Continued from Chapters 75 & 76

Strength Of Will – Team

Kurenai blinked as she saw the looming blond sat in the corner. She had been told that he was far larger than a normal person, but seeing him looming almost six feet tall was quite a surprise to her.

As he shifted, she blinked again at the realization that he was sat on the floor, meaning that he was even larger than that.

Beside her, Asuma gave a low whistle of surprise, then he pulled himself together and stepped forwards. "Team Ten, with me."

The three genin assigned to him rose from their seats and made their way forwards, each one pausing to speak quietly to the looming blond and the girl (Yamanaka Ino, if she was correct,) gave him a kiss on his cheek before moving to the front of the class. As Asuma led his squad out of the classroom, Kurenai managed to finish overcoming her shock.

"Team Eight."

The Blond rose to his feet, hunched slightly to avoid bashing his head on the ceiling as he edged forewards, pausing to allow his two team-mates to move ahead of him. Kurenai stepped through the door, then watched as Naruto ducked through, half-twisting so that his shoulders didn't hit the sides of the doorframe.

Kurenai reflected that she may need to rethink her plans, given that it would be very hard for someone the size of Naruto to hide.

"Do you know where Training Field Eight is?" She asked, covertly gathering her Chakra as she did so. When all three genin nodded, she smiled and cast her genjutsu.

"Meet me there."

The illusion took hold and from their viewpoint, she seemed to ripple out of existence. Quickly stepping aside, Kurenai slid open the door to an empty classroom and slipped through, manipulating the genjutsu as she did so in order to prevent her trio from seeing or hearing the door move. Once she had closed the door behind her, she sprinted to the window and opened it so that she could exit quickly and get to the destination first.

.

Cloaked in another illusion, Kurenai watched with interest as Naruto leapt into the clearing, Hinata and Shino clinging on to his back by means of special straps integrated into his jacket. Dropping to one knee, Naruto waited until the other two had released their grips and landed on the ground, then he stood up again, standing almost ten feet tall and turning slowly as he looked around the field.

"I don't see her." He stated and Kurenai was briefly amused at how his voice didn't quite match his physical presence. "Shikaku-Ojisan told me about Kurenai-Sensei, she's a Genjutsu-specialist. Can either of you spot her?"

Shino nodded. "My Kikkai have found a source of Chakra emanating over there. I believe that she is using a genjutsu to conceal her presence."

"Byakugan! You're right, Shino! I can see her."

"It is hard to shield from the Byakugan." Kurenai admitted as she let her illusion dissipate. "You made better time than I anticipated."

"Practice." Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Before graduation, I got into the habit of carrying Ino, Shika and Choji. Ino would sit on my shoulders while Shika and Choji would hold on to the straps. I even got my jacket reinforced across the shoulders to help with that."

"It would certainly help the team move faster." Kurenai agreed even as she made a mental note to work more on her speed and stamina in order to take better advantage of the strategic advantages that he had just revealed.

"And let Hinata use her eyes to watch around us as we moved." Naruto agreed, then he paused and looked at Shino. "Hey, you alright?"

"I believe that I shall be fine." Shino replied calmly. "However, the journey was quite a bit more active than I anticipated."

"I know." Naruto laughed. "Shika complained that although we saved time and moved faster, constantly adjusting his weight to keep balanced could be troublesome. Shikaku-Ojisan encouraged it, though, as it meant Shika got exercise without really realising it."

"The Nara clan are known for their laziness." Kurenai agreed with a slight smile. "So, since I am already familiar with the abilities of the Hyuuga and Aburame clans, can you give us an overview of your skills?"

"Well, I'm big and strong." Naruto started with a chuckle. "Although you may have to take my word for that…"

Hinata giggled at the dry statement while Shino's lips twitched in an abortive smile.

"My Chakra level is low-to-mid Jonin. It would be higher, but I seem to have an odd bloodlimit that turns Chakra into physical growth, hence…"

Naruto shrugged as Kurenai nodded in understanding.

"As for skills, I can do the leaf exercise, tree-walking and I'm working on mastering water-walking. Choza-Ojisan arranged for me to do some studying with Maito Gai-Sensei, so my taijutsu is fairly good. My preferred weapon is the staff, although I can use the Naginata. Due to how tall I am, swords wouldn't work for me."

"Sweeping attacks are a must for you." Kurenai stated, earning a nod of agreement.

"I have a few jutsu including Pulse Quake. Choza-Ojisan made sure I knew the Travelling Ten and how to cook. Inoichi-Ojisan drilled me in reading, writing, calligraphy and basic psychology while Shikaku-Ojisan was in charge of teaching me logic, tactics and strategy."

"Sounds like a well-rounded education." Kurenai mused.

"Ino, Shika and Choji got the same." Naruto shrugged. "We all studied together."

"Is that an Akamichi Clan-friend Token?" Kurenai pointed at the symbol that Naruto wore on a chain around his neck and the blond nodded.

"Choza-Ojisan gave it to me after I managed to hold him to a draw in a timed no-Jutsu wrestling bout."

Kurenai's eyes widened at the statement.

"He still flattens me if Jutsu are allowed or the match isn't timed." Naruto added quickly.

.

.

Kurenai slipped in through the non-descript door and silently moved across to the table where the other new Jonin-Sensei had assembled. Sitting down, she accepted the saucer of Sake that Asuma passed across to her.

"So." The son of the Hokage began. "I got a good team, already trained in teamwork. How's your team?"

"Adequate." Kakashi sighed, having put away his book before Kurenai could once again cast a genjutsu on it to turn it into a Yoai story (which had left Kakashi caught between fury and horror, much to the amusement of everyone else at the meeting in question). "Kiba is very team-work focused, but he's not that great on the more subtle parts. I've directed him to learn from Sakura and get her into proper physical shape at the same time. Yours?"

"A lot of potential." Kureni paused as she took a sip of Sake. "Hinata needs her self-confidence increased while Shino needs to learn to relax somewhat."

"And Naruto?" Kakashi asked, his voice failing to hide his curiosity.

"I currently have no idea about him." Kurenai admitted. "His size alone makes it hard for him to hide and while his strength lets him be the hammer, the others aren't strong enough to be a proper anvil for him. Heck, I'm not strong enough in those fields to be the anvil."

"He could be a distraction." Asuma mused. "How are his Chakra levels?"

"Not nearly as high as I anticipated." Kurenai admitted. "Mid-to-high Jonin. More than you, Kakashi, but I expected him to have far more given his…"

Kurenai trailed off, knowing that the other two understood.

"On an unrelated subject, are you up for some co-operative training?" Asuma asked. "My three have trained with Naruto and I'm interested to see if your other two would be able to slot in as well. It would prove useful if we have to take on a mission requiring two teams rather than one."

Kurenai nodded slowly, pondering the suggestion.

It would be interesting to see.

.

.

Kurenai fought to hide her amusement as she watched her team doing Chakra control exercises. Hinata was sat cross-legged with a senbon balanced on each finger while Shino was balancing a leaf on his forehead and another on the back of each hand.

Their concentration on their tasks was made more obvious by the fact that both of them were sat on Naruto's back as he performed a series of push-ups on the water, switching between both hands and one-handed push-ups with the occasional hand-clap.

Finally, Naruto came to the end of his set and shifted his position, raising his feet so that his body was horizontal and resting only on his hands. For several minutes, he held that position, then he lowered his feet back down.

"You done?" He asked and Hinata quickly returned her senbon to her pouch. Shino didn't seem to react, but his Kikkai swarmed the three leaves and quickly consumed them. Once the bugs had retreated, Shino grabbed onto Naruto's shoulder staps.

"I am ready."

"Me too." Hinata agreed as Naruto straightened up and strode to the edge of the pond where Kurenai was waiting.

"Hello!" She called with a smile. "I see you decided to do some training while waiting. How long were you here?"

"About an hour, Kurenai-Sensei." Hinata replied quietly, but Kurenai could hear the determination in her voice.

"Follow me. Our training will be a little different today."

.

"…and today, the training will be somewhat different." A male voice said as Naruto ran after Kurenai down the path, Hinata and Shino perched on his back as they improved their balance. "And here are the ones training with us today."

Shino ducked to avoid being swept of Naruto's back by a low-hanging branch as Naruto erupted out through the line of bushes to emerge in a training field.

"Naruto!" Ino waved, grinning widely as Shikamaru simply nodded in greetings and Choji paused mid-snack to wave hello.

"Hey, guys." Naruto called back as he slowed to a halt, then dropped to one knee to allow his passengers to disembark. "I'm sue you remember Hinata and Shino, but this is our Jonin-Sensei, Yuhi Kurenai."

"This smokestack…" Ino glowered at the bearded Jonin who simply grinned at her, "…is Sarutobi Asuma, the Hokage's son and our Sensei."

"Pleased to meet you." Naruto nodded in greeting as he stood up, causing Asuma's eyes to widen slightly.

"Wow. I knew you were tall, but…"

"You're lucky to have him on your team." Ino pouted as she made her way towards them. "I think he spoiled us, carrying us around all the time. We actually have to walk now!"

As Ino continued bemoaning the extra work she had to do in the absence of her favourite transportation, Naruto moved to greet the other two genin of Team Ten.

"Ino being troublesome again?"

"When isn't she?" Shika sighed.

"I heard that!"

Naruto burst out laughing as Shika face-palmed.

.

.

With a grunt of effort, Naruto ripped the stump of the toppled tree out of the ground. As dirt cascaded from the suddenly-unearthed roots, Naruto took two steps, then threw the shattered stump across onto the pile of branches that the other two had gathered while he had been dealing with the main part of the mission.

"That's the last one!" He called, glancing round at the cratered field that had been a copse of trees until the owner had decided to re-purpose it. "Do we need tofill the holes?"

"A pair of chunin are taking care of that part tomorrow." Kurenai replied. "They're both doton users, but they're no longer capable of taking on combat missions."

"Makes sense." Naruto rubbed the sweat from his forehead with the back of one hand. "Well, that's over now."

Kurenai motioned for the team to gather even as she accepted the signed clipboard from the owner of the land they had been clearing. "That's all for today. I'll head to the tower and get the payment processed."

A rumbling sound echoed and Hinata muffled her giggle as Naruto chuckled in embarrasment.

"I think I need to get some food. I'm off the the Akamichi compound. Anyone need a lift anywhere near there?"

"I am fine, Naruto-san." Shino replied.

"I live in the other direction." Hinata shrugged. Naruto nodded before crouching and leaping away, leaving a shallow crater of compacted earth as proof of his exit.

"The longer I spend in his presence, the more impressive his capabilities seem." Shino admitted as he turned to leave. Hinata nodded wordlessly, her eyes activated and tracking the shrinking shape of their giant friend.