Naruto's Hashira Journey

A day has passed since Team 7 encountered Zabuza. For now they have been laying low in Tazuna's home and waiting for Kakashi to recover

The three members didn't slack off, they helped around the house instead of doing nothing. Sasuke and Naruto are helping Tazuna out while Sakura is helping Tsunami cook their lunch

Suddenly, Kakashi jolted out of his covers and started breathing heavily

'what's this feeling...it's like I'm missing something but what?' he questioned, he got an uneasy feeling about it

He looked around for a while and decided to get out of his futon. He walked around the hallway trying to find his team, he luckily found them getting ready to eat

Tsunami noticed him first while holding a bowl of freshly cooked rice "Kakashi-san! Your awake" she greeted him, gaining the attention of his team and Tazuna

"Kakashi-sensei!" The three both yelled out surprised he has recovered

"Haha. Looks like you've made a full recovery" said Tazuna

"Thanks for everything" he nodded and thanked them

"Don't mention it. Come, eat with us" Tsunami said

Kakashi sat in-between Sakura and Sasuke, accepting the bowl of rice. "Itadakimasu" as he happily ate his meal so fast the others didn't see him removing his mask

Team 7 sweat drops at their Sensei's antics, but resumed eating as Kakashi waited for them to finish their meal

(Small time skip brought to you by chibi Giyu eating cold soba)

They finished their meal and headed outside since Kakashi called out to them. They saw him standing behind a tree and they approached him

"Oh good, you guys finished your meal. I got something important to say" Kakashi said the the three of them

The three Genin's raised a brow at him and listens

"Remember that Hunter-nin that we encountered yesterday" he asked them

They nodded, Kakashi cleared his throat and says

"I just remembered that Hunter-nin usually dispose of the body right then and there. But I have suspicions, because he just took the body with him. The only thing he would have proof of his work is by cutting off the head and taking Zabuza's weapon with him"

The three had a uncomfortable feeling, confused Sakura says

"But Sensei, he clearly killed Zabuza, we saw it"

"Yeah, but the projectiles that he used where senbon needles. Those are used for medical uses not fighting, since they have low probability of killing" said Kakashi

"So... Sensei what your trying to say is.." Naruto asked

"Yeah.. Zabuza is still alive" he stated

Their eyes widened, they couldn't believe what they've just heard

"Oi! You said he was dead, now you're saying he's alive?" said Sasuke

Kakashi just nodded his head and continued

"When I checked for Zabuza's pulse I felt none, but I realised that the Hunter-nin hit the acupoints of his neck, causing him to be in a state of death but alive. I had a feeling that the Hunter-nin is working for Zabuza and he is currently recovering" he said seriously, looking at them

They are a bit shaken of the event as they tried to calm themselves down. Naruto was the first one to calm down and asked

"So Sensei what now?"

"Now, we need to be prepared. Zabuza is still resting but he will finish the job by the time he is healed. I'm gonna have to up your training"

The two boys determined for it but Sakura went pale and shivered when she heard Kakashi increase the difficulty of their training as she remembers the brutal training she got from him

Kakashi hid a chuckle as he saw Sakura's state

"All right now that's over. We're gonna train your chakra, specifically your chakra control"

All three had question marks floating above their heads, confused they asked

"Um... Sensei we already know how to control our chakra back in the academy" Naruto said

"Hmm true, but you guys need good chakra control effectively. Even if you are able to release high amounts of chakra the Jutsu will be weakened if not controlled properly and in order to do this" he says as he starts the demonstration

He walked to a tree and made a hand seal, gathering chakra on his feet. He then starts walking on the tree upwards without falling, he stops and is now standing upside down on a branch

Sasuke and Sakura surprised at this but not Naruto cause he already knows how to do this

"By gathering chakra on your feet you will be able to stick to the side of this tree, this is something you can do once you can use your chakra well. Understand now?"

"With this, it will teach you guys how to control your chakra. Bringing the proper amount of chakra in the proper area and the proper control, you guys should be able to master any Jutsu theoretically... Well a shinobi is always gathering chakra while in battle which proves to be difficult to focus. This is something you'll have to learn with your bodies" Kakashi ended his explanation and threw kunai's near their feet

"Use those kunai's to mark how high you make it up the tree. Try to surpass the mark you made"

They picked up the kunai's and as they are about to gather chakra. Naruto casually walked towards the tree Kakashi used. They all watched him confused and slowly widened their eyes when they saw him just walked on it no problem. He is now beside Kakashi under the branch, he stabbed his kunai on it and smiled

'huh, should've seen that coming' Kakashi just looks at Naruto and now faces Sakura and Sasuke

"Ok... Looks like Naruto here has the best control here, so get going guys!" Kakashi said

Sakura is determined to reach up to them, while Sasuke frowns at Naruto, jealousy growing in him. They started to gather chakra on their feet and rushed to their chosen tree's

Naruto looked at kakashi and asked

"Kakashi-sensei, can you help me on my lightning nature? I'm having a hard time channeling lightning Jutsu's"

Kakashi glanced at Naruto and nodded, "sure, I'll give you some tips on what to do and what not to do. Let's do it now while the others are training," he adds as he jumps to the ground and securely lands

Naruto followed him and they began going towards a different spot. Unbeknownst to them, Tsunami's child, Inari, was watching them with a scowl. He strolled softly back to the house

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In a different location surrounded by trees, a large base made of wood. Inside is the Hunter-nin tending Zabuza's wounds. His mask off, he has a feminine face like a girl, his expression focused and worried as he sat on the bed side of Zabuza

Suddenly someone entered the room, forcing the Hunter-nin to look. A short man in a suit entered with two thug-like bodyguards. The short man is Gato, looking at the bed ridden Zabuza, he taunted

"So even you have come back defeated. It looks like Kirigakure shinobi are worthless" Gato taunted Zabuza with a smug smile on his face

"You can't even avenge your own men? And you call yourself a devil? Don't make me laugh" he added

Zabuza remained silent, as if Gato's words didn't reach him

Gato not liking the attitude. He walks to Zabuza and raises his hand towards him

"Come now. No need to stay silent... How about-" Gato was cut off when someone grabbed his wrist in a vice grip

He turned and saw the Hunter-nin gave him a murderous look

"Don't touch Zabuza-sama with your dirty hands" he warned Gato, causing his bodyguard to react

His bodyguards were about to draw their katana but couldn't when the said assailant fastly unsheathed it and pointed at their necks

'when did he-'

'so fast?!'

Both froze when they felt their katanas on their necks threatening to slice it

"Don't move..." He warns them

"...I'm pissed off right now" he threatened them with a blank look on his face

Gato sees this and in anger he screamed

"Fine!! One more time!! If you fail me one more time you won't be welcomed here anymore, remember that!!!"

Then Gato and his bodyguards leave the room, slamming the door closed

Zabuza looks at him and says "Haku, you didn't have to do that..." On his hand was a kunai hidden under the blanket

The Hunter-nin now named Haku, looks at Zabuza and smiles at him

"I know...but it's still too early to kill Gato. If we cause a commotion here, they will be after us again" said Haku

"We must be patient" he said smiling at zabuza

Zabuza glanced at Haku for a while and agrees with him

"Yeah... Your right.."

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(Two days later)

The sound of tree bark crumbles under the pressure of chakra under the feet of Sasuke

He has scratches, dirt and sweat all over him as he failed again to reach the high point of the tree

'Damn it!' he thought. He looks up on the rows of marks on the trees

'I need to catch up to Naruto and I can't believe Sakura also got it on the first try. Kakashi-sensei said that Sakura doesn't have that large chakra reserves but has high proficiency control. So why couldn't I do it right?!' he panted,feeling frustrated, he got back on his feet and was about to continue but stopped when he heard the sounds lightning

Curious, he followed where the sound was coming from and found Kakashi training Naruto. He remained hidden and watches them from afar

"Keep it up Naruto!" Kakashi said

He watched Naruto channelling lightning on his katana. Naruto told him on how he tried to channel lightning but couldn't as it keeps bursting. He thought for a while and gave him a different training method.

"Concentrate! Gather and control your chakra until your katana is coated with lightning chakra" Kakashi said watching Naruto like a hawk

Naruto dripping sweat, he steady his breathing and continued pouring chakra on his katana. He struggles as he tries to keep it steady as lightning dances around his blade

/Host, steady your breathing. Use the Total Concentration Breathing method to help you/ the system helped him out seeing him struggling

'Ok, thanks system. Steady...inhale as much air as possible! Don't stop until it's stabilized' he thought

He inhaled as much air until his lungs are like a balloon. His bones getting denser, his muscles getting excited, his blood flow quickened

He and kakashi saw as the lightning started to calm down, not as crazy as before

'there!' Naruto thought as he prepared for a slash attack

Kakashi seeing this, backed away in order not to get hit

'Thunder breathing Fifth form: Heat Lightning!'

Naruto unleashed a powerful upward lightning slash. Good thing that Kakashi backed away since the attack hit the tree and was cut in half as if thunder struck the tree

Kakashi saw this and was stunned. He goes for a closer look and saw that not only was the tree cut in half but was also burned to a crisp due to the intense heat the lightning slash did

'Incredible! This type of Jutsu is seriously on par of the ones in Kumogakure, maybe higher...'

He looked at Naruto, who was feeling tired of it and just sat on the ground, out of breath

'he's got a bright future ahead of him'

He approached Naruto and offered his hand to help him up. Naruto politely accepted and now standing

"Good work, Naruto. Though you might have done it a bit overkill but still, good job" Kakashi congratulate him and gave him a thumbs up and smiled at him

"(Pants) Thanks (pants) Sensei. I'll go back to the house and rest up" Naruto said tiredly

'That took a lot out of me. Good thing I have large chakra reserves, if I didn't I could have passed out by now' Naruto thought

'(grunt) my arms are killing me...' he added. Massaging the area where the pain is

Kakashi nodded as he watched him limply go back to the house. When Naruto is out of sight he called out

"Sasuke, come out" he sternly said

Sasuke flinched but complied. He got out of his hiding spot and approached Kakashi but didn't leave his sights on the electrocuted tree

'can I...do something like that?' he questioned himself, feeling like he couldn't catch up to Naruto, he clenched his hand hard in envy

Kakashi sensing his inner turmoil. He patted Sasuke's head and said

"Hey don't think like that. Just because you saw Naruto performed a feat like that doesn't mean you can't catch up. He's your rival isn't?"

Sasuke perked up when Kakashi said that last part and with a new resolved he asked him

"Kakashi-sensei...can you teach me on any lightning Jutsu?"

"Hmm. Well I could but not the way on Naruto's case" Kakashi said

"That will be fine"

Kakashi nodded "well let's go back to the house. You've done enough training for the day" he said smiling at him

They then went back to Tazuna's house to rest, leaving the place

To be continued

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|Status|

Name: Naruto Uzumaki

Age: 12

Level: 32

|Attributes|

Strength:high chūnin

Chakra:high jonin (Uzumaki heritage)

Chakra control: high

|Skills|

Ninjutsu:

(Shadow clone)

Wind: (Great Breakthrough)(Violent Whirlwind)(Vacuum Sphere)

Earth: (Mud Wall)(Hiding like a mole)

Lightning: (lightning style: shadow clone)

Genjutsu: none

Taijutsu: high chunnin

Fuinjutsu: storage seals, weight seals, Adamantine Sealing Chains

Sage art: none

|Breathing styles|

Wind Breathing, Thunder Breathing, Water Breathing

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Sorry for the late upload. Schools been giving me more homework and quizzes than usual. But I managed to make this chapter. Stay tuned for the next one