Fuujin

Chapter VII

Well, you've made it to the last chapter of Fuujin, the prologue-in-effect for the remaining three books in the series. Friends who became enemies became friends again, there's an underlying romance brewing, Naruto's gotten stronger, and he's learning the masterful use of his doujutsu. Maybe you've fallen in love with this story, and if you have, I strongly encourage you to read Raijin when it's posted in the next few days. Alls I can say is... I need reviews. =) Good day, everyone! -Hangovergoblin P.S.: Stay tuned for an indepth author's note about some of the concepts in the series at the bottom!

"So how exactly did you get Kakashi-sensei to send you this?"

Naruto gazed across the table, watching his other sensei's particularly good poker face. The man, even as old as he was, was still a crafty one, even half drunk. Naruto had expected the man to drink his heart's content while he was training in the Sanctum. It looked like he was wrong as Jiraiya downed another saucer of sake.

"Well...," Jiraiya said, smiling through a hiccup. "Your sensei has his ways."

Naruto made a sound of annoyance, something akin to Sasuke's patented 'Hn.' Rolling his eyes, he looked away and muttered, "That doesn't help at all."

Jiraiya just grinned. "Yeah," said the old man, "It does, considering I had to promise him the first issue of my two new books. As in, the first ones off the printing press." He hiccupped again, proving the fact that he was a little tipsy.

The bar they were in was frequented by the Suna Jounin, much like the one Kakashi visited back home, just as seedy and filled with the heavy atmosphere one feels in a smoking room. From through the curtain in the door of the establishment, Naruto could make out the high-heeled feet of heavily perfumed nightwalkers, and the red light of Suna's most infamous district. He had originally protested coming to such an establishment, but he realized that one day, no matter how hard he tried, he would most likely be one of the people in this room, sharing war stories and past experiences.

"Figures," the teen muttered, fingering the hilt of Byakaze, which was strapped tightly behind his waist. The hilt hummed pleasantly under his touch, almost as if purring like a cat being stroked.

"Kakashi wouldn't have given me the technique if it hadn't been for those books."

He watched Jiraiya shake his head.

"No," the old man said. "Kakashi has been feeling guilty all this time for neglecting your training during the Chuunin Exams. He's doing this to show you he still cares." He sat back in the chair and waved a waitress over.

"Besides," he continued as the woman hastily picked up the bottle and saucer, "I'm sure you want to learn it, don't you?"

Before Naruto could answer, Jiraiya turned to the waitress, whispered a few things in her ear and gave her a slap on the butt. She quickly walked off, blushing and giggling. Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Yeah," the teen said. "I do... But it still doesn't make up for the training I wanted him to help me with."

He looked off into space, wistfully, but upon realizing he had dropped his little mask, he grinned.

"I can't wait to kick Sasuke's ass with it!"

The waitress returned, bearing a platter of fried rice and stir-fried vegetables. She winked naughtily at Jiraiya and went back to her rounds, taking orders and delivering drinks. The old man returned her wink with one of his own, and began piling food onto his plate. Naruto wrinkled his nose. The man ate like a baboon. He couldn't really say anything, though, considering the way he dove into any ramen put before him.

"So where are we going next, Ero-Sennin?"

The toad sage began to talk through his food, giving Naruto glimpses of the half-masticated morsels within the pervert's mouth.

"Ooh half tha chewning eksams in a coupla monfs."

Naruto quirked an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

The super pervert swallowed his food and spoke more coherently.

"I said you have the Chuunin Exams in a few months."

Naruto immediately perked up. The Chuunin Exams meant he could see his friends again!

"Wait..." Naruto cocked his head to the side. "Who am I supposed to team up with?"

This is the part where Jiraiya grinned, knowing he was about to make the kid's day.

"Team 7."

Sakura dodged Ino's punch, quickly sidestepping it and returning a punch into Ino's side. The blond girl was knocked onto her side, just as Chouji barreled toward the two girls, intent on smacking Sakura into tomorrow. The pinkette coiled her legs and jumped, clearing the charging boy by an easy five feet. Landing in a crouch, she rolled to the side just in time to dodge one of Shikamaru's shadow tentacles. While the young man had improved his shadow control even further, it was no match for Sakura's newly acquired speed and grace, served special courtesy of Lee and Maito Gai.

Her intensive training was paying off. Still the most lacking in physical strength on Team 7, she made up for it with her lightning-quick reflexes and speed.

Ino came at her again, but was thwarted by a roundhouse to the chest. The girl glared at her opponent as she flew back into Shikamaru, who had been steadily advancing. Once more, Chouji was close, but the boy relied too much on power and not enough on strength. Sakura easily avoided the charge.

Back flipping, she kicked off the earth hard in an effort to clear the battleground and into the trees. She was rewarded for her efforts, landing gracefully on a thin bough. Once more, her physical lightness came in handy as she traversed the upper spires of the huge Konoha trees bordering the training ground. She knew she had to step lightly, anyway, to avoid Shikamaru's shadow. At least, in the midday sun, the shadow was at its smallest in the tops of the trees. She grinned as she made a sudden change in direction, backflipping off the highest tree around the perimeter,

She had always wondered what flying was like, and this was about as close to flight as one could get without having wings.

From her thigh pouch, she grabbed three shuriken and flung them with her right hand, while using her left to throw several kunai right behind them. Her aim was so precise, the shuriken landed in the dirt and deflected each of the kunai in different directions. flipping once more and landing upright on the ground, she called, grinning, "I win."

The others grumbled about how she had cheated by hiding, and how she had ripped their shirts. Sure enough, every one of their shirts had an identical rip mark where the kunai had grazed them. Sakura waved to them as she walked off from the sparring match, calling her thanks to each of them as she made her way back to Konoha. Team 7 had a mission later that night to destroy a bandit camp in eastern Fire country, and she had to pack.

Making her way to her house, she walked the streets of Konoha lazily, without any particular care for time or place, as long as she got home. She listened and watched as the people of the Village went back and forth, completing their daily tasks, taking their children to and from the Academy, cooking; all the things that made her village like any other, but at the same time, made all the difference. This was home, no matter which way you spun it.

But home was very lonely when you didn't have the person you cared for most with you.

Sakura sighed heavily at the thought of Uzumaki Naruto, third genin of Cell 7, and possibly her best friend. She had missed him terribly when he had left without telling anyone, but as time went by, she realized he had left a void in her heart when he left, and he was the only one who could fill it. She wasn't sure if this need was sisterly, friendly, or something else altogether, but she knew it hurt inside knowing he wasn't around.

She closed her eyes as she walked, taking a deep sniff of the air around Ichiraku as she passed. This was what Naruto smelled like. Like ramen, thunderstorms, and the smell of something sweet burning. Smiling, she made her way past another of Naruto's favorite stops. It was a weapon shop owned by Tenten's father; the only weapon shop that allowed him to buy anything at a normal rate. As she passed, she could almost see him window-shopping the kunai in the storefront, practically drooling at all of the exotic weaponry Tenten's family had amassed.

Sakura sighed again. She really missed the blond boy-wonder and his antics.

As she approached her house, she fumbled with the keys a bit before selecting the right one. Had she not had to look down to find the right one, she would have missed the small envelope lying on her front porch. Bending down to pick it up, she stopped when she saw the name and where it was from. Naruto was in Suna!

She snatched the envelope up and ran inside, leaving her keys in the door in her haste to read the letter. She didn't even bother to shut her door, either. Nothing mattered except the brown parchment in her hand. Grabbing a kunai from her pouch, she slashed it open and read it.

Dear Sakura

I've really missed you guys over the past few months. I'm sorry I wasn't able to say goodbye. I'm in Suna for the next months, so if you want to respond, you know where I am. Jiraiya-sensei told me I'm competing in the Chuunin exams with you guys. I can't wait! Train hard, Sakura, and make sure Sasuke does, too!

P.S. I miss you the most.

-Naruto

Sakura read the last line over and over, unwilling to believe what it said. After a few moments, she furrowed her eyebrows. Hadn't he been telling her things like this since they were little? Hadn't he frequently asked her out on dates only for her to reject him? She shook her head in disbelief. Had she merely been so engrossed in Sasuke that she didn't pay any attention to the whiskered genin, or had she just ignored him totally, as if he were a lost puppy?

She realized, to her horror, that she could have treated him better. Way better.

She shook her head. That couldn't be helped now. All she could do was try and make it up to him in some form or fashion. She smiled. That's what she would do. She'd take him out on a date. Shuffling to her door, she closed it and walked to the bathroom. She was sweaty and needed a good soak.

"Alright kid. You gotta remember, this is an extremely dangerous technique, like the Rasengan."

Naruto waved the pervert off with a dismissive gesture. "Yeah, yeah, I got it," the blond said, stepping to the edge of the roof. He'd seen Sasuke perform this technique, and it obviously needed a lot of speed. He just wondered if his Fuujin would allow him to create the technique, due to its other elemental-limiting effects. Jiraiya had reassured him that Chidori had nothing to do with elemental manipulation, only the conversion of chakra into another form of energy.

The pervert folded his arms, hmph-ed, and looked away, pouting childishly.

Naruto, on the other hand, concentrated on the task before him. Running through the handseals steadily, he braced his wrist with his hand like Kakashi and Sasuke had done, and... A tiny blue spark popped in his hand, singeing the skin. It immediately grew back, but Naruto yelped in pain, anyway. Just because his body healed quickly didn't mean he was immune to pain, no matter how little. The blond shook his head to clear it, and went through the handseals again, only to have the same spark appear and burn his hand.

"Ever consider the fact that you might need to work on your control before using this jutsu?" Jiraiya inquired with a sarcastic tone. Naruto glared at him from the side of his blue and black eyes as he tried the technique again, only to fail.

"I'm not the teacher here," Naruto snapped as he yanked off his jacket angrily and threw it to the side. "Work on my control," he grumbled, running through the handseals again. He could already tell this was going to be one of those rare techniques he had a hard time mastering. He needed Kakashi here to help him with the Chidori. After all, it was the Jounin's only original jutsu, and was possibly the most powerful assassination attack in the world, Rasengan notwithstanding.

His next attempt was a little more successful as he lessened the flow of chakra into his arm. The scroll had said specifically to find the amount that seemed the most appropriate for the jutsu, and to not force the chakra that was flowing. Kakashi had also written in the margins that the amount of chakra the technique used to keep itself alive would increase at a small but steady rate while it was active, and increase in power as the chakra consumption increased.

As the day progressed, Naruto had to remove the layers he had constantly worn throughout the desert. Here in Sunagakure, the dust was oddly peaceful most of the time, and didn't block the sun's rays like out in the desert. The nights here were warmer, but the days were ridiculously hot. Taking off the black shirt he wore underneath his Anbu armor, he was now naked from the waist up, save for a very prominent shikifuujin on his stomach. One would be hard-pressed to tell if this thirteen year old was exactly that, or someone older, because under the shirts and armor, there was now a tanned, muscular body, defining itself with lean muscles and hard, sharp angles.

Bracing his wrist once more, he took another go at the Chidori, and failed.

The final sparring match between Team 7 and Kakashi had just commenced, and they soon realized that no matter how much training they had done in the past few months, Kakashi was still leagues ahead of them in skill, strength, and just about every other aspect a shinobi prided himself with. The man was truly the genius he had been made out to be by the Jounin elite of Konoha, and showed it proudly, if a little apathetically.

His blocks were perfect, yet he showed no hint of exertion or panic, even as Sasuke slashed with lightning fast ferocity at him with his chokuto. Kakashi easily ducked under the spinning back kick Sakura had aimed at his head, and with a lazy motion of his wrist, swatted her away, even as he dodged another of Sasuke's strikes. Even without his Sharingan, Kakashi could easily see the glare etched onto Sasuke's face. The glare of someone who knew they were outclassed beyond any form of measure.

Taking a desperate swing, Sasuke actually managed to land a hit, only for the Kage Bunshin to poof away.

The Uchiha swore under his breath as he jumped back to avoid the volley of shuriken Kakashi had thrown his way from the tree line. Luckily, Sakura was already upon the Jounin, kicking and punching as fast as she could to buy some time. Their teamwork had improved so much since the Chuunin exam, looking more like a squad of Anbu veterans than genin a little over a year out of the academy. Kakashi had also mentioned this fact, praising every time they did something particularly well.

Sasuke activated his Sharingan and the world slowed down to a crawl in front of him as he dashed across the clearing, desperate to get anything on Kakashi. He could see the man turn in slow motion, catching Sasuke's own eyes, even in normal time. Sasuke swore inwardly as he realized that the man was actually far more than his other comrades made him out to be. Kakashi was the best shinobi in Konoha at the time, if one didn't count Tsunade, and both Sasuke and Sakura could see it in every move, every small motion. Kakashi was less like a human and more like a ghost, the perfect example of a true shinobi. The shadow that hides in the darkness. Sasuke had often wondered in his free time, if Kakashi was that able, that powerful, what would the Sannin be like. What would Itachi be like? This was when Sasuke would drop into despair and realize that he may never have the potential to live up to his brother or Orochimaru or any of the hundreds of others that were labeled great shinobi.

That was before he had the Mangekyou. Now he knew he had the potential.

Kakashi spun toward Sasuke and flung a kunai faster than Sasuke had ever seen one thrown. It was still slow enough to track with his Sharingan, but at the same time, Sasuke had to wonder if that was Kakashi's muscles doing the work, or chakra.

The black haired teen raised the fingers of his left hand into a half-ram seal, turned them, and in a show of pure accuracy and timing, caught the blade harmlessly and flicked it away in the same motion. Sasuke thought Kakashi's eyes would widen, but he was wrong. The man just continued on without a single hint that Sasuke had done anything impressive. The Uchiha scowled as he brought his blade to bear in his charge, and jumped into the fray.

Sakura, as if on cue, immediately backed out of the fight and went into support mode, flinging kunai and shuriken whenever she got a clear shot. She was used to letting Sasuke do the close-up work, because that's what he preferred. She was more of a ranged shinobi, relying on her aim, speed, and agility to do the work. This fight was more between Sasuke and Kakashi than her, anyway. She could never really understand what had changed between the two over the past few months, but something was there that wasn't present before. It was almost as if Sasuke had taken Kakashi as a father figure, and was doing his best to please the man like a small child would try to please its parents. It was very sweet and endearing, but when Kakashi didn't show any sort of praise, Sakura could make out the silent brooding once more in Sasuke, a trait they had pulled him more or less out of over the past few months.

Sasuke took a step back as Kakashi took a step forward and delivered a crushing blow to Sasuke's chokuto with a kunai. Sasuke's eyes widened as his Sharingan caught a flash of silver as a chunk of the blade was ripped out. A stabbing pain made itself known in his chest. Kakashi had kicked him in the sternum, hard, and Sasuke felt blood rise in his throat as he crashed through the trees. Coughing the crimson out of his lungs, he stabbed the blade into the ground and used it as a fulcrum to shift his flight. He landed gracefully on the trunk of a tree, using his chakra to stick, and leapt back toward his Jounin sensei.

Kakashi raised his arms in a cross block, blocking Sasuke's return kick. Using his arms as a spring, the Cyclops pushed Sasuke back into the air. He followed soon after, powerful legs uncoiling as he shot into Sasuke's path. The teen could do nothing as Kakashi spun him around and hurled him back to the earth besides pray he didn't break anything. Knowing Kakashi, he probably threw him at the perfect angle to avoid damage, but to cause as much pain as possible.

'Damn him,' Sasuke thought as he landed on the hard earth. The ground cratered a tiny bit around him. Groaning, he sat up to find Kakashi standing over him, looking down on him with that same, accursed, terribly lazy gaze.

"Good job, Sasuke, Sakura. You managed to make me sweat a single drop."

Both teens had a sweat drop of their own as Kakashi sat down, cross-legged, in front of the furiously muttering Sasuke. The Cyclops pointed to a small patch on Sasuke's white shirt, which had been colored a deep brown from all the dirt he had just crushed into.

"You've got white on you."

Sasuke scowled heavily, pouting in a very Naruto-ish way. "Shut up, Kakashi-sensei."

The Jounin just shrugged as Sakura sat down beside them. "So... I just wanted to congratulate you guys on the improvement you've made. You've met my standards... And exceeded them." Kakashi smiled as Sasuke and Sakura grinned.

"You guys have been my first team, and I doubt that any other team after you will make me as proud as you have. I'm not good with words," He said, petering off, "but for what it's worth, and for all the times I haven't been there for you, Sakura, and for Naruto, I just want you guys to know that I'm here now, whenever you need me."

Sakura nodded and Sasuke merely looked on.

Kakashi continued. "Which is why I got you this, Sasuke."

The man somehow produced an elegant wooden box from behind his back, around four and half feet long. "And for you, Sakura," he said, pulling a pair of chakra weights from the same, mysterious place he had pulled the box.

"These items are very important to me, for extremely different reasons. But I've found that other than sentimental value, I have little use for them now. I know that you guys will make the best of them, though."

Sakura looked over the small black weights, which had intricate seals painted all over them.

"Those were my first chakra weights I ever got. They were a gift from my father for me graduating the Academy. They still work perfectly, and can increase in weight to around half a ton." Sakura ran her hand over the tarnished leather, having lost its shine long ago. Her face split into a huge grin. Jumping up, she hugged Kakashi around the neck.

"Thank you!"

Kakashi merely smiled. He was waiting for Sasuke to open his gift.

Sasuke took the edges of the wooden box, which had the kanji for 'Wolf' inscribed on it, and pulled it open, revealing what he could call the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. In the box laid a katana, beautifully polished, with a black hilt wrapped in white silk. Sasuke knew what it was from the very moment he saw the blade from under the packaging. This was Kakashi's most prized possession, even more precious to the man than the Icha-Icha series.

Hatake Kakashi had just passed on the White Fang onto Uchiha Sasuke, last loyal Uchiha to Konoha.

For the first time since Sasuke had killed Naruto, he cried.

To fictionlover27713: In response to your review, because I love good reviews with questions and what not, here are a few answers! The definition of Jin is that of a sub-race of humans with the extreme ability to bend the elements to their will. They develop a sort of relationship with that particular element, as exemplified by Kaze and Naruto's relationship. Kaze is a manifestation of Naruto's ability to control wind; therefore, he becomes a part of Naruto. In this way, Naruto is part of the wind and vice-versa. To your next question about Sasuke: People are so helplessly endeared to the idea of the Last Uchiha, they can forgive even his greatest mistakes. This is why Itachi is so hated by the people of Konoha and Sasuke is so loved. Itachi murdered everyone but Sasuke, so he became a pariah. Sasuke is viewed as the last of a great dynasty; therefore he is given special consideration by the civilian and ninja community.

As for Naruto's new look, no, I would not consider it the 'Rokudaime Naruto' look, but I would offer you an easier image. Think Naruto in Anbu gear, with an orange trench coat. Also, thank you for the compliment on the backstory. Many stories I've read are bogged down with too much description, or have too little. I've seen a great deal where Naruto is just 'given' a shit ton of power with no real backstory or lead-up to how he got it. With the idea that Naruto is part of an ancient race of humans, I've given myself an out to that problem.

To of Michigan: As for why the next book in the series is called 'Raijin', that is a very good question. My only response to that is that you'll have to read to find out. Don't get it twisted, though. Naruto cannot be considered a 'genius' in the sense that he can just 'learn' these abilities. They are not something that can be 'learned' insofar as they are a part of him. Every Jin would have been able to use their Doujutsu to a certain extent; the fact that they are inherent in every Jin just means Naruto has a talent for the manipulation of the element he's a part of.

Now, for my actual author's note.

I'm not entirely sure if I should end Fuujin with this last chapter, but Raijin starts very soon after these last events in Fuujin. Maybe, if I'm persuaded, I could give another chapter of gratuitous fight scenes, or maybe a little foreshadowing to what happens in Raijin. You have one day after I post this to let me know what the deal is, otherwise, I'll start focusing on fixing Raijin, and its eventual continuation. Thanks! -Hangovergoblin