Incoming

"Great job Naruto, you managed to walk up a tree, and stick to it well enough for combat in just a couple days. I'm very proud of you. Haruko, we haven't made much progress with your new style, but you've made great strides in genjutsu, good enough to have kept Naruto trapped in one for a whole day now."

"Huh?" Naruto asked while looking at Haruko "What does he mean I'm in a genjutsu?"

"Notice anything weird about the leaves?"

"No? they're blue just like they always have been!" Naruto looked upset over the line of questioning, but Kakashi, and Haruko couldn't hold in their laughter. "Are leaves not blue?" Naruto looked like his whole life was ruined. Feeling guilty, Haruko released the genjutsu. "GREEN? wait blue? Which is real guy's cmon! they are green right?"

"Yes they have always been green you big idiot."

"I'm not an idiot Haruko!"

"Just incapable of observing your surroundings?" Kakashi added while looking disappointed.

"Something as obvious as the leaves turning blue when they have been green your whole life means either Haruko is a master of genjutsu, or you're an idiot."

"I'm definitely not a master. Kakashi sensei. Guess that means you're just that dumb buddy."

"I'M NOT DUMB!" Naruto was stomping around while pouting.

"To be fair he was really distracted with his training."

"That's the lesson I've been trying to teach you two idiots! Quit getting distracted with every little thing! We're being hunted, you cannot relax or drop your guard!"

"Why? because your clone hiding in the tree over there is going to toss kunai at us both in a few seconds?" Haruko asked while a wall of clones appeared in front of him.

'What I didn't tell Kakashi, or Naruto is that all the clones created with the protostyle can be controlled like a hive mind, with the option of a continuous sense share loop which could be active or not. No verbal commands needed, jutsu thought.'

The kunai flew through the air, and embedded in one of the clones who removed it before melting down to the ground in a mass of black, and red tentacles which rejoined with Haruko's body.

'Another important distinction is when they're destroyed they turn into liquid biomass, and can move towards me for re absorption. Even better, they can kill, and absorb things, and then return the biomass to me. The clone did not die from the kunai, I just didn't want to leave an injured one around.'

Naruto similarly allowed a clone to tank the hit while awaiting orders.

"Haruko, you take the fun out of training if you tell him what's going to happen." Kakashi exclaimed while mocking anger. "Jokes aside, you're doing great with your sensor training as well. I'm very proud of the two of you. Soon I'm going to try to get some chakra paper so we can test your elemental affinities, and then we can do a limited amount of practice with that knowledge."

"Sounds good Lord Dog Man!"

Kakashi swung his hand down in a chopping motion, but one of the Haruko's took the hit, and disappeared, Haruko nodded to himself before all 8 of the remaining one's turned their arm's into blades, and rushed after Kakashi. While Haruko was applying an amount of pressure, Kakashi had yet to break into a sweat. While Haruko excelled in all things physical, his progress with the arm blade had been slower due to a lack of practice. Kakashi was dodging, kicking, and slapping blades away as though he had no fear. A few kunai had been tossed out, and embedded in the shoulders of 3 Haruko before they melted down.

With no verbal command all 5 remaining Haruko shunshin'd in different directions before reappearing stabbing towards kakashi. Catching one Haruko Kakashi sent it into the next, Sidestepping a blade which grazed the edge of his jacket Kakashi's foot had extended out, tripping that Haruko. Another descended from above, Kakashi slapped the blade before griping Haruko by the midsection, and slamming him to the ground. A final Haruko laid in wait, and when Kakashi had caught the final one the real Haruko launched forward, and kicked with all his might at Kakashi's legs, only for Kakashi to do a little hop, and completely avoid the sliding drop kick.

Real Haruko used his power slide to grab hold of his clone, who then tossed him up in the air. The two clones remaining launched themselves at Kakashi doing their best to hold his attention. In mid air Haruko swapped over to Mizu, puffed his cheeks up, and launched a fire ball down utop Kakashi's head. Hearing the unfamiliar voice from above, Kakashib moved faster than the clones could react. "Earth style: Earth dome"

The fireball crashed against the dome with a small explosion. The clone's were caught up in the explosion, and had melted down faster than the rest.

'Do I have a weakness to fire?'

Haruko morphed back into himself while landing on top of the earthen dome. His eyes darted around while looking for signs of Kakashi. To avoid falling for a classic trick he turned around, and looked below him before jumping up at the last second. Narrowly avoiding a kunai, Haruko twisted in the air, and landed while sliding back a bit.

"You're doing much better than before Haruko."

"Thank you sensei. It's late now so I'm heading to bed, goodnight you two."

Naruto, and Kakashi had stayed outside to continue training while Haruko went inside. Taking off his clothes, and taking a quick shower, Haruko flopped down in bed. Performing a few hand signs 6 clones of himself popped out from his back. "Alright I'm going to sleep, your job is to go out, and hunt animals, and consume them. It's time to get this ball rolling. Come back after I wake up." The 6 Haruko headed out the front door, and began searching all over for various animals.

Kakashi POV

'The kids are coming along great. I expected Naruto to struggle more than he has, but he has surprised me time, and time again. Haruko surprises me in a very different way. There's a lot about that kid that's strange. He quickly flips between a young kid to an adult that knows more about life than he should. I believe he's deeply traumatized from being experimented on as a baby, and the other events that have transpired since he was young. He has several advantages despite that, his eyes, his bloodline, and his drive for strength are all working in unison to create a very well rounded, powerful, and quickly developing ninja. His ability to absorb those he kills is quite horrifying if I think about it for too long, but I don't feel like he will go down the road of evil. He seems almost too full of love, and wanderlust to become what his power should make him.'

Kakashi watched as Naruto fought with himself over, and over again. On occasion he would give the young boy advice, and guide his practice. Naruto himself was walking up, and down a tree while his clones had their massive brawl.

Kakashi's eye was constantly darting around the area, and noticed 6 Haruko leaving the house, and entering the forest. One had caught a rabbit, snapped its neck, and the tendrils sucked it into his body.

'Yeah, that's as gross as I thought it would be.I'm assuming he went to sleep while sending them out to practice hunting or something along those lines.'

While Kakashi was watching the clone's he noticed an odd movement, and went to check it out.

"Summoning jutsu!"

With a puff a small dog appeared, the dog was a small brown pug wearing a leaf headband, and a blue jacket with depictions of scarecrows.

"Hey kid." The dog directed towards Kakashi.

"Pakkun, can you look around for me? I have the feeling we're being watched."

"Sure thing kid, but you owe me."

Pakkun set off through the forest, and returned shortly after.

"There's another scent here in the forest aside from our's. It's not either of your kids."

"They aren't my kids. Did you follow the source?"

"Sure kid. I did it led in circles, Whoever it was is either covering their tracks, or has left."

"Okay, just in case. Summoning jutsu!"

7 more dog's of various breeds appeared.

"We have an unexpected guest, find them for me guys."

With a few noises of acknowledgement the Ninken set out to do their job.

"Naruto go inside now."

"Why Kakashi?"

"We may have a visitor, I don't want you getting used as a hostage."

"Gotcha!" Surprised, Kakashi Naruto headed inside without a fuss. Once inside he went directly to Haruko's room.

"Wake up lazy bones!"

"Go away Naruto"

"Kakashi says there's somebody here, and for us to get out of the way."

"Think it's another assassin? We've only been here a few days though."

"That's my guess. C'mon let's go watch the fight!"

"Naruto we should stay out of the way."

"That's lame cmon!" Naruto was actively dragging Haruko out of the bed while saying encouraging things.