Author's Note: I'm back!!!! Dodges several weapons from some very people.* I'm very sorry for taking so long to update. Been very busy or the past couple of months. But I do have good needs. I am officially ending my hiatus and returning to writing. So that also means that both Immanence and Eminence will be updated pretty shorty after this as well.

Also, I have started a project along with SoulCry, Juubi no Ryuu, & T.J. Wilcox called "Weavings", hit up my profile for the link. I wrote the 1st the chapter (not the prologue) and working on the 5th. SoulCry wrote the prologue and 4th with Juubi taking the 2nd and TJ taking the 3rd. The story is on a rotation between us. Our collective name is Conjucted Group of Naruto Authors, or otherwise known as CGNA

Also, forgive me for the chapter not being beta read first. I really wanted to post this as soon as I could.

Well as usual, I hope you guys enjoy the chapter, and hope you guys review. Sorry for the long hiatus.

Vanished Without a Trace

10th Sight: Get Back into the Fiery Water

The sky was serene and blissful, not a dark cloud for miles. It was one of those types of days that you wanted to just enjoy for what it was and bask in the rays of the sun. But three genin had other things on their mind at that time. Today would mark the first day they would serve under their new sensei that had made a very bold promise to them. A promise that they wouldn't even dream of coming true if it wasn't for him.

Despite how much he was hiding it, Ryuu was probably the most excited about this change of events. He never really liked Ino as a sensei and thought she was too soft. After seeing Naruto in action first hand, he couldn't wait to see what crazy jutsu he was going to learn from him.

This time, unlike yesterday, Naruto was actually early. Beating squad twenty to the training field by a couple of minutes. He was wearing a bright smile on his face as they showed up.

"Wow, he actually showed up." Ryuu said in a bitter tone.

"Why would I miss my chance to annoy you as much as possible?" Naruto retorted back with a grin on his face. Ryuu only growled as a reply.

"So what are we doing first today sensei?" Suzuka asked, catching Naruto off guard. Clearly he wasn't prepared for that just yet.

"Well... since I barely know you guys, how bout we start off with a brief introduction? Say your names, likes, and goals. I'll start things off; the name's Uzumaki Naruto, I enjoy eating ramen and playing with my daughter."

"What are your goals?" Aoi asked?

"Classified information. How bout you go next since you're so curious about me?" Naruto replied with a smirk on his face. Aoi sighed and nodded her hear.

"Hazumi Aoi, I like the color blue, and no it doesn't have anything to do with my name, my best friend Suzuka, and getting stronger. My goal is to become a strong kunoichi, preferably the strongest." Naruto nods over to Suzuka.

"Uh... Sakurai Suzuka. I like my friend Aoi... reading... and spring weather. My goal is to become stronger."

"Ok, what about you, crazy?" Naruto said as he nodded at Ryuu, causing said person to frown and Aoi to laugh.

"Anyway, I am the great Aki Ryuu. I like to fight and create new explosive jutsu. My goal is to become one of the strongest shinobi in history. Even stronger than you." He glared at his sensei causing said person to laugh.

"Well, it seems like I'm going to have fun with you guys! With that out of the way, let's get things started!" He glanced over at the pond that was in the middle of the training field. Aoi was the first to follow his line and sight and realize what he was thinking.

"We already went through the walking on water training." she said.

"I know, Ino has already updated me on everything you guys have already gone through. But it also seems you guys still are not as good as you're supposed to be at it."

"What's the point of going through a training that we have already mastered?" Ryuu argued. Naruto only chuckled.

"Who said you guys were even close to mastering that yet? Especially since you guys haven't been through my version of the training."

"Say what?" Aoi asked, a bit confused. Naruto only sighed as he unsheathed his Kagokasai and created a Kage bushin that began to walk on the surface of the pond.

"Follow my clone."

"What's the point?" Ryuu demanded.

"You're going to fight him."

"NANI?!" They all yelled causing Naruto to laugh again.

"You guys are seriously too much. Don't worry, he's going hold back. Ain't that right?" Naruto asked his clone.

"Maybe..." The clone replied causing the three genin faces to grow pale.

Naruto chuckled again as he walked over to the edge of the pond and stabbed his Kagokasai into the bank. The blade began pulsate chakra as steam started to rise from the pond.

"Why are you doing that?" Aoi asked.

"This will help keep you motivated to stay above the water." The genin faces grew even paler. "Oh, come on, it's not that hard."

"Screw it. This is my chance to pay you back for all the trouble you've caused me!" Ryuu yelled while charging toward the clone, only to be sent flying from a large foot to the chest causing him to sink into the water.

"Baka-Ryuu." Aoi groaned as she deadpanned.

"HOT!!!!" Ryuu yelled as he quickly shot back up and dashed toward the bank but the real Naruto stopped him.

"I didn't say the training was over now did I?"

"But..." Before he could finish, Naruto kicked him back into the pond.

"Back into the fiery water! You're only making this harder on yourself, you know?" The clone only laughed as he watched Ryuu struggle to get back to the surface. The real Naruto glanced over at the other two. "What are you two waiting for?" He asked with sinister grin on his face causing both of them to become incredibly terrified of their new sensei.

II

Locked away in one of the desolate prison cells of the ANBU prison camp was one very irritated and battered Shinku. She didn't quite understand why she was still alive, but she also wasn't about to question this either. After the beaten she took from that insane kunoichi, she almost considered this to be better.

Suddenly, there were several sets of footsteps growing closer to her. Was it finally her time to die, had she relaxed too soon? The footsteps stopped right in front of her cell. She slowly glanced up to see the one person she didn't want to see surrounded by two ANBU guards.

"Come to finish me off?" She spat. Yugito's eyes only narrowed as she glared down at the battered woman.

"No, but if that is your wish, I will be more than willing to fulfill it."

"Then why are you here disturbing my peace?"

"I need answers."

"Is that why I'm still alive?"

"You're alive for reasons that are beyond my control. Just be happy that I haven't decided to go against their wishes."

"Fine, ask away since it's pretty obvious that I won't have anything better to do for awhile. I mean if you guys decide to keep me alive that is." Yugito only frowned as she continued to glare down at her.

"Tell me more about your sensei."

"Why do you need to know about him?"

"I'm the one asking questions here." Yugito spoke in a stern tone as her chakra began to flare up.

"Fine, just settle down a bit first ok?" Yugito continued to emit a murderous intent causing Shinku to sigh out loud. "I don't see how the other blond can even put up with you."

"You are beginning to try my patience."

"I'm getting to it, ok? Just relax and take a breather."

"Answers..." Shinku could feel the cell heat up, which was causing her to sweat a little. She sighed again, knowing that she was going to end up getting herself killed if she kept this up.

"Ok, what more do you want to know?"

"What village is he from, likewise you?"

"I thought we were only talking about him?" The chakra around Yugito became visible as flames began to dance around her body causing the two ANBU guards to take a step back. Shinku decided that was the sign that she should start cooperating with her. "We didn't have a village... I was an orphan for as long as I could remember. He found me when I was about four or five and took me in as his own daughter. We never really venture into any of the shinobi villages, of course back then I had no clue they existed so I never asked him why we were avoiding them."

"When was the first time he mentioned something about the artifacts?"

"I don't quite remember, I think I was around ten at the time. He pulled out some kind of crazy looking dagger and said these things would lead to the fall of the world."

"What did he mean by that?"

"I don't know. I was kid back then, ok? Not like I was going to instantly figure out what he was going on about. I just thought it was some random half-assed speech to help pass the time when we were bored."

"If you didn't believe him back then, why are you searching for them in order to find him?"

"It's not that I didn't believe that the artifacts were really special. I saw him use it a lot of the time. Especially when we were being chased."

"Wait... he used it?" The immense murderous intent Yugito had been emitting instantly dropped when she heard this.

"Yeah... Is that a problem?"

"Was he a jinchuuriki?"

"Uh... not that I know of. Why does that have anything to do with the artifacts?"

"Don't worry about it." Yugito said as she began to mule over the recent news. "When was the last time you saw him?"

"Ugh... about three years ago. We were being chased by a couple of guys and we split up with the plan to meet up at a near by town that bordered Tsuchi no Kuni."

"How do you know he's not dead?"

"After a day, I searched for him and found the dead bodies of the guys that were chasing us but no sign of him whatsoever. So I decided to stay in that town hoping that he would come back to get me but he never showed."

"So you figured that if you started to search for the artifacts, you would eventually run into him again."

"Bingo!" Yugito sighed as she closed her eyes and began to walk off. "What? No thanks for taking my very important time?!"

"Arigatou!" Yugito yelled from down the hall.

"Bitch..." Shinku muttered.

"I heard that!" Yugito yelled.

III

Meanwhile, team twenty was having the worst time of their lives with this training that their new sensei deemed so simple that a five-year-old could do it. It was safe to say that if they had a choice to go back to the Forest of Death and relive the experience they had there versus this, they would take that opportunity every time.

"You guys having fun yet?" Naruto sarcastically asked as Ryuu fell into the water for the umpteenth time. Both Aoi and Suzuka weren't fairing any better though.

Aoi had managed to focus enough to emit ice around her body so when she fell in, it wouldn't burn as much, but she was exhausted because of it, and Naruto wasn't about to get out any hints in this training. Well… it was more like torture to them. Whenever one would fall in, Naruto would increase the temperature tenfold, forcing them back up, not allowing them to get use to the heat of the water.

"Don't you think this is a little to extreme Naruto?" Naruto turned around to see team twenty's former sensei shake her head. Behind her were Sakura and Umihime.

"Umihime liked to play this game!" Umihime cheered as she dashed over to the water. The other two kunoichi deadpanned right before glaring over at Naruto.

"What?" He asked, unaware of the reason why he was garnering their angry glares.

Umihime dashes past Aoi, causing her to almost fall in again and leaped up on the clone's shoulders.

"Umihime wants to play too papa."

"Not now, Umihime. This is for them to get better."

"Aww.... But..." She whined.

"Papa will play with you later, ok?"

"Really, promise?"

"I promise." Naruto said as he gave her his "nice guy" pose causing the two behind him to sweat drop.

"The more things change..." Sakura started.

"-the more things stay the same." Ino finished.

"INO-SENSEI!!" All three genin yelled as they finally noticed that she was there.

"I thought I told you guys already, I'm no longer your sensei, Naruto is."

"But he is going to kill us!" Aoi pleaded.

"Seriously... It's really not that hard to get used to. You guys are making this out to be harder than what it really is." Naruto stated.

"It would be easier if your damn clone would stop knocking us back in the hot water!!!" Ryuu shouted.

"If you can't handle this, then how in hell are you going to fight an enemy on top of water, or any other surface that isn't ground? Not to mention this training teaches a lot more than just walking on water."

"Yeah, this is taking it too far Naruto." Sakura agreed. Naruto sighed as he glanced over at his daughter who was still riding on his clone, somehow magically holding on as he dashed around the pond in blinding speeds.

"Umihime, you can play with us a little bit, ok?"

"Really?!!! Yay!!" Umihime shouted as she leaped down and landed on the water as if it was surface.

"You three, pay attention to her. If she can do it, I don't see any reason why you guys can't."

"Can Umihime start now?"

"Yup." Naruto said with a toothy grin.

As if a gong was sounded, Umihime shot toward the clone like a bullet and tried to drop-kick him. The clone dodged to the right and barely landed a soft hit to her back causing her to land on the water. Everyone gasped for a second until they notice that she didn't fall in. Her body was laying perfectly on the surface; hell... her clothes weren't even wet. She began to giggle as she leaped up.

"What the hell is she?" Aoi asked.

"A monster...." Ryuu answered.

"Not quite." Naruto said. "She just knows how to properly manage her chakra, she has a smaller amount of chakra supply than you guys but her control over it is what takes her a step ahead. If you can properly fight on water, then your efficiency when it comes to chakra control will be twice as great. The shinobi you are now wouldn't be able to touch the ones you'd become just from mastering this training alone."

"Nonsense!" Ryuu shouted.

"No, he is speaking the truth." Ino said causing all the genin to perk up.

"Ok, I get that much. Why heat the water? What point is it in doing that?"

"To add an extra element to think about, making it harder to concentrate on your chakra. In battle, there is no telling how many factors will weigh on the outcome of your fight, not to mention your body and mind's current condition. This is the best way to simulate a real world experience without actually putting you in danger." Team twenty was stunned by this news. Could this really improve them that much? "Besides, you guys won't be doing anything else until you've mastered this training."

"EH?!!!" Naruto laughed.

"Just another factor to add to the simulation." He joked.

"Can you at least give us a hint on how to get better?" Suzuka asked. Naruto sighed as he looked over at his daughter who was already ready to go another round.

"Umihime, come over here."

"Umihime wants to play more."

"I know but we will play as much as you want later, ok?"

"Hai!!" She easily agreed as she dashed over to him. He lifted her up in his arm and gave her a soft kiss to the forehead, causing her to giggle again.

"Ok... Ryuu, calm down, you are using way too much energy just trying to prove that you're stronger than the rest. Which unfortunately leads to you making an ass of yourself in the process. Being shinobi isn't all about who is stronger or who has the better jutsu, it is about who can remain calm regardless of the situation. Even an ant can beat an elephant when the elephant is an idiot." Ryuu took some slight offense to this but understood what he meant. "Aoi, I understand why you used your ice to help deal with the heat but it is only exhausting your chakra supply faster. You may be acting tough, but I can easily see how exhausted you are and so can your enemy. Focus more on actually staying afloat and not the pain. Ryuu is actually ahead of you here. And I know you don't want that." Aoi glared over at him and then at Ryuu, who was enjoying the small bit of praise that he'd just received. "And Suzuka..."

"Hai?"

"Stop holding back... I understand your reason for doing so but this training should be pretty easy to you. You are the only one acting like you're having trouble with it." Suzuka's eyes widen in both shock and fear as the other two stared over at her. "I may not look like it, but I can notice a lot of things other people don't." Both Sakura and Ino nearly fell over from this comment.

"But... I..."

"Like I said, I understand your reasons, but this is only holding you and your teammates back. And I'm sure you don't want to that right?"

"Hai..." Suzuka replied in a very reluctant tone.

"Umihime's hungry papa."

"Me too, want to stop by my favorite ramen place?"

"Hai!!!!" she cheered as she lifted her arms in the air.

"Well... with that said, lets take a break for now so you guys can think over what you learn. We'll meet back here in an hour." Naruto and Umihime suddenly disappeared in a large gust of wind leaving the three genin to contemplate things.

"So does that mean Suzuka was the strongest all along?" Ryuu asked.

"Shut up, Baka-Ryuu." Aoi spat.

"Hey, no reason to jump on me just because you're not the strongest."

"...." Aoi started to say something but decided to leave it be. She had always had her suspicions but to hear them thrown in her face, it was like someone had just punched her in the stomach.

"Gomen..." Suzuka said.

"What for? You didn't do anything wrong at all." Aoi replied, hiding her true feelings. She was trying, but it was obvious to everyone what she really felt.

"You think Naruto did the right thing by bringing that out in the open?" Ino asked Sakura. She had known since the beginning that Suzuka was the strongest but never said anything for fear of ruining their teamwork.

"Yeah... I'm pretty sure that baka has some sort of plan. Maybe this will actually be better for them in the long run." Sakura replied.

"I hope so, I don't want to regret my decision in allowing him to replace me."

"Trust me... you won't."

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