I'm Not Alone {--Kakashi Hatake--}

{Chapter 6}

Later in the week, we all met in the forest nearby, although I still couldn’t do much.

Kakashi started, “So, it’s decided. The new training regimen begins today!”

“Yeah!!” Naruto, of course, exclaimed excitedly.

“But first…” Kakashi continued, “Let’s discuss the basis of your ninja powers…the body energies known as charkas.”

I rolled my eyes, ‘Oh goodie, goodie, something I already know about!’

I didn’t pay attention at all, pretty much, until I heard Kakashi say, “You learn to control your body through the harshest training…go out on a limb, and learn from experience!”

Both Naruto and Sasuke stayed silent as the shorter kunoichi asked, “How do we do that?”

“How? We climb trees!” Kakashi answered as if she should’ve guessed that. “Climb trees--?!!” Was the immediate reaction.

“That’s right…” Kakashi verified. Sakura put her hands on her hips and asked, “How would that qualify as training?”

“Listen up, you four.” ‘Another explanation?!’ I then decided to completely ignore what Kakashi was saying, and only cared when he showed us how to climb the trees without our hands, and when he said, “…Now, no more talk. It’s time for action. The only way to learn is by doing.” He threw four kunai down at us. “Use the kunai blades to score the bark at the highest point you can climb to. It will serve as a reminder for later. Your goal is to make a mark on a higher spot each time you climb. I don’t expect any of you to reach the treetop on your first try. A running start will probably give enough momentum for a good first effort. All right?”

Naruto sported a cocky grin, and shouted, “No sweat!! I could do this one before breakfast! I’m the fastest-developing ninja on this team!”

Kakashi egged on, “Less talk and more action. Choose your trees, and up you go!”

I chose my tree, and instead of concentrating on beating my teammates, I focused on getting the right amount of charka at my feet. Too much force and you’re repelled. Too little and you’ll never even stick to the surface. I remembered that much from my training with Akio. I took off with a running start and made it completely up the tree without stopping, or having to mark my place. I then took a seat on one of the higher branches. The second done was Sakura.

Naruto and Sasuke glanced up, and the blonde exclaimed, “Sakura…Michiko…?!”

Kakashi glanced at both of us from his upside-down perch, “Well, now we know which of you four has the best control of their charkas. Our young ladies.” I grinned to myself as Kakashi continued, “Well…! Understanding the use of one’s chakras and manipulating them successfully…is quite an achievement so far…Sakura or Michiko are probably the ones closest to overtaking our leader, Lord Hokage…despite all of Naruto’s boasts and aspirations…and the finest hope of Clan Uchiha doesn’t seem too impressive either.”

“Kakashi-sensei, how could you?!” Sakura shouted, obviously worried about Sasuke’s opinion of her, like always.

I had to laugh and fake-scold him, “Kakashi-sensei, that’s not being very nice.”

Unknown to the others, and me, Kakashi thought, ‘On the other hand…within them, Naruto and Sasuke both harbor such massive untapped reserves of chakra that Sakura’s is nothing by comparison. If this lesson goes as planned…by the end, we should be able to tap those vast resources.’ He glanced at me even though I didn’t see, ‘Although Michiko has enough chakra to compete against the boys…hers she can access, even if she doesn’t know it, and she has Sakura’s chakra control…interesting…the question is…what gives her that power?’