Chapter 1-49

It's been a week since we started this exam prep, and things have been moving along. No time for hand-holding; we're keeping it practical and these kids were putting in the work, no doubt about that.

No more than the three boys around me, who had all but demanded an extra shift when we wrapped up with the rest of the group.

Naruto was off on his own, nearby, deep into a meditation that looked more like a wrestling match with his own chakra. He was trying to stretch his wind chakra to the limits, a chakra-intensive move that would have given anybody else a run for their money. His chakra capacity was staggeringly massive, and continued to amaze me, so that wasn't the problem. What was tripping him up was building a sense of his own chakra, and that was directly tied to control and sensitivity.

I hung back, just sensing the show. He was failing, no doubt about it, but that was part of the game. You didn't learn without messing up. Naruto's frustration was palpable, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his head. He was trying to force it, and that's where he was messing up.

I refrained from shaking my head in sympathy because I didn't want to disrupt the Uchiha in front of me.

Sasuke and I stood only a couple of feet apart, the intensity of his gaze locked onto mine. There was no need for words; we both knew what we were here for. Training with Sasuke was always a no-nonsense affair.

We were doing a bit of everything today, pushing the limits of his Sharingan. He had to keep that crimson eye active for as long and as much as possible, the strain showing in the subtle tension around his eyes. On top of that, he had to maintain an active Sharingan hidden behind a simple Genjutsu, creating the illusion that it was deactivated. My reasoning was clear: a hidden Sharingan could catch an unsuspecting enemy off guard more effectively than one that was blatantly on display.

Now, it was time to test another aspect of his Sharingan's abilities. I'd been drilling him in Genjutsu, and today's challenge was to cast genjutsu solely with his Sharingan. He had two jutsu in his arsenal that I had taught him—the Mist Servant Technique and the Temple of Nirvana Technique. The more proficient he became with these jutsu, the more lethal they would be in battle.

I stared back and raised my eyebrow in challenge when I didn't sense any effort from my charge. I knew he was at his limits, and that he was tired, but I didn't care. Itachi wouldn't.

A flicker of determination in his eyes, and I could sense the Sharingan spinning. The one tomoe in each eye swirling hidden behind his little genjutsu, an ominous glow, however, faintly visibly. As was the tightening around his eyes.

Standing stock still, he unleashed the Mist Servant Technique. It was faintly impressive how quickly the illusion jumped to me and a shadowy, mirror-like doppelganger appeared beside him, mimicking his movements flawlessly. The Genjutsu was decently convincing but in the still bright afternoon sun, decent wasn't enough. Its shadow was good, but the lack of pressure on the grass below its feet wasn't.

Still...

I nodded in approval. "Better."

He didn't respond, his focus solely on maintaining the Genjutsu. It was clear that he was determined to master this technique.

After a while, he released the Mist Servant and took a deep breath. His Sharingan never wavered as the intensity of his training showed in the slight strain around his eyes.

"Alright, Sasuke, now let's move on to the Temple of Nirvana Technique," I instructed.

He nodded and closed his eyes briefly, focusing his chakra. When he opened them again, I was glad to see the Sharingan still hidden. He stared directly at me, and I could feel the Genjutsu taking hold, a calming sensation washing over me.

The Temple of Nirvana Technique was a powerful Genjutsu that could lull opponents into a deep slumber. If Sasuke could master it, he'd have another deadly tool at his disposal.

I maintained my focus, resisting the urge to succumb to the calming effects of the Genjutsu. Sasuke's control was impressive, and it was clear he was making progress.

After a few minutes, he released the Genjutsu and deactivated his Sharingan, the strain evident on his face. He looked at me, waiting for my evaluation.

I couldn't help but be impressed. "You seem to have a knack for the Temple of Nirvana Technique, despite its complexity," I said, and wasn't lying, he was doing good, and it was an A-rank technique.

Sasuke simply nodded in exhaustion, while his expression remained determined, and I knew that he wouldn't rest until he mastered these same obviously could be said about the blonde to the side.

As I continued to observe, an idea started to form in my mind. Maybe there was a different approach he needed to try, a helping hand.

I stepped forward, but I didn't rush in. I let him keep at it for a bit longer, letting the struggle sink in. Then, I approached, keeping it casual.

"You're putting up a good fight, Naruto," I said, and he didn't even open his eyes, just grumbled something that sounded like agreement. "But that isn't the point, you know," I continued and the smile in my voice was evident.

I took a seat nearby and leaned back, getting comfortable. "Wanna try something?"

He cracks open an eye, curiosity piqued. Even Sasuke watched, always eager to learn.

"Remember, relax, close your eyes, trust me, and focus on the sensation," I instructed and raised my hand for some seals, while Naruto closed his eyes again.

'Water Prison Technique' This wasn't an attack, so there was no need to rush. My control was simply allowed to work its magic. Slowly, ever so slowly water from the air and the grass began to form around Naruto in a sphere, his neck and head remaining free.

A couple of moments later Naruto floated gently in the water. Satisfied, I got up and approached my watery creation. My left hand was up in a ram-seal for concentration, as my right touched the surface of the lukewarm water. Then, the water started to gain a green hue, and a technique meant to alleviate strained muscles became the ultimate spa treatment.

"Relax," I refrained from using a genjutsu to whisper into his mind and simply spoke quietly, as gently as possible, and not a harsh whisper. "Feel the wind on your neck, on your face."

"You are in a tranquil forest, relaxing in a beautiful spring. In the distance breathtaking mountains and above a blue sky," I continued, my eyes closed, too.

"The wind on your skin, the warmth of your chakra within."

I sensed his chakra and knew we were on a good path.

"Take a breath, and follow it, feel the warmth spread into your chest," I told him and waited for a heartbeat for him to do just that. "Exhale...Follow your breath, follow your warmth, feel the wind flow around the trees."

"Take a breath, feel the warmth, as it returns to you, into your chest..."

"Exhale..."

And for a heartbeat, I imagined the wind on my skin.

"Follow the warmth to Sasuke..."

"Take a breath...the wind soft...the warmth gentle..."

"Exale...follow the warmth...through the trees...Kiba and Akamaru..."

"Memorize the feeling...memorize the sensation...slowly open your eyes..."

And we both did, I released my technique and watched as Naruto glided gently onto the wet grass...and promptly fell asleep.

That should have been it...

But then I sensed something else, something stirring from within Naruto...

'Oh shit.'

Shikamaru Nara, Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka, and Hinata Hyuga were currently sitting in the empty mess hall of the orphanage where Daiki Ito had grown up. A little revelation, that was only now, during their third visit, began to lose some of its weirdness.

The morning sun cast long shadows through the windows, creating a tranquil atmosphere in the room. The little kids of the orphanage were currently busy in a classroom upstairs, leaving the mess hall quiet and undisturbed.

Hifumi, the old matron of the orphanage, sat across from them, her weathered hands folded in her lap. Her eyes, though aged, held a sharp glint of curiosity as she inspected the blades of grass held aloft and rigid at the fingertips of the genin.

Hifumi quietly inspected each and every blade of grass, taking note of the strain and concentration of the respective genin to hold the exercise. Her experienced eyes could discern the subtle differences in their chakra control and the finesse with which they maintained the delicate balance. It was evident that they were putting their best effort into the exercise.

The genin were doing good, she thought to herself, allowing a small, proud smile to crease her lips. Their progress in the exercise she had taught them was a testament to their hard work and dedication.

Daiki really must have lit a fire under their bottoms, she mused with some humor, remembering the young man who had grown up in this very orphanage. His return and the influence he had on these genin were undeniable. It was heartwarming to see how they had taken his guidance to heart and were striving to become stronger.

Hifumi complimented them with a nod and motioned for them to lower their hands, satisfied with what she had seen. "You're all making remarkable progress," she said, her voice carrying the weight of her years of experience. "Chakra control is the foundation of any skilled shinobi, and you've shown great promise."

She took a moment to adjust her position and continued, "Now, one aspect of medical ninjutsu is to heal without breaking the skin, to reach the internal parts of the patient without surgery. This exercise, holding blades of grass aloft with your chakra, teaches you the delicate control needed for such precise work."

The genin exchanged glances, realizing the significance of the exercise in their training. It was a reminder that their journey to becoming competent ninja involved mastering various aspects of chakra manipulation.

"This is also the first exercise for chakra strings," Hifumi revealed, adding that little nugget of information as an afterthought. She watched as their eyes widened in interest.

"Now, then, let's introduce you to medical chakra," she said, her tone growing more serious. With that, she held up her hand, which radiated a soft green hue. "A skill that might save the lives of your teammates one day."

While one group of genin continued their path into the realm of medical ninjutsu under Hifumi's guidance, another set of genin faced a considerably tougher challenge. They found themselves pitted against none other than the son of the current Hokage.

Asuma Sarutobi, with his trench knives at the ready, took on Choji and his newly recently acquired escrima sticks. Asuma's clones, equally menacing, relentlessly pursued Shino, Sasuke, and Kiba.

The genin were holding onto their standard tantos for dear life, as the handful of lessons given by me and Kakashi had only provided them with the basics and a solid foundation. Asuma's experience and skill with his trench knives made him a formidable opponent, and the genin visibly struggled to keep up.

Asuma's clones were relentless, each one targeting a different genin. Shino, with his unique Aburame techniques, surprisingly managed to hold his ground somewhat, though it was clear he was being pushed to his limits. It seemed he had followed my advice. Sasuke and Kiba were both on the defensive, trying to evade the attacks and counter when they could.

A powerful kick from one of Asuma's clones sent Kiba skidding into the dirt, and he ended up near my position. He quickly got to his feet, wiping the blood and dirt from his face, his expression a mixture of frustration and determination. "Where the hell is Naruto?" he demanded, his glare suggesting that he wanted to know exactly how Naruto had managed to escape this vicious punishment.

"He has an appointment with the Third," I answered nonchalantly with a shrug, the tension from yesterday hidden deep within me.

As the genin continued their training, my thoughts drifted back to the previous day's meditation exercise with Naruto. It had been an unusual session, to say the least. Naruto had remained asleep, seemingly oblivious to the world, while another chakra within him stirred to life.

For a hot second, I had no clue what was going on, and when I realized...

For a brief, heart-pounding moment, fear had gripped me. The power of the Kyuubi was immense, and any sudden awakening or loss of control could be catastrophic. I could barely remember the start of my awareness, but the flashes I could were beyond terrifying.

But then, just as swiftly as it had begun, the disturbance within Naruto's chakra had calmed, and he had continued to remain asleep, seemingly dead to the world. I had decided to dismiss Sasuke for the day and had sent a clone to do the same with Kiba. All the while, I put on a brave face, trying not to arouse any suspicion. I played it off as amused exasperation as if Naruto's behavior had been nothing more than a minor annoyance.

But boy, was I on edge.

The arrival of the ANBU-squad hadn't really helped either.

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Author's Note:

Hey, hello, bonjour, guten Tag! Not going to lie, took multiple starts to finally get going, but it went better than expected. So here's the next chapter of Timber! If you've been enjoying my writing here, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could check out my new story The Impel Down Redemption, and my continuation/polish of my old story Bird On The Wire. I would be immensely grateful for your thoughts and feedback.

Kind regards,

DerHesse