Nebula's Echo (a Naruto Fanfic)

Chapter 20

Ceiren POV

When I finally ended my flight break the sky was already dark. I had transformed back to human form a ways away from the house and was silently walking back. When I walked a bit further into the woods though, I heard voices. Grunts. The familiar sounds of feet running and bark being slashes. I was puzzled.

They're still going at it?

Skeptically furrowing my brows I walked towards the sounds. In between the trees in the distance, I really did see them. My vision is pristine even in the dark.

They really were still at it. Naruto and Sasuke looked completely dead. They were both panting hard, scrapes and dirt covering them. Sakura and Kakashi though were nowhere to be found.

I stayed in the shadow of the trees and watched them. I wasn't even trying to blend in, but it was already dark and they didn't have my supernatural night vision, so no one can really blame them for not noticing me.

I watched as they kept running up the trees, each time the slash on the bark landing an inch higher than the last. I could practically feel the competitiveness in the air.

I don't know how they keep it up.

I of course had unlimited stamina. But I've been human once too. I know what it's like. But these guys... their determination is in no may humanistic. Nope. No way.

...weeell they do become the most powerful ninja of all time in the future, but still. They're just kids. Actually...

I kept watching in fascination as the future two most powerful shinobi struggled to learn the basics of chakra control. Once I realized the gravity of it, I found it both ironic and really touching.

This is where it all began.

My eyes softened as I watched my two closest people in this world compete with each other, trying to climb a tree. It was somehow really funny. Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha had a hard time mastering the basics of chakra control. Who would have thought?

Suddenly Naruto landed on the ground with a loud thump, panting hard. He couldn't even seem to be able to get up from his squatting position. Breathing harshly, the boy looked at his rival. Sasuke was still climbing, but he was slowing down. I saw him desperately slashing the treebark an inch above the previous mark and lose his balance. To avoid falling, he started skipping from tree to tree. Like wall jumping. A Mario-skill. And he ended it with a somersault. Very skilled, very flashy. Go, my cushion! Venture forth and vanquish thy enemies!

I then looked back at Naruto who was violently shaking his head before taking a deep breath, putting his hands into a hand sign and concentrating. After a while, he opened his eyes and I could see the determination and surety in them, and even I felt a little excited.

Will he make it this time?

Naruto was just about to take a step towards the tree when...

"Hey! Naruto!"