A Hero's Come Back

Chapter 2: Shocking Revelations

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

I began the fight, too impatient to wait. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" I summoned four clones and went after Kakashi Sensei. He jumped back, narrowly dodging our attack. "Still as impatient as ever, Naruto," he said. "You didn't even wait until I said start. Again." I grimaced. He was referring back to our first training session as Team 7. That had been embarrassing. "But this time, it'll be different, ya know!" I said. I was determined not to make a fool of myself in front of everyone. I was not the same kid as I had been, I was not a failure!

"CHA!!" A shadow came over us. I jumped back just in time to avoid being caught in Sakura's attack. And it was a good thing I did. When her fist hit the ground, it exploded. The ground split and shifted, dispelling my clones. H-holy crap, I thought, amazed. She-she's even scarier than she was three years ago! I better not do anything stupid, she'll kill me! Kakashi Sensei looked just as scared as I was. Sakura looked up and smiled at him. "I'm not that same helpless girl anymore, either." Well, I wouldn't have said she ever was helpless, but I wasn't going to argue with her. "Well done, Sakura!" A voice yelled from the trees. No one turned to look that way. Doing that would mean defeat for sure. But I smiled. It looked like Granny had come to watch us wipe the forest floor with Kakashi Sensei.

Then, Kakashi Sensei unleashed his counterattack. His hands weaved so fast I couldn't tell what the jutsu was. "His hands are so fast!"Sakura gasped. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" He said as he puffed out a giant fireball. Sakura and I got out of the way quickly. That's...an Uchiha Technique. I realized, remembering it from Jiraiya Sensei's lessons. He must've copied it. Again, not giving us any time to recover, he started weaving signs again. "Lightning Style: Lightning Dragon Jutsu!" A giant dragon, made purely of lightning, came out of the sky. And, of course, it was pointed directly at me.

Shit! I guessed I'd have to use that jutsu. I quickly did the ushi-inu-hitsuji hand signs and held my hands out in front of me. "Wind Style: Wind Wall Jutsu!" A wall of rotating air appeared all around me, just in time to block Kakashi Sensei's jutsu. Wind beats Lightning, cause Wind is a natural in-in-insul-oh, forget it! I landed safely on the top of a tree next to Sakura and dispelled the jutsu. Kakashi Sensei stood on another treetop across from us. "Wind Style, huh?" Sakura asked. I nodded. "Well done," Kakashi Sensei said, "but you missed something."

Huh? Then, Kakashi Sensei went up in a puff of smoke. "A Shadow Clone!" Sakura said. "Then where's the real one." "Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!" That instant, we were both hit with Kakashi Sensei's jutsu from below. Sakura screamed and I grimaced as we both jumped away. Thankfully, neither of us were seriously injured, though Sakura had a minor burn. It was only thanks to my Uzumaki blood and the stupid fox that I wasn't equally hurt. I grabbed her and retreated, knowing she had to heal herself.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" I said, using the jutsu as a diversion. I summoned over 2,000 clones, which should keep him occupied for at least enough time for Sakura to use her healing jutsu.

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I shook my head when I saw how many Shadow Clones I faced. "The sheer number of his clones always amazes me*," I said. "Ready, Kakashi Sensei?!" The clones yelled, running towards me. I sighed. This is going to be a pain. But I'll give Sakura has enough time to heal herself.

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"Is it just me, or has the number of Shadow Clones he can summon gone up?" Tsunade asked. I shook my head. "He could summon that many back before I trained him. But his chakra supply has gone up." She shook her head in proud amazement. "That boy's chakra....is ridiculous." I snorted. "You haven't seen anything yet. Just wait." And I'd have to wait too, and watch. I didn't see any sign of that problem yet, but it tended to show up at the most inopportune moments. But still, seeing him....it made me proud, like he really was my grandson.