, what he was trying to work on was his physical conditioning and taijutsu.
"At work I see," said Inaho as she led a kid into their spot.
"Yeah," grunted Komugi as he continued to do knuckle push-ups.
"Okay, kid," said Inaho.
"Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki," said the kid.
"Okay, Naruto," said Inaho. "What techniques do you know?"
Naruto seemed to consider both of them for a moment. "I'm a sensor-ninja."
"A... seriously?" asked Inaho.
Naruto closed his eyes. "Three chakra sources. You, him, and some guy over there in the trees."
Inaho immediately drew a kunai and went to a defensive stance. Komugi was a little slower, mainly because he HAD been working out for over an hour and was a bit sore at this point.
The person detected appeared before them in a shunshin. "Interesting, Uzumaki. Hello team, I am your part-time jonin instructor."
"'Part-time'?" asked Komugi.
"I am only a tokubetsu jonin, and I have other duties as well. My name is Muta Aburame." The sensei nodded to his team.
"Aburame?" asked Inaho. "Aren't they the bu - I mean 'insect swarmers'?"
"Yes," noted Muta. "My clan specializes in our partners - colonies of kikai parasitic insects. And many refer to those partners as 'bugs' - it is not a problem."
"So, is there something you can train us in?" asked Inaho. "I mean, I don't know that much about your clan, but if your techniques rely on your insects and we're not clan members?"
Muta nodded. "First I need to know your limits and capabilities. Then we can proceed with a training program."
Muta Aburame had a calm, logical, mind. It was necessary for a member of Aburame clan as excessive emotional swings would upset their colonies. They valued stability and order.
"Sparring. Komugi is the top performer here, having fair strength and coordination. Uzumaki, due to your size and lack of reach, is the worst. Ranged weapons - Inaho is slightly better. None of you have much in the way of ninjutsu or genjutsu to use. Uzumaki has the worst chakra control and the best chakra reserves and stamina."
"You're kidding? Him?" asked Komugi.
"Uzumaki. Ram seal. Pull out as much chakra as you can." Muta glanced at the youngest of the team.
At first nothing seemed to happen, but then a blue glow began to form around Naruto.
"He's able to pull out enough that it's visible?!" exclaimed Komugi.
"He's an Uzumaki," said Muta dismissively. "My recommendations are thus. All three of you will train extensively in wall walking and then water walking. This will improve Uzumaki's control, Inaho's reserves, and Komugi's reservoirs. You will spend at least four hours a day working on this, or until you estimate you are at 10% of your total reserves. I will check on your daily progress. Continue with daily missions in addition to your training. When you have all three mastered the wall walking exercise, I shall train you in water-walking. Once you have mastered that, I shall ascertain your elemental affinity and train accordingly."
"'Wall walking'?" asked Naruto.
Muta inclined his head slightly. "It is done in the following manner -"
Sasuke ignored Sakura. She was doing that staring with the dramatic sigh every so often. How annoying. She was the "top kunoichi" of the class and he was beginning to suspect that it was an indication of how pathetic the other kunoichi were and not so much an indication of her own skills.
Then there was the third member of Team 7, the so-called "dead last" of the class. Someone he had no respect for whatsoever. A dead weight to hold him back from attaining the power he needed to avenge his clan.
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(Posted Sat, 25 Jul 2015 16:50)
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