The Spaces In-Between

Ninjutsu

Y/N eyed Kakashi as they stood in the spacious training field.  He had insisted that they go out training the next morning, just past dawn.  Something had definitely rattled him last night when he was reading that book she had found at the bookstore, but he had not spoken about it.  When she pressed him for details, he had instead silenced her questions with a kiss that ended up keeping them in bed the rest of the evening until they both had fallen asleep in exhaustion.

"So, when are you going to tell me what is going on?" she finally asked him after the two of them had done a bit of sparring for warmup.

"I think it's time that you get your Ninjutsu up to where it was in our world," Kakashi responded evasively.  "I might not always be by your side and I want to know you can protect yourself until I can get to you.  Taijutsu is powerful, especially when you are a master like Guy but your Ninjutsu was incredible at one time.  I won't have to worry as much if you get back to that level."

Y/N narrowed her eyes on him.  He was doing it again, taking more responsibility than was his to take.  It grated a bit because he was not being forthcoming with what was goading him.  "You know that I know you better than anyone else in the world, Kakashi Hatake, and I don't like that you are keeping something from me."

"Good, take that frustration out on me with Ninjutsu," he countered.

Y/N knew a brick wall when she saw one.  Kakashi could be damn stubborn when he set his mind about something.  Very well, if he wanted her to unload on him instead, she would accommodate him.  She narrowed her eyes more, remembering that fire had been her strongest Ninjutsu in their world.

Even after all those years, she still remembered the hand signs necessary to activate the Ninjutsu.  She moved her hands in rapid succession before blowing out fire balls towards him.  He dodged them and she was disappointed at how small they were compared to how large they used to be.  She had actually singed him once in their world.

"You need to have better focus as you're doing your hand signs, reach inside yourself and feel the chakra," Kakashi told her.  "It's the chakra that gives the real fire power."

Y/N slowed her breathing as she had been taught.  She stretched into herself as she dodged the attacks he was lobbing her way.  For the first time, she could really feel the inner power within her body.  In the dream world, she would briefly touch on it but this was different.  It was like touching fire as she brushed her mind against it. 

The corresponding fire balls that she shot out the next time was much larger and he narrowly evaded them.  His mask quirked with his grin.  "That's my girl," he praised her.  "Whatever you did just now, do it again."

"What if I hurt you?" Y/N said with some concern.

"Y/N don't worry about that, just come at me!"  Kakashi chided her.  "Pretend I am the enemy not your husband!"

 Y/N refocused and centered on her breathing again as she came at him.  He dodged her blows and kicks, deflecting them easily.  It was like a dance as she reached inside herself, brushing up against the chakra again in her mind.  Her hands were moving of their own accord now, as if her inner self was telling her what to do.  His eyes narrowed slightly as he did not recognize the pattern which was saying something for the copy ninja who knew over a thousand jutsu.

Kakashi watched as blue flames started swirling around her body like a protective shield.  He gave a small curse and instantly dropped down and brought up a wall as a shield.  Fire roared around the shield just before her fist hit the wall and it exploded over his head.  He covered his head and looked up in amazement.

"Damn, that was amazing!" he yelled.

Y/N looked at the ball of fire that was her fist with wide eyes.  It was amazing and she looked up to grin at him.  "Wow... this is...  it feels incredible.  It doesn't burn me."

"That's chakra fire," Kakashi smiled.  "It's like my Chidori but instead of lightning it's fire."

She released her hold on the chakra and it disappeared.  Kakashi caught her up, pulled his mask down, and gave her a hard kiss.  She giggled and held onto him tightly as he swung her around.

"Now let's do this again!"

Y/N collapsed to the ground, sweating profusely and breathing hard, two hours later.  She felt almost completely wiped out.  Kakashi gave her that narrowed eyed smile of his as he knelt in front of her.

"I'm very proud of you, Y/N," he said.  "You have made huge progress today."

Y/N smiled at him and tried to stand.  Her legs shook and she almost fell over.  Kakashi caught her on his back and chuckled.  She wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to carry her on his back. 

"I can't believe how tired I am," she said as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"You used a lot of chakra. Tomorrow, we will work on better chakra control so you use less with the same force you expended today."

"How do you get the same result with less chakra?" she asked with wide eyes.

"It's all in learning how to focus better," he responded softly.  "Remember when I showed you how to walk up a tree?"

She grinned, "I remember falling on my ass every time I tried."

Kakashi gave her a narrowed eyed smile of amusement, "Yes, but if you can master that skill then you will master how to control how much chakra you expend."

Y/N groaned, "Are you going to make me try walking up trees tomorrow?"

"Mmm Hmm," he responded.

"My ass already hurts."

Kakashi laughed hard at the words before starting up the stairs to the apartment.  She played with the hair on his nape as she watched his face.  God she loved looking at him.  It was still mind blowing that she was here with him.  How did she get so blessed?  He was the fulfillment of all the years of longing to be with him and when she looked at him, she just wanted to stay closer and closer to him.

"You know... I should really go over sometime and help Naruto get his paperwork under control," she said as he opened their apartment door.  "That mess still haunts me."

Kakashi chuckled, "I'm sure he would appreciate that, even if he protests a little."

"Was your office that bad when you were Hokage?" she asked him as he set her down on the couch.

"Never," he chuckled.  "I delegated everything out and only attended to the most important tasks.  Naruto thinks he has to do everything to be a good Hokage but he's going to burn out if he keeps it up."

"Hmm...  He always did think he was the only one who could do something."

Kakashi nodded, "That was part of the problem when I was trying to bring Team 7 together in teamwork.  The first day we trained, Naruto came at me head on and it didn't even occur to him to work with Sakura and Sasuke.  He's matured and grown a lot since then but he still tries to do everything himself."

"Well... once I get to a level you are satisfied with, I'll go get him straightened up."  Y/N said with a nod of her head.  "It's the least I can do for him.  By the way.... when do I get to meet Might Guy?"

Kakashi swung his head to look at her with his mouth hanging open.  "Why do you want to meet Might Guy?"

"He's your best friend," she chuckled. "And don't tell me he isn't because I saw it for myself.  I want to thank him for never giving up on you."

Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck with a nervous chuckle, "Well... I guess we can see him tomorrow before training."

Y/N beamed, "Yeah!  I can't wait!"