Chapter 12 - ch.12

------------------------------------2 week overview----------------------------------------

Due to redundancy, most of the next two weeks will be skipped. When Naru woke, most of the bulge was gone, having either leaked out or been digested. Over the next 2 weeks, they trained duting the day, and "slept" at night, getting stronger and stronger at an improbable rate. Until, finally...

----------------------------aproximately 2 weeks from that night----------------------------

Grimmjow had sent a clone to overlook Naru's progress, at Naru's request. He was currently looking bored, and staring at the sky. "*sigh* Too early to sleep, and nothing to do. So Bored!" he says to himself, lids halfclosed. Suddenly, he hears a sharp pop. He looks over to Naru, pieces of rubber at her feet. "Damn! That clone technique really is effective, huh?"

"You bet! And, I popped sooner than you said!" She said, her voice full of pride. "So, sensei, what's the next step?"

Grimm looks over her carefully. She's hunched over in exaustion, favoring her left arm. Her right has been slightly damaged from overuse of chakra, during training. She was sweating bullets, and breathing heavily. In spite of all of this, she had a look in her eye that said "This is nothing! Give me more!!" A ghost of a smile passed Grimms lips of pride. 'Stubborn bastard! Just like me when I was young. Might as well tell him, he won't stop pestering me if I try to make him rest...' He thinks as he stands, walking over to her, pulling a balloon out of his pocket. He blows it up until it's about 6 inches in diameter. He holds it up in the palm of his hand, showing it to Naru. "This is the next step."

"But, nothing's happening. You're just holding it." remarked Naru.

Grimm hit her on the head. "Dumbass! do you think I would show you just an ordinary balloon? *Sigh* Fine, I'll show you with both hands." He holds up both hands, one with the balloon like before, the other with blue wisps of chakra starting to spin, until it is a proper rasengan. "See? My chakra is rotating at extraordinary speed, yet is maintaining a perfect sphere. Done properly, you can hold one in a balloon, like this." He glances at the balloon before looking back. "Understand?"

Naru nodded. "I need to maximize the spin, while maintaning control, and NOT pop the balloon!"

"Well, well. For once you caught on quick. Well, I'm going back to cloudgazing. Tell me if you need anything." He walks away to a shady tree, and lay there again after giving Naru a bag of balloons.

Naru inflates one to the size Grimm showed, then placed it in her right hand. She started her usual technique of send bursts of chakra in with the palm of her left hand. Soon, it was bulging everywhere, Naru clearly not being able to contol it, until it burst, send her flying a short ways from the explosion of chakra. "Owie!" She exclaimes, rubbing her sore but. "Man, this is gonna be a lot harder than I thought!" She says as she gets up again, and starts blowing up another balloon.

---------------------------------------Hinata---------------------------------------------

"Two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two, sixty-four palms!" Hinata roared as she made the combo, actually cracking the tree with the force of her chakra. She stands for a second, breathing heavily, before jumping for joy. "I did it! I did it! I perfected the 64 palms!"

"Good." Grimm comes out from behind a nearby tree. "One of my clones was near, and heard you shout."

"Grimm sensei, I did it! What's next!? What's next!!?"

"Settle down, kid. You're annoying me. Truth be told, I haven't the foggiest. Neither me or Eva expected you to finish it anytime soon. I guess, get creative! Use you're skills to make your own jutsu. Maybe you'll stumble on something useful.

"Hey. Are you implying that I can't do anything useful!?"

"No, I'm staight-out saying without us to train you, you'd barely pass as a shinobi. Now get thinking, and start training." He leaves, heading in the direction of Naru.

Hinata clenches her teeth and growls, angrily staring at where he was. "So that's how it is, huh? Just because I'm usually nice doesn't mean I'm useless. I'll show you!" She sits, and starts thinking how she can use her gentle fist more effectively.

Grimm, behind a tree, just out of her sight, grinned. "That's what I'm hoping for. Sometimes you brats just need a push to further yourself. You don't always need others." He looks up, reminicing, his smile dropping. "Though, it is nice to have company, too, ya know?" He sighs, and jumps away, making sure Hinata never knew he was still there.

---------------------------------------Sakura-----------------------------------------------

While he was up and about, Grimm decided to check on Sakura's progress. He finally found her surrounded by trees, half smashed, but still standing. "Grimm sensei!" He looks down a her as she sits against an unblemished tree, panting hard, grinning wide. "I did it."

"You certainly have! I think that's enough power control for now. I think it's time you learn how to sustain it."

"Sustain it? Like superstrength?"

Grimm nods. "Yeah. What you've been doing is impact training, like an imprecise but far more powerful gentle fist that relies on strength. Honestly, I shouldn't train you in this for some time now, but..." he looks around at the smashed trees. "You can't really do much more in this environment. Come with me." He starts waking away, Sakura following as he expected. He soon reached the beginning of the part of the forest that was little more than fallen trees. He goes to the nearest stump. "I want you to lift this out of the ground."

"Do what!? Is that even possible!?"

"We'll find out. I don't actually use this technique, so I'm fuzzy on the specifics, but I think you need to use your chakra to augment your muscles, causing even a scrawny little slut like you to wield significant strength. Even if you fail in lifting the stump, just using it should give you enough training to use is better and more often. You will run out of chakra fast, so rest often. I don't want you dying on me out here just because you pushed to hard, got it?"

"I think so... Hey, wait a minute. I'm no slut!"

"Based on what you girls have been doing every night, I beg to differ. Anyway, I'm off. Come get me if you need anything." He walks off, Sakura ginding her teeth in frustration. 'I'll admit, that one was just for fun!' He thinks to himself as he walks.

----------------------------------That night------------------------------------------------

Sakura just finished cuming into Naru's pussy, Hinata in her ass. This has been the favored position, giving everyone maximum pleasure without overdoing it. Again. After a relativly tame session, they settled down to cuddle, enjoying each other. Then, Naru has a thought. "Say, is it just me, or do you guys feel more energized in the morning, even though we are usually up half the night."

Sakura chuckles. "You're ignorance is so cute, Naru!" Naru gave her a blank stare, not amused. Sakura just smiles at it and procedes to explain. "Sex is invigorating and rejuvinating. It releases a bunch of chemicals that are good for the body, exersizes all the brain, and promotes chakra flow. In fact, regular intercourse can actually increase your total chakra!"

So, what we've been doing..." Hinata manages some words, always reverting to her nervous self when naked.

"Yep! This can actually be considered training! I'd say we are actually stronger because of this, than if we hadn't had our "Nightly fun"!"

"Well, I don't quite understand, but I think you said i we do it often, we get stronger?" Asked Naru, not quite understanding.

"Pretty much!" responds Sakura, mentally kicking herself for not simplifying it for her.

Naru pulls them closer to her, being in her usual place in the middle. "Thanks guys. I couldn't ask for better girlfriends!"

Both their eyes shoot open, having started to snuggle close to sleep. "Girlfriends!?" They both exclaim.

"Well, yeah. After all we've done, I though it was obvious! Besides.." she hugs them closer. "I love you guys too much to think anything less!"

"Leave it to you to make your own stupid sense, and make the world perfectly simple." Sakura says with a sigh.

"But, but she is..." Hinata trails off, unable to finish.

"Yeah, she's right! She certainly has a knack for simplifying things."

"Hey, girls. I'm right here!"

"Sorry, sorry! We've had a long day, so we should rest. Good night." She scoots closer to Naru, as does Hianta, each being overcome by a profound sense of peace before slumbering.

------------------------several days later, near the bridge's completion--------------------

Grimm is there waiting for them when they come down for breakfast. "Yo, brats."

"Morning sensei" They all say.

"Training's been put on hold for the next couple days. Not even one attack on the bridge, and no sighting of this crime boss. I'm a little anxious, and want the extra hands. After breakfast, you're to follow me to the bridge, and are to be on guard duty until it's finished. Bring your rations, cause we arn't coming back until it's done." They all nodded, agreeing.

------------------------------------------bridge--------------------------------------------

It's been two days, and the bridge is jsut hours from completion. Everyone is standing guard and being watchful, when a chill crept into the air. Naru put her arms around her sides in a futile attempt to warm up. "Man, it just got chilly. Hey, Tazuna! Is this normal?"

The old man set down a squared log, and looked around. "No, no. This is very strange."

"Everyone on guard!" Said Grimm, scanning the area. The genin pulled out their zanpakuto, and got ready. A mist suddenly appeared, dousing them and making them even colder. Some of the mist parted to reveal a small man with improbably spiky hair, sunglasses, and holding a cane. Next to him is mist shinobi with a mask, red swirls covering the mouth.

"That quite far enough." Said the small man.

"Who the hell are you? Gato?" asked Grimm, still scanning the area in case of a sneak attack.

"Oh, so you've heard of me! Then this will be simple. Leave now, and I spare your lives. The builders will die, obviously, but that's no concern of you leaf. A most gracious offer, eh?"

"Fuck off!" Yelled Naru, starting to get pissed. "The land of Wave's hopes and dreams ride on this bridge! Like hell we're gonna just leave and let you destroy it for your own profit!"

"Yeah. Leave, before we kick you're ass!" Yelled Sakura, Hinata nodding in agreement.

Gato chuckles. "Cocky little brats." He pointed his cane at Grimm. "I'm assuming you're the leader." Grimm nodded. "Kindly remove your subordinants before they're killed."

"I would, but..." He glances to them each in turn as he talks. "They're stubborn little assholes. I couldn't get them to leave if I wanted to. Besides, I don't quite like your attitude, and am feeling quite contrary today."

Gato simply looks down and smiles. "Very well, more fun for me. GET'EM BOYS!!" Suddenly, hundreds of Gato's men burst through the mist behind him before it closed again, leaving everyone nearly blind.

"Freaking lunatic! His own men won't be able to tell each other apart! They're just gonna attack whatever's in front of them." analized Grimm.

"But, isn't that good? Won't they lose numbers quickly?" asked Sakura.

"That's true. However, remember they have a ninja with them. She may be able to guide them to us! Stay sharp!" Grimm says as he runs forward, relying on sound to hear them coming.

The genin form a triangle, backs against each other, watching, listening for an enemy. They didn't wait long. The mist shinobi appeared near them. "Crystal Ice Mirrors." Before they knew what was happening, the mist lifted around them, but the were surrounded by ice mirrors, all of which showed the shinobi. "My name is Haku, and you killed my master."

"Master?" asked Naru, truly confused.

Sakura gasps, and eyes widen. "Zabuza?"

"Indeed. You all will die slow, painful deaths as penance!" The Hakus ready senbon needles, and throw, all three of them getting hit from the sudden attack.

"Senbon needles? You have to have exceptional aim to kill with these, even for a ninja." commented Sakura, bulling a particularly painful one out of her leg.

"Yes, but don't worry. I won't be killing you...yet." She readies more needles.

"look out!" exclaimes Hinata, watching the Hakus closely. They are sprayed with needles again, but are ready this time, and are able to dodge or block a good number of them, but not all. 'I need to figure this out!' she thinks. "Byakugan!" she sees all the mirrors are filled with chakra, and can't quite tell which is the real Haku. She also sees something stange in the air near the mirrors. "Non of them, or all of them are Haku. I can't pinpoint her!"

'That girl with the eyes is troublesome. I need to take her out soon.' Haku thinks, eyeing her vital spots. She readies her needles again, and fires. With most of the needles aimed for Hinata, she had no way to dodge. She managed to fend of many, but one finally hit her in the neck. Her byakugan jutsu released, and she fell forward with a hard thud. "Hinata!!" They both yell, running over to her, having been separated by dodging the needles. Sakura put an ear to her mouth and chest. Her eyes are wide. "I, I don't hear a breath, or a pulse..." Naru's eyes go wide, and her pupils turn to slits. she looks in anger at the mirrors.

"Damn it!!!" She exclaimes under her breath. She sticks her sword in the gound and focuses chakra in her hand, as it starts to make a sphere. It still proves to be too much, though, and sheis sent flying from the feedback. "Damn it!!" she yells in frustration, the justu failing at such a critical time.

"Naru, get your sword! She's about to attack again!" Naru heeds her words, but barely has time to draw it out of the ground before the assault begins anew. They are less successful at dodging the needles this time, as they are all focused on two instead of three. By the end of the wave, they are covered in scratches, and breathing heavily from their attempts to dodge. Naru is attempting a Rasengan again, but with just as little luck. "Damn, we're completely outmatched!"

"I'm not done yet! Multi-shadow clone jutsu!" He creates a hundred clones who go to attack the mirrors. Haku does nothing as they punch the mirrors. All the clones fall back, nursing their hands. "Damn, it's hard!"

Sakura is struck by inspiration. "Naru, quick, why can't you do the Rasengan!?"

"Is this really the time to be instructing me!?"

"Just tell me!!!"

"It's hard enough to create the power! I can't focus enough to make the form as well."

"Then divie up the task!" Naru looked are her, confused. "Use one of your clones to control form while you control power!"

Naru grinned. "Great idea, but not yet!"

Haku readies her needles again. 'That bitch. She may be able to make a plan if she lives as well. She must go now!!' She throws, this time aiming all of them at Sakura. Naru sees this, and runs to guard her. She manages to get there in time, blocking nearly half with her huge sword. "You OK, Sakura?" She hears a thump behind her, and sees Sakura has fallen as well. She turns back to Haku. "Damn you! Damn you to Hell!!!" She yells, unleashing all her rage.

"That's right! Suffer! Suffer like I did when you killed Zabuza!" Yelled Haku, gloating. 'Finally, after this brat, I just need to-" Suddenly she felt an evil chakra radiating from the blond. She started radiating with a red chakra, her features slightly changing to be more canine, feral. Her hair spiked up slightly, her eyes turned red, and her canines became more pronounced.

"Damn you!" She drops her sword, falling onto all fours. "You Will pay for this! Die!" Naru charges a mirror, fist pulled back. Haku hastily threw her needles, but to little effect. The chakra was altering their course, and missed vitals. 'Shit!' she thought as Naru punched the mirror, breaking it, but missing Haku. 'Damn, that was close.' She can't even think anything else before Naru charges again, letting out a feral yell. She breaks another mirror, panicing Haku. 'Is she even human!? I've got to choice!'

Haku starts making signs, and manages to finish before Naru hits another mirror. "Ice style: Crystal Ice Prison!" Her remaining mirrors start to meld together, and form a dome around Naru, 6 in diameter, in a perfect half-sphere. "Ever since that day, I've trained, and pushed, and developed! Now you will see the fruits of my effort!" She readied her needles and threw.

Author's note: For those who don't know, Haku's justu allows her to move between her mirrors at high speeds, throwing needles meanwhile, mking it seem as though each reflection is throwing them. In this enhanced version, the Crystal Ice Prison, she can move almost instantaniously from one end to the other, not only because of the smaller space, but because she can move freely in the dome, instead of moving between mirrors.

The needles seem to come from everywhere at once, practically making her a human quiver. She began to growl, and jumped up and punched the top of the dome. The impact barely cracked it, and it almost immediately resealed. "It's no use. It is dozens of times stronger than-" Haku stopped in mid sentence as Naru picked up her sword. Chakra started flowing through it, gathering along the outside of the blade, spinning at high speed, and looping around, until it looked like a blue swirling chainsaw was spinning around her blade. She looks up at the top of the dome again, and readies her attack. Panicing, Haku throws her needles, but Naru pays them no mind.

"Rasengan.." Naru began before she jumped and swung at the dome, a crazed look in her eye. "Slicer!" The blade cut straight through the dome, breaking the jutsu. Haku fell away as the chakra on the blade exploded from lack of control, having only been able to control it for a few seconds. Naru got back up, and turned to walk to the weakened Haku.

Haku started backing away, managing to make it to her feet. Naru was slightly faster, though. "Please, I, I'm sorry. I was just so angry! Zabuza was my only friend, he-"

"Don't care."

Haku looked into her eyes, and say pure bloodlust. "Wh, what? I thought you leaf were kind! Forgiving!"

"Sorry. That wasn't what I was taught." Her eyes gained a glimmer of evil. "I was taught, if my comrads, my friends, my family is hurt, to pummel them by any means necessary." Naru was right next to her now, blade readied at her throat, looking down at her. "You killed my only two friends, The only people I've ever loved. You can't be forgiven." She spins, and swings her sword in a 360 degree arc, lopping off her head.