Fire and Ice ~ Naruto Fanfiction ~ Book One

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen: Training

One month to get stronger, huh? I better take my time then, it's not like I'm weak enough to lose against any of the other people. And image of the sand kid's fight during the preliminaries. I stood up from my bed and grabbed a jacket. "Might as well squeeze in some training before lunch." I mumbled to myself as I exited the house.

Once I had reached the forest I noticed that I wasn't the only one there. Rin was helping Haku better his sword skills, just like she had promised to do. She was patient for once and he was a fast learner, it was a nice sight to see. "About time you got out of that room of yours kid." A voice behind me spoke.

I calmly turned around to see Uncle Zab. "Time to train."

"But I specialise in the opposite release types than you." I arched a brow up.

Uncle Zab chuckled darkly, it was actually kind of scary. "Your Ninjutsu and Genjutsu are perfection, but your Taijutsu and reflexes, kid.. not so much." He stabbed his Executioner Blade into the ground and started cracking his knuckles while walking towards me. "So that's what you'll be working on. Now get ready kid, here I come!"

Haku and I had paused in our instructing on using a katana more efficiently to watch Ren-nii run from Uncle Zabu. "Your brother really does hate Taijutsu training." Haku commented as Ren began running on the water to attempt to get away from our uncle.

"There's a story behind it... but the short version is that our father never held Taijutsu very highly. He tried to teach us that manipulation was the safer rout; he only got through to Ren though." I looked up at the sky with a small smile. "Mother was who I followed more, she had the ability to manipulate light and had the most stubborn personality in the world."

"Your parents sound like wonderful people." Haku said, sitting down on grass of the meadow near the training grounds with me.

The breeze was soft, if that makes any sense, and I found it calming. I stifled a yawn and leaned against Haku's shoulder. "Next part of your training... you're my pillow for the next little while." I mumbled.

He chuckled. "How is that part of my training, Rin?"

"Hush." I lightly slapped my hand down his face. "Don't question my teaching style."

Once we were all done for the day, well we were out training till well past midnight, Haku cooked up the best dinner ever; BBQ meat, some light soup, fried dumplings, rice, and a salad for the little white rabbit that came back with us when they first moved in with us.

"That was the best." I leaned back in my chair and petted my food baby. "Haku you should open up a restaurant or something one day, I bet on the bounty on Aunt Sakumi's head that it'll be a five star rating."

"Thanks Rin, but I think I'll stick with being a shinobi with the rest of you." He laughed and scratched his cheek, a cute blush settling on his face.

"Well I'm going to take a shower." Ren stood up from his seat. "Please don't be flirting still when I'm done."

"We weren't flirting!" I defended.

"Sure you weren't." He rolled his eyes and dodged the butcher knife I threw at his head.

I turned back around to see Uncle Zabu patting Haku's shoulder and telling him something I couldn't quite hear before leaving, saying he had to report to the Hokage to update him on where we're at with the search. I looked at Haku curiously. "Hey Haku, why's your face so red?" I stood on my toes to gently place my forehead against his. "You're not running a fever, are you?"

He backed up like a crab from me in a frantic way while saying that he was fine, which resulted in him hitting his head on the corner of one of the cabinets. I rushed over to him and crouched down with him to check on him. He had crouched down while holding his head in pain. "Geez, never took you to be like a Naruto." I joked and pulled his head closer to check how bad the bump on the back of his head was.

"U-um... Rin..." he stampered. "...Y-you're... really close.... chest.... I-I'm fine!" He pulled away, but banged his head against the counter.

I've never seen him so clumsy and scatter brained before... wonder what's up with him today. I wondered to myself in my head as I helped him stand. "You sure you're alright? You've been acting weird for a while now today." I asked.

"Y-yeah." He answered clumsily. "I'm fine, nothing to worry about." He looked up behind me. "L-looks like Rin is done, I'm going to wash up for bed now." He then flashed away like the 'Hunter-nin' he once was.

I turned around to see Ren-nii towel drying his hair while laughed to himself. "What's so funny?" I question.

He waved me off. "N-nothing... it's nothing." He chuckled. "So what's up with Haku?"

I shrugged and slumped down onto the couch, my twin following my action not too long after. "I wish I knew." I answered. "He's been kinda weird these days, especially today."

"I-is that so?" He was failing miserably at hiding his amusement, practically cackling at the sky.

I nerrow my eyes at him. He knows what's up with Haku, but isn't telling me. I concluded to myself before standing up. "Well I already showered before dinner so call me when Haku is done with the washroom so I can brush my teeth." I can't believe the second bathroom got destroyed... guess I should stop experimenting with explosives, they're obviously not my forte...

"Sure thing l'il sis." Ren barked in his laughter that he had given up on hiding and I headed to our room.

I closed the door behind me and slumped down on the bed. I rolled over on my side and my eyes caught the green haori and the top that Haku had loaned me for the exams. Well... he's definitely never getting those back. Oops. Sorry not sorry.

I flipped over to lay on my back and started playing with my kunai, throwing them at the ceiling and slowly creating a mural of what has recently began to chase away my nightmares and turn them back into meadows of dreams. "It's so frightening..." I subconsciously mumbled out.