Strength From Within (A Naruto Neglect Book)

23

Going out for ramen was better than Daidai had hoped. The two got along well, and after they'd eaten they headed back to the training ground where he had shown her his chakra chains.

"Now, they're a little different than any other I've seen before, we don't know why it's that way but maybe it's a family thing," he explained, focusing for a moment and forming the black chakra chains from his hands. The tail like ones that used elemental chakra were a result from using Kurama's chakra, and though he could of course make the chains like a tail normally he couldn't normally use elemental chakra with them.

Katsuko beamed and looked at them excitedly, carefully examining them. "I don't know why they're black, but it's really cool. Maybe it could be a thing to do with you being a boy, but I'm not entirely sure. Does it usually take that long to make them? Are you any good at controlling them?" she asked, looking back up at him and waiting for an answer.

He shrugged and made them move around a little, making them longer and shorter. "I mean, I've been practicing, but it's mostly been on trees and stuff. While I don't just plan on using them to trap people, I think that it would be a useful skill, but I've never had a moving target or even seen them in battle. I want to learn how to use them as a weapon, like how scorpions use their tails as a weapon. If I can control them like that it'll be a good trick up my sleeve, and it'll give me extra defence if I can use them to stop kunai or swords. I'm actually trying to get them to be made out of elemental chakra, or at least fuse with it. I did it once, about a week ago, but I don't quite remember how I did it," he said sheepishly, chuckling a little.

The female's eyes widened and she nodded excitedly, forming her own chakra chains. "How about we have a battle then? I mainly use mine to trap people so that Neji and Motoshi can attack the enemy. An important thing to note is that since Hyuuga use their chakra with their gentle fist style with the aim to block chakra points, if they're careful they can also break the chains because their chakra interferes with ours. That's how Kakashi-sensei explained it anyways. I also use mine to create traps, and to trip people over," she said with a laugh. "Maybe if you see me doing it, you'll get an idea of how to use it, since I'm not good at explaining things very well."

Daidai took note of her words, nodding in understanding. "While I do read things a lot, I do feel like I do better when given a physical example as well as an explanation," he agreed, getting prepared to spar and making his chakra chains disappear. He had a dull kunai out, as the aim wasn't to actually fight but for him to see how she used her chakra chains.

Meanwhile, Katsuko had one chakra chain out, from the palm of her left hand. She preferred to use her hands rather than her back, and she didn't use many at the same time since she didn't want to waste chakra when her reserves were still not up to their full potential. When she was older she would use more.

She stayed still, using the chain and manoeuvring it around to get closer to Daidai. It was fast and for most people it would be difficult to see, but because of his advanced eyes as a result of the Kyuubi tampering it was easier to see it coming. He dodged it, and then tried to hit it, but it instead wrapped around his arm. Taking what she said about chakra being able to disrupt it, he sent some out of his arm, and she uncoiled the chakra chain. He then ran forward 'attacking her', only for the ground to crumble as two chakra chains, one from both her feet, emerged from the ground and caused it to be uneven and cracked. He smiled and nodded in approval. "That is clever, I've done something like that myself before but not from my feet. I wasn't expecting it, but I have to be more careful," he told her with a smile.

"Thank you," she told him with a smile, nodding in understanding. He jumped to a more even piece of ground, behind the reach of her three chains, only for a fourth one that had been hidden to grab his ankle. He looked down at it, but before he had a chance to escape the two other chains from her feet wrapped around his legs, and the one from her hand wrapped around his body, squeezing him a bit and pinning his arms to the side.

"This is nice, I see why people would be surprised about this. I'm impressed, but unfortunately you haven't gotten me," he told her with a wink, disappearing in a poof of smoke. Katsuko looked shocked for a moment, and her chains disappeared as well. She looked around for him, a small pout on her features. The actual Daidai jumped out of a tree, having previously been concealing his chakra so she didn't spot him. "Before you asked, I substituted with a clone when I jumped back. I've practiced so I can do it without hand seals and smoke giving it away."

"You got me, Daidai. It's so cool that you can use shadow clones! Kaa-san and Tou-san say I'm not allowed to use it until I'm older since they don't want me to run out of chakra," she explained, holding out her hand for him to shake, which he did. However, when he tried to pull away, she used her chains to capture him once more, a triumphant smile on her lips. "I've got you now!"

Daidai laughed and nodded, accepting defeat. "I think I understand a little bit more now, thank you. I haven't gotten to see people using chakra chains before since my parents didn't show me. They didn't show me clan stuff, probably since they wanted to keep me safe since there aren't many Uzumaki and we have a heap of special skills. How about I have a turn doing that now?"

Katsuko grinned and nodded, pulling away her chains. "Sure!"

x-X-x

The next few days went well for Daidai. Now that his chakra was safe to use without exhaustion, he got back into his routine. Of course, Kakashi couldn't help him out as frequently, but he did pop by and check on how it was going. Anko did come by more often though and continue working with him on important Anbu skills, having heard the news from Hebi. Daidai did make sure to spend some time with Katsuko and Shikamaru as well, since after some time away from the excessive training he realised how much time he'd spent away from those he cared for. He wanted to get his priorities right.

Now though, he was getting ready for Anbu with Hebi. He'd had to to additional testing since strength didn't just make an Anbu, and in the calmer situation without Minato trying to seriously injure him he passed with flying colours. His trapping, tracking and poison skills were complimented, as well as his good use of jutsu, but he was still far from being an anbu in terms of the way he thought. He needed to learn what it meant to kill, and though he'd seen death thanks to Kurama it was nothing like taking a life with his own hands.

Hebi lead him to a room, where he was shown a range of masks and uniforms. Daidai was very tempted to use the kitsune mask, but he felt that would be too obvious as to who he was. No, he had an even better idea. He picked up the mask that he wanted, as well as the correct sized uniform, and went to get changed. When he returned, he came out to where Hebi was to go and get his anbu tattoo.

"Hitsuji, eh? Why sheep, of all things," the older male asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Daidai looked up at him, crimson eyes hidden from view because of the way the light in the dim room hit the mask. "I don't look dangerous. I'm small and young, and I still have a long way to go. In that way, I'm a sheep. But I'm also a wolf, or a fox since I like foxes more and it suits my hair, in sheep's clothing. Once I adjust to this life, I'll be a ninja ready to serve his village."

"Then let's get your tattoo, and get ready for your first mission. Prove to me that you're worthy of that title, Hitsuji."