Chapter 4: Forbidden Training

Naruto untied the ribbon around the scroll before gradually opening it and looking at the detailed inscriptions inside. He stared at the writing with wonder before looking back at his mentor with a silent 'thank you.'

Jiraiya couldn't help but feel better at the young blonde's resolve. Even though he was about to lose everything he was prepared to do anything for his village. "That technique takes a great toll on the body. In order for you to be able to successfully accomplish it you need to physically improve."

The vessel of the Kyuubi listened attentively before his sensei continued. "As I'm sure you have realised, Kakashi's method of training helps you gain knowledge and develop your understanding of ninjutsu really quickly. It even helps with chakra control however it doesn't physically improve your body. That is why your speed and strength are still lacking."

"Yeah…I know." The blonde looked gloomy as he said this knowing that he needed to improve his physical condition in order to stand up against members of Akatsuki. "Even though, I'm better than Kakashi-sensei in ninjutsu he can still beat me in an all out fight when I'm not using Kyuubi's chakra."

"That is where I will help you." Naruto felt relief and gratitude towards his sensei. "I have a training method that will increase your physical attributes at an exponential rate."

Naruto looked tremendously happy, "All right! Now you're talking Ero-Sennin. I knew you'd have something up your sleeve." Naruto stopped and began stroking his chin contemplating something before he spoke up again, "Did you just come out with it recently?"

The white haired Sannin replied in a serious manner, "Actually I've known about it for a long time."

The blonde looked shocked at the revelation before he had a small outburst, "NANI? Why didn't you teach it to me when we were on our training trip?"

Jiraiya laughed at the blonde gennin, "Because...it's a forbidden method."

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Sakura walked towards her team's normal meeting place. Ever since Sasuke had returned everything had to a great extent returned to normal. She felt happy knowing that in the end Naruto had kept his promise and Sasuke himself wasn't as distant as he was before he left. Although he still avoided starting conversations he wouldn't grunt and turn away whenever he was asked his opinion on matters.

Team 7 was reunited and it felt just like the old times when they were together. She saw the bridge up ahead and was surprised to see that only the Uchiha was there and Naruto was nowhere to be seen. This was peculiar as he would normally be the first one there. She hadn't seen the blonde genin a lot in recent times and had got concerned when he didn't appear at the celebration of Orochimaru's death. She felt relieved when she had talked to Ino the day before having been informed by her friend that the hyperactive ninja was just recovering from his gruelling battle.

She walked onto the bridge over the flowing stream, "Ohayo, Sakuke-kun."

The young Uchiha was leaning onto the railing of the bridge looking into the water below as the fish jumped. He looked towards the pink haired medic upon her greeting and gave her a nod of acknowledgment.

"I see Naruto hasn't arrived yet." Tsunade's student decided to walk over to the railing near Sasuke and leaned against it.

"No, he hasn't." The Uchiha expressed his surplus retort. He carried on staring into the water which was sparkling due to the sunlight bouncing off its surface and continued, "I haven't seen much of him lately." The black haired young man was deep in thought about his companion's strange behaviour as of late.

"Neither have I." She frowned when saying this but quickly had a smile plastered across her face, "I wouldn't worry about it. He was at the Yamanka's flower shop yesterday. He told Ino that he was just tired from the battle 2 weeks ago."

Sasuke straightened up and folded his arms across his chest, "He was at a flower shop? Did Ino happen to say why he was there?" his question was nonchalant.

Sakura looked at him with a confused expression, "To buy flowers most likely. Why does it matter that he decided to buy flowers?"

The calm young man looked at her, "The question is not whether he bought the flowers but for whom?"

The pink haired girl was thinking enquiringly about her team mates words. A series of situations began to run through her mind before she stopped at a particular one. Could he have found a special girl? Suddenly the young kunoichi felt her insides twinge with a bizarre feeling towards Naruto. She couldn't understand what she was feeling towards the blonde but she felt angry nonetheless. 'Shannaro, Naruto, I'll freaking kill you.'

The air was filled with a familiar 'poof' and the entrance of their perverted sensei. He gave them a relaxed wave followed by his usual greeting, "Yo." He looked in the direction of his two students and found the stoic Uchiha glaring at him whilst the medic of his team spoke in an icy tone, "You're late Kakashi-sensei."

"Heh heh, you see I was excited at the fact that we were to have our first team meeting in such a long time, I overslept!" Sakura looked at the jounin confused as to what exactly to make of the excuse. Whereas Sasuke just raised his left eyebrow slightly, showing the ex-Anbu that he was sceptical also.

The jounin simply cleared his throat, "Since Sasuke's not allowed to leave the village, for the time being our missions as a team are constricted to being within Konoha's boundaries. Hence our first mission as a team is to fill in at the academy." He looked at them with his trademark lazy eye.

Sakura swiftly spoke, "Naruto, that baka, isn't here yet." She looked towards the entrance way to the bridge half expecting him to pop up at any minute.

The lazy jounin answered the young kunoichi as realisation dawned on his face, "Oh, the other reason why I was late was because I was summoned to the Hokage's office this morning being informed that Naruto wouldn't be partaking in missions until later as he is still recovering from exhaustion."

Sasuke smirked whilst inside he was perplexed since he knew that Naruto would take missions even if he was beaten half to death especially one as simple as this. Sakura purely spoke her thoughts, "That seems strange."

Kakashi dismissed his students, "Don't worry about it, I'm sure he'll be better in no time." 'I hope' he added as an afterthought to himself. "Come on, we have a mission to complete." With that said the three ninjas made their way to the academy.

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"Forbidden?" The blonde's voice hinted at his confusion and eagerness, "Why is it forbidden?"

Jiraiya merely continued in a professional manner of speaking, "This form of training is better than any performance enhancing drugs or method which would boost your physical capabilities in a short period of time. This combined with the method that Kakashi has taught you will propel you to a level which I would struggle against. It is a combined creation of mine and the Yondaime's. He was the only one who has ever used this form of training."

Naruto had numerous questions that needed answering, "Yeah, but if it can help a ninja become strong so fast why would it be forbidden?"

"This training method is good for a shinobi in the short term. The long term effects are devastating to say the least. It puts a great strain on your body thus in the long run your body would become damaged to the point where you would no longer be able to remain a shinobi. Because of this the Yondaime and I decided it would be best not to use this particular method considering the fact sacrificing a person's body for a short term spree of power is not clever."

"Wait, you said the Yondaime used this method. Wasn't he affected by it?" The vessel was impatient for an answer.

"Yes I did. He only used it for a few days. When he stopped he was bed ridden for 2 days. However his strength and speed increased by a large amount that would not be possible if he was training normally. He wasn't affected by it because he stopped before overusing it. We decided after, that putting a continuous strain like that on your body would damage your muscles in the long term."

The blonde who was now sitting cross legged quickly absorbed the information. "I understand. You're teaching me because since I don't have long left as it is, the negative points of the method don't apply to me."

The frog hermit gave his student a heart warming smile, "Precisely! It will help you gain the power you need."

"So what is it?" By this time his blue eyes showed the willingness and hunger he was feeling inside as he waited to hear his mentor's words.

"It is a seal that alters the effect of gravity on your body." The older man kept his eyes pointing away from the younger shinobi as he explained.

"Wait, Ero-Sennin. Isn't that the same as using Chakra weights?"

Jiraiya started laughing at his student's lack of understanding, "There is a big difference gaki. When you use chakra weights they don't affect your body equally. If you place weights on your arms and legs, the muscles in those parts of your body will be a lot stronger than the ones in your chest, neck, stomach and the other parts that didn't carry any weights. As you should know the force that gravity exerts on our bodies is balanced. There is not too much of it so it isn't hard to move about and there isn't too less of it so that we float."

Naruto nodded his head absorbing all the information like the proverbial sponge while the Icha Icha author continued, "The seal I will place on you can only be done by someone who is a master of seals. It will tip the balance of the forces so gravity is dominating largely. It will affect every single muscle in your body and you will feel like the ground is pulling you in. There is no respite from this method. Chakra weights only affect you when you move; this will effect you when you attempt to sit down, when you go to sleep. You will always feel the constant effect of being pulled in. Your muscles will never rest whilst you have the seal activated. It takes a great deal of will power to be able to sustain this form of training…but I believe in you to be able to do it."

Naruto knew that this would be the single hardest form of training he would ever experience however he had to partake in it to become strong enough to finish off the Akatsuki. "I understand, I'm ready whenever you are."

Jiraiya had a smile on his face as he nodded, "Before I place the seal I'll teach you how to deactivate it since it'll be a lot harder for you to listen when I've put it on."

"Deactivate? I thought I would keep it on continuously."

Jiraiya looked at his student as if he was stupid, "Baka! Haven't you been listening? Your muscles will never get the chance to rest whilst the seal is activated. It is important for you to deactivate the seal for a full 24 hours once a week so you can rest up and get used to your body's improvements."

Naruto sheepishly scratched the back of his head, "Gomen, no need to get worked up."

"When you have to deactivate the seal channel some chakra into your hand before placing it over where your heart is and say Juushin Fuuin Kai."

Jiraiya told Naruto to take off his jacket and shirt as he gave him his final instruction, "As soon as I place the seal be ready to fight with everything you've got. If you're not careful this method could kill you. Be aware at all times."

Naruto got ready placing himself directly in front of Jiraiya before a glow began to appear on the Sannins hand, "Juushin Tonkyou Fuuin!" The legendary ninja drove his hand into the blonde's chest above where his heart was.

Naruto found himself flying backwards from the force of the technique used on him and landed on his back. He turned onto his hands and knees before remarking, "That wasn't so b…" He couldn't finish his sentence as there was a small flash on his left pectoral before an intricate set of patterns appeared and he felt himself be pulled in to the ground. He collapsed under the pressure falling face first into the ground with heavy impact.

"Naruto!" Jiraiya cried out in concern.

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Nara Shikamaru was on the porch of his house playing a game of shougi with his sensei. The lazy chuunin kept a laid back expression on his face before making his move. He liked to relax and was lazy by nature however after the mission where he fought against Hidan he savoured the moments where he would play shougi regardless of whether they weren't much of a challenge.

"You know sensei. I still don't understand what you meant."

Sarutobi Asuma took another drag of his cigarette before he contemplated on making his move. "I thought you would've figured it out by now." He looked at the board intently whilst trying to make a suitable move that his student wouldn't easily counter. He had never beaten the young genius in a game of shougi however he would sometimes put on a rare performance resulting in a close game.

"If the king is taken it means checkmate. The game is over, however if the Hokage isn't the king that we should all protect, then what is?"

Asuma blew out the smoke from his mouth before re-entering his cigarette. He made his move as he answered the first chuunin of the rookie 9. "In what light do you see this village? What does it stand for? What is so important that it can't be replaced? After you can answer those questions for yourself you will understand."

Shikamaru began analysing the questions he would need to answer in order to understand fully the concept that his sensei was trying to drive into his head. They continued playing shougi whilst Shikamaru tried to solve what in his mind was the hardest problem he had ever come across.

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Jiraiya moved forward but stopped when he saw Naruto struggle against the force being applied on him.

The blonde tried his hardest but felt as if all his muscles would be ripped from his body. He was feeling pain all over his body as he slowly moved his hands into a press up position to try and hoist himself back onto his feet.

The white haired ninja stepped around Naruto so he was standing a few feet away from his head. He bent down on his knees before addressing his apprentice who was sprawled out on the ground, "Don't become impatient Naruto. Take your time to understand how to work around the seal. Even the Yondaime couldn't get to his feet until a good 7 or 8 hours had passed."

The blonde moved slowly, inches of his body were complying with his commands. He felt as if half the bones in his face had been broken. His fall into the ground at such a fast rate had left a small crater around his body. He knew that this would take everything he had and would be tremendously hard. Sweat drifted from all parts of his body as the minutes dragged on by, while he was feeling as he was fighting for his life. He found himself experiencing a variety of emotions shifting from helplessness to anger and then to defeat. No, he couldn't give up as the very path he had walked his whole life prevented him to do so. He wouldn't go against his nindo.

"Ugh…" Through all of his strength he moved his legs upwards to try and put his knees below him. He managed to get his right knee under himself while his left leg was still behind him.

Jiraiya looked on at his student with awe and admiration at his determination. 'You've suffered so much Naruto.' His eyes drifted to Naruto's face which had now become visible as the blood slowly dripped from various cuts on his visage. The blonde's nose looked as if it had been crushed. 'But you've never given up even after life throws so many obstacles in your way'. After struggling for a few more minutes the blond managed to get both his knees underneath himself as he tried to lift one of his knees so that his foot would be flat on the ground.

"Kuso…" The genin had another burst of energy and he threw all of it into moving his foot onto the ground in a flat position before attempting to stand.

The legendary Sannin looked on proudly at the containers progress. He had in 3 quarters of an hour got in to a position to nearly stand up, a feat which had taken the Yondaime himself 3 hours to accomplish. 'No matter what the villagers have said, slowly they are all beginning to realise. I believe in you.'

"I…" Jiraiya looked at his student keenly as he began to speak. "…made a promise…" The blonde was now trying his hardest to get his legs straight before he could straighten out his back and stand. "…to Ojiisan." He managed to get both his legs under him but was now fighting to straighten out his back. "I WON'T GO BACK ON MY WORDS! THAT'S MY WAY OF THE NINJA!"

The perverted hermit had a large smile on his face as he felt the feeling of joy run through him. 'Show them all Naruto...'

The blonde screamed out of frustration and large effort. "I WON'T BREAK MY FINAL PROMISE!" With all his remaining energy and determination, Naruto sprang up straightening his back and finally stood upright; his upper body glistened with the sweat that had left trails all over his body. The articles of clothing that remained had become drenched with sweat as he panted heavily from all his exhaustion.

'…what it means to be a true shinobi.'

Juushin Fuuin Kai - Gravity Seal Release (Original)

Juushin Tonkyou Fuuin - Gravity Disarray Seal (Original)