Naruto: Lonely eyes

Chapter 13: Climbing Up A Tree

Later, when dinner was done, Team 7 gathered in the living room.
"So, Kakashi Sensei? What was the thing you wanted to tell us?" Sakura said.
"Well, Zabuza is still alive," Kakashi said in a serious tone.
"What? Say that again?" Naruto said, not liking what he just heard.
"The Tracker Nin that "Killed" Zabuza was on his side, faking his death," Kakashi said.
"but, he didn't have a pulse? How can that be?" Sasuke asks.
"Simple, he simply Zabuza in the right spot with his senbon to temporarily stop his heart's beating, faking his death," Kakashi said.
"So, you're saying he's still gonna be a problem in the future?" Naruto said.
"Yes, that's why, I'm going to train you three," Kakashi said.
"Training? No offence Kakashi Sensei, but a little training won't help us," Naruto said, clearly already losing hope.
"Naruto, you three are the reason I'm here right now, and that was before the training I will give you today, Zabuza is still injured, so you three will have time," Kakashi said as he put a reassuring hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Now, meet me outside the town, I won't be far," Kakashi said as he disappeared in a body flicker, leaving the three Genin to go to the assigned location.

The three then follow Kakashi, going outside the town.
After a short while, they see Kakahi leaning against a tree.
"Now, I will be teaching you three how to climb a tree," Kakashi said, patting a hand on the tree he was leaning on.
"How is that gonna help us? Don't we already know how to climb a tree?" Naruto said.
"No, what I mean by climbing a tree only using your feet," Kakashi said.
"For example," Kakashi demonstrates the tree climbing exercise, walking on the trunk of the tree with only his feet.
"How does that work, Kakashi Sensei?" Sakura asked.
"Well, we apply just the right amount of chakra on our feet, too much, you will be repelled, too little, you won't stick," Kakashi said returning to standing on the ground.
"This exercise will help you control your chakra better, better chakra control means better mastery of your jutsu," Kakashi said.
"Now, here," Kakashi said as he threw a kunai to the three Genin, one for each.
"Use it to mark how high you were able to reach your individual tree," Kakashi said as he created a line mark with the kunai on the tree.
"Now, you three may begin," Kakashi said, getting a nod in front of the three Genin before they started doing the exercise.

Time passed by, and the three Genin focused on climbing the tree.
Sakura was the first to be able to reach the top, showing her exceptional chakra control.
"Wow, Sakura-Chan, you got us beat," Naruto said as he looked up towards salura who was sitting on the branch.
"hehe, Thanks Naruto," Sakura said with a proud smile before turning to Sasuke.
"How about you Sasuke-Kun? Are you interested?" Sakura said, her usual fangirl persona taking over.
"Of course," Naruto thought to himself before resuming on climbing the tree.
"Hmph," Was the only thing Sasuke muttered, he was frustrated that Sakura, of all people, bested him in climbing a tree...

Later...
Naruto was walking back to Tazuna's house, he told Sasuke and Sakura that he was tired, ..he was lying, and telling the truth.
He was tired, not physically, but mentally, he was tired of trying to concentrate on putting in the right amount of chakra, and just because he didn't get tired meant that he would be resistant to damage towards his body. ..Oh..how many times had he fallen? How many times had he repelled himself and hit the parallel tree? He lost count...maybe 27.

He then noticed a familiar small figure just about in the dock near the house, Inari...
He was sitting on the edge, looking at the calm waters, his own reflection staring back.." Yo,".. Inari was surprised, he turned to see who it came from. He sees Naruto walking towards him and sitting beside him.

"what do you want?" Inari said.
"...To talk, I guess, or to just be depressed with you," Naruto said, looking at his own reflection..."So, what's with you? It seems like you don't want us to be here," Naruto said.
"...Why do you care?" Inari said, looking away, not wanting to make eye contact with Naruto.
"Because I do, I don't know why, I just care,"... "OK, maybe I'm also curious about your story.
Naruto chuckled nervously, he wasn't lying, he did care, but he was also curious.
..."Why? You all keep on trying and trying, trying to be heroes..but you guys can't stop Gato, he has a lot of men, an army," Inari said, with a very optimistic tone of voice.
"Well, we're ninjas, we could pretty much go to from multiplying ourselves to many, and if that won't work, just blow them up with paper bombs, or just have Sasuke use fireball jutsu on them all," Naruto said, a voice of nonchalance taking over.
Inari now turns to look at Naruto, "You're saying it like it will be easy," He said.
"I won't tell you if I am, but I will tell you that Gato can be put down and never get up again," Naruto said, a small smile forming on his face.
"I don't know what you have gone through...but, don't let it keep you down forever, even when you are not sure...just keep moving," Naruto said, looking at the endless ocean....

..His eyes, Inari, could see that Naruto's eyes were like his...they, probably, somewhat knew each other's pain...his eyes...they were lonely, uncertain...
Inari, without realising, suddenly had tears rolling down his face...
"Wait..wait, oh no! Did I make you cry?" Naruto said, panicking.
"Thank you," Inari softly said before running off inside the house...
.."..heh..let's go!.. Time to continue climbing a damn tree!" Naruto declared, before letting out a tired sigh and walking back to the forest.