Bring the Hammer Down

3

It was hard for TenTen to keep her focus when the boy in front of her was shirtless, had a body most would die for, and was swinging a massive hammer like it was a stick. She sighed, for what seemed the hundredth time that morning. No matter how much promise he had, Naruto simply couldn't seem to get the stances right. He was simply too much of a free form fighter, flowing with whatever worked at the moment.

"Naruto, stop, please just stop. Your form is horrible, you keep stepping out of the stances I show you, and for the love of Kami, don't just swing the hammer around! You have to use it like an extension of yourself."

"But TenTen, it is an extension of myself. It's connected to my soul. Can't get any more extensive than that."

"That's not the point and you know it Naruto. You have to listen to me if you want to do this right. All right, let's try a different approach. I'm going to stand beside you and perform a kata and I want you to mimic it perfectly. Anything less than perfection and we'll do it again and again until you have it right."

"Slave driver."

"You try having Maito Gai for a sensei and we'll see whether or not I'm being kind. Now do what I do...or else."

"Or else what?"

"I don't know yet, but the general idea is you, me, and several pointy things aimed at sensitive parts. Now follow my lead."

She stepped into her stance and stood still while he mimicked her. 'Good, that's a good start.' Moving forward, she dipped the sword low and brought it back up in a sweeping, crescent moon motion, and watched out of the corner of her eye as he did the same with the hammer. The object wasn't to teach him how to use a sword, but how to wield the hammer so that it seemed second nature, so that he wasn't so awkward with it. Seeing him stumble out of what would have been a perfect kata at the last second, she sighed. It was going to be a long day.

Lunchtime rolled around before they knew it and Naruto decided to treat TenTen to whatever she wanted. Her choice was sushi, at the newest sushi bar in town and the most expensive. Not wanting to look like a cheap date, Naruto went along with it, inwardly cursing his chivalrous nature and the loss of Gama-chan's swollen belly. TenTen was to sushi what Naruto was to ramen. A glutton of the highest caliber and able to destroy wallets in a single stop. Sighing in defeat, Naruto followed the insistent bun haired girl in, only to be escorted out by the owner, who told him to leave that 'behemoth of an elephant slayer' outside. No problems there, a twist of the shoulder, a flick of the wrist, and a resounding boom and the offending object was in its own little crater, not bothering anyone. Shrugging, he returned to his table, ignoring the owner's gaping.

TenTen was thoroughly enjoying herself at the moment. She had good food, good drink, and the company of a very handsome blonde to keep her happy. The looks of jealousy that some of the younger girls in the restaurant kept throwing her was only making her smirk larger and more defined. Neji wouldn't have garnered this type of reaction; he was too quiet and unassuming, even if he was hot. Naruto, on the other hand, commanded attention, from his voice (which was softer than normal thanks to that trick of Sanosuke's) to his wild look, to his gentlemanly treatment of TenTen. Their conversation was what kept her entertained the most however. She knew that he was a demon container from the time that they rescued Gaara, but she didn't know that the boy was so deep.

"So tell me Naruto, what are you going to do with that hammer? I can't imagine you just coming across an enchanted weapon by accident."

"Well, first it's a holy weapon, not an enchanted one. Second...I'll tell you later, once we leave here. Sigh...you're never going to believe me TenTen. You're going to think I'm insane."