Chapter 5: Survival Training

AN: Back with another chapter, sorry it has been so long, but I've had a combination of writer's block and losing what I had saved. Never trust the document copy and paste file on this site, lessoned learned. Still I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and please leave a review either explaining what you liked, what you disliked, suggestions and any problems you have with my writings.

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The time has come for survival training in the woods. They've all been taught how to survive with limited resources and how to identify key plants and features in the woods around Konoha. The teams were randomly selected. Naruto was with a girl named Ami, and Shino Aburame. Naruto took to these lessons very well, considering he loves living in Nature. They were brought to a random training ground, Training ground 14. The landscape is heavily forested with a hill in the center with rocky outcroppings near the south facing end of the hill, overlooking a small river. They set up near the river in the shadow of the outcropping. Ami set up the shelters, complaining about not getting in a team with Sasuke, Shino was stoic and quiet as he set up the fire and gathered wood for use through the night, and Naruto was smiling as he was setting up traps in the water to catch fish.

"Yatta! Fish!" Naruto jumped up excitedly holding up four small fish. "Shino, is the fire ready?"

"Yes."

"Finally!" Ami got up from her bed of leaves, "I'm starved. Let's fry them fishies up and eat."

Naruto handed the fish to Shino so he could cook them. Shino also brought out a bayleaf wrap that seemed to contain seasonings and spices. After seasoning the fish, Shino used the bayleaf in the boiling water to make tea for dinner. "Itadakimasu!"

As they were all laying down next to the fire star gazing, Naruto said to them both, "This is the part of living in the woods I absolutely love."

"I'll admit, it's nice. Fish was good by the way Shino. Didn't know you were a great cook." Ami said, patting her belly.

Shino nodded, "I utilized a bay leaf wrapped spices that I carry with me for when I must camp out. Why? Because my mother taught me how to use them so that flavor will not be absent. Absent flavor equals low morale. Low morale gets ninjas killed. A happy ninja is a living ninja."

"Huh," Naruto gained a thoughtful expression, "I never thought about it that way." He then yawned as he turned over to face away from the fire. "Goodnight you two." The other two responded in the same way before they too turned and fell asleep. Naruto slept well, with a smile on his face.

The next day, at the Hokage's tower, Iruka sensei was giving a report to the Sandaime Hokage. "... and the team in training ground 14, involving Shino Aburame, Ami, and Naruto Uzumaki, have secured a camping base and a food and water source before night fall, the fastest of the teams. They've worked well together. Unfortunately they left no watch and let their fire die down during the night. They, along with several other teams, grew complacent during the first night. That is all for the first day of survival training." Iruka ended emotionlessly. He was standing at attention in front of Hiruzen.

"Very good. I expected this much of all the teams, though I am disappointed that none seem to remember the most important part of survival training. I authorize for you, use of sabotage tactics during the night from now on." Hiruzen gave his orders, and as he was about to dismiss Iruka, a stork masked ANBU appeared.

"Sandaime-sama, a team of three shinobi from Iwa have entered our border via Kusagakure. We have an ANBU squad tailing them now. However the battle may spill over into the academy survival training grounds."

Sarutobi's eyes widen at that, while Iruka immediately left, running with chakra enhanced legs towards the training grounds. 'If the path remains accurate, there are two training grounds where the intruders can end up, either in training ground 14 or 16.' Iruka pushed himself to go faster.

Meanwhile at training ground 14, Naruto was the first to wake up. He cleaned the ashes before he went to relieve himself in the bushes. After he dropped his orange pants but before he could release, a ninja with an Iwagakure headband came out from nowhere, dodging several kunai that thunked into the earth wall he quickly made. Naruto turned around at the noise and was stunned and scared enough that he ended up peeing on the Iwa kunoichi's leg. It was about ten seconds of stunned silence between all three people there. The ANBU sweatdropped at the sight, the Iwa kunoichi grew a large vein in anger, and Naruto kept peeing the entire time. Naruto was the first to move as he brought his pants back up.

"Sumimasen," he said before he started stiffly walking away.

"Oi you brat! Get back here so I can-" she was suddenly cut off with a kunai to her throat, her blood drenched the ground and Naruto's face when he turned back at her suddenly speaking up. He flinched when he felt her wet life fluid splatter across his face. He couldn't quite comprehend it. The ANBU in a tiger mask nodded to him in thanks before disappearing towards the sounds of fighting. Naruto simply stood there frozen in fear and horror. The body was taken by the ANBU but Naruto could still see her face as the kunai pierced her neck. Shock was all he remembers seeing. The phantom image of her body still burned into his conscience. He retched out last night's dinner.

He was holding himself up against a tree expelling his guts when Shino and Ami awoke and found him. "Are you ok, Naruto?" Shino asked. Naruto didn't answer. All Naruto could see was his puke and the face of her final moments flashing through his brain.

There was a sound off in the distance of clashing kunai and other weapons. A roar that sounded like a large beast. Deep and strong like earth. The sound of whooshing flames. Battle in the distance and all around them. Shino and Ami were confused but they did their best to get Naruto further under the outcropping to hide. Naruto was still out of it.

Iruka had made it in time to see Shino and Ami hide Naruto. He kept an eye on them while also keeping track of the battles. 'So far,' Iruka thought, 'I can hear only one battle. Which either means the others are further outside my range or that's where it's contained.' Iruka made his way towards Shino's group. 'Either way, I have to get these kids out of here.' "Shino, Ami, Naruto. You guys need to come out and evacuate the area."

Shino and Ami exited with Naruto in tow. He was looking less pale, but was still pretty out of it. "Sensei, Naruto is not feeling well. Considering the sounds of battle and the blood on him, I believe Naruto may have witnessed one of the battles to the conclusion."

Iruka spoke to Naruto, kneeling in front of him hesitantly, "Hey… you okay?" There was no response so he continued, "I know witnessing the duties of a ninja first hand can be… overwhelming, but you need to stay strong. Your team needs you so you three can leave this are quickly. Now snap out of it and do your duty." He hesitantly put his hand on Naruto's head, patted him awkwardly once, twice, thrice. Naruto seemed to come back down to earth with that, nodded with a look of determined fire in his eyes.

The three of them started moving along the path back to the main meeting area. Iruka had contacted other teachers from the academy through an emergency flare earlier, but he still swept through the other training fields sending other teams back. Soon everyone was gathered with the academy instructors taking defensive positions around the children. The ANBU apprehended one of the three intruders alive, but the other two were killed. The survival exercise was canceled due to extreme duress. The rest of the test was taken as a written test.

"Okay class, settle down." It was the last day of the second year, so of course they wouldn't settle down. "I said, SETTLE DOWN, NOW!" the year's last use of the Big Head Jutsu. It worked just as well as the rest. Since that day though, Naruto has been quieter. He's still cheerful on the surface, but he's quieted down. He hasn't pulled any pranks since that day almost a full week and a half ago. Sakura noticed this the most, and after having talked with Shino and Naruto separately. Naruto said nothing and that he was fine, while Shino told a different tale altogether. Naruto witnessed a real ninja battle, and probably his first death as well. Killing animals is one thing, but witnessing a real human die is something different altogether.

Sakura was understandably worried, but as today was the last day, she knew she'd be able to ask him more about it. She didn't want her friend to carry this burden. Finally the last day of the second year at the academy ended. Sakura quickly went to catch up with Naruto who left immediately after the class ended. "Naruto!"

He turned to see Sakura, "oh, hey Sakura!" His smile was fake. Sakura hugged Naruto for a second. "W-what was that for?"

Sakura responded, "are you okay? I heard from Shino what might have happened. Do you need to speak to someone? I'm here for you if you need it."

Sasuke also came up at that point with Ino following him. "Yeah, you haven't been yourself, what happened?" Sasuke looked into Naruto's eyes and realized what's wrong. "Oh."

Ino piped up then, "'oh', what's 'oh?' Something bad 'oh?'"

"Guys, I'm okay. I'll get over it." Naruto said. Then, much quieter, he finished with, "I have to."

Sakura gave Naruto a sad look. "Still Naruto, it might benefit you to talk about it. Let it out to help move on," Sakura tried to convince him.

"Yeah, if it's a psychological problem, you can always talk to my cousin. She is a psychologist that specializes in shinobi psychological health," Ino suggested.

Naruto looked at his friends, who all were looking at him with worry. He hesitated. Then said, "I… I guess I can do that. I'll do that."

Ino smiled at him. "Great, we can set it up now," Ino left as she said that. The group followed behind her as she led them to the Yamanaka compound, which was only a block in length, starting with the flower shop and ending with the Yamanaka Mind Clinic. Ino managed to get an appointment for Naruto for the next day.

"So, Naruto. Would you like to tell me how your day is going?" the therapist Nodoka asked.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, "it has been going okay, I guess." Naruto then admitted, "I'm just, ya know, a bit uncomfortable."

Nodoka nodded, "it's a safe space here Naruto, where no one will judge, no one will hurt you. You can be yourself here." Naruto took a deep breath, before he started to slowly open up.