Naruto: The New Sealmaster

Aoshi had been told to gather at training ground 14. This was a training ground specifically made to practise all sorts of nature transformation jutsu. He wondered why Hachiro had called him there but he figured it was best to not ponder too much and go with the flow.

Once he reached the ground he was met by Dai and Kazuto sitting by a large rock discussing among themselves. "Yo! Do you two know why we've been called?"

A smile shone up on their faces as they saw Aoshi. The amount of nights out on missions when they only had each other to talk to, really formed a bond between them. It was Kazuto who spoke up. "Aoshi! I thought it was going to be some special training for us Genin without a personal teacher..but apparently Udon didn't get invited and here you are.."

Aoshi sat down next to them and took out some dango he shared with them. "So no idea either then?" Both Dai and Kazuto shook their heads. Aoshi sighed. "Let's hope it's good news then. Is this the first time you're invited to a training ground except for the one you share with all of the rest?"

Dai took two pieces of dango into his mouth at the same time and answered with a large smile. "Yeah. It's rather exciting, I wonder what we'll do."

Aoshi took out another stick of dango and gave it to Dai. "Nature transformation for sure. This is the training ground for it." Kazuto and Dai high fived each other and looked around to see what Aoshi meant and the training ground was split into five different sections, one for each basic element. "Hope one of you has a fire affinity, I could use someone to pair my wind style with."

Kazuto looked towards Aoshi with awe "You've already gotten started then? Yeah, let's hope I get fire. It would be so cool to combine attacks."

Kazuto had become more and more his old energetic self from the academy with time. It seems the initial training breaks most candidates but once you get some self-esteem back, you return to who you used to be. Dai was still a rather calm silent type though. He mainly nodded along and ate his dango. It was impressive that a guy who ate so many sweets had muscle definition like Dai. The guy was impressive for his age, that's for sure.

It was at this moment their leader appeared in front of them. Aoshi wasn't all that surprised since he sensed him using the shunshin from a bit away.

"Aoshi, Kazuto and Dai. Do you know why I called you here today?" Kazuto yelled out enthusiastically "Nature transformation!?"

Hachiro chuckled but soon got back his serious look. "Partly. The reason you three are here is because I intend on suggesting you three for the chunin exams in a couple of months and you need team practice."

At those words Aoshi felt such immense relief. He only had one more chance to rank up and he now had confirmation that he would at least be able to compete. This was a huge milestone for every genin and it showed on the faces of Dai and Kazuto that he wasn't the only one with emotions flowing through him.

The other two were excited and baffled in their own way, but Hachiro interrupted them all. "I have several instructions from the Hokage himself. These scrolls are for you two." He threw Kazuto and Dai their respective scrolls.

"Since a tight team doesn't hide things, I'm just going to say what's in them out loud." They all nodded without hesitation, they had no need for secrets among them.

"Kazuto's scroll is a peculiar one. It seems Sarutobi Hiruzen is giving you a way of becoming a member of your mother's clan. That clan is in fact the Sarutobi clan if you didn't know." Aoshi looked over to see Kazuto's eyes as wide as saucers, he clearly didn't know. "Yes. That is confirmed news. And inside are some tests and challenges for you only. If you complete it you'll become a member of the clan and receive all the benefits. I've heard every Sarutobi gets a Monkey when they become adults. This is one of the perks when you complete this, I assume."

Kazuto hugged the scroll for dear life with a grin on his face and tears in his eyes. This was his chance to prove himself, to become someone. He wouldn't fail. While Kazuto opened his scroll, Hachiro went on. "Dai, you don't have a clan to belong to. But the Hokage and others believe you are very well suited for a branch of techniques the Akimichi invented a while back. They will strengthen your body and make it harder than most solids if you do it right."

Dai was more reserved but it was clear he truly appreciated this. It was very rare for orphans to get hold of any kind of special techniques like these. This was the kind of thing you usually inherited.

"And that's it. You will both study these, when you're not studying for the nature transformation I will be teaching you." And Hachiro took out two pieces of paper. "Put these between two fingers and Channel your chakra into them. Don't imagine anything, or wish for anything. Just do it with an empty mind."

The two boys took the pieces of paper and stood up. The two next to each other was almost comical. Dai was tall and wide. His face was square and he looked like he was sculpted our of stone. Kazuto on the other hand was a small kid in every way. The only large thing about him was his nose. Both stood there side by side and focused on their paper. A second later, one burnt to a crisp and the other crumbled to dirt. Both boys looked up at their teacher.

Hachiro clapped. "Congratulations! Kazuto, you have a fire affinity. Dai, you have an earth affinity. Both are rather common in Konoha, especially fire. This means you'll easily be able to find techniques and not spend time creating your own." They shared a look and high fived again. Kazuto then looked over to Aoshi and gave him a thumbs up. "We'll get our combination attack as well!"

Hachiro nodded approvingly. "Wind can easily be used to power fire so it makes the planned set up even better." That got all of their attention and Hachiro started explaining. "When it's just the three of you, Dai will be your frontrunner. He will try to use close range attacks. Kazuto will prefer to keep further back with shuriken and ninjutsu but will complement Dai with his bojutsu. Aoshi, on the other hand, should always keep his distance. He should probably form your plans and support wherever necessary. He can use fairly long range jutsu but most of his talents can be used to ensure that if you have to fight, you'll do it on the best terms possible. Genjutsus, seals, traps and tactics. Those are what I wish to mainly see from you, Aoshi. I understand you've learnt how to use basic healing as well, and I expect you to use it moderately in the field. Only when necessary. Healing a small wound would only be a waste of your limited chakra pool. Do you all understand?"

A chorus of "Yes, sensei!" Was heard before Dai remembered to ask. "What will happen to Udon?" This question made Hachiro falter for a second before he explained with a heavy voice. "Sadly, the teams have to be with only three people and to optimise this training we had to leave him out. In half a year, I'll give my all to help him as best as I can but right now you three are my focus."

With that, it was time to get started. The first hour or so, they went through scenarios and formed tactics. The next few hours they would fight together against Hachiro and another chunin he begged to help them out every now and then. Every time they lost, they were forced to complete a punishment together. Once that was over, they had a meal and rested for a bit to gather chakra before Hachiro went on to instruct Kazuto and Dai on their new training regimes. Aoshi went on with what he was doing before, but glanced over at his teammates every now and then.

Both of them sat on the ground trying to use nature transformation. Kazuto tried to burn a leaf without burning his hand, while Dai was supposed to make a rock crumble without applying physical pressure onto it.

Aoshi was currently working on containing the wind and turning the whirl to the correct orientation. It wasn't going very well as every time he tried to flip it, the wind escaped his control. Reluctantly, he started using his other hand for stability and it instantly became a lot easier. He managed to flip the whirl and contain it as planned. He could even remove his other hand and it remained in control, but it wasn't good enough. This had proved to him that it was possible, just not with his current control. He had to improve. But one thing Aoshi had going for him was that no matter how many times he attempted the same thing and failed, he got right back into it. No outlash of frustration, no lapse in concentration, just right back to the exercise.

When Hachiro saw this he was astounded, and amused. The kid had promise, a lot more than he himself did, and Aoshi would eventually get this sorted. Hachiro doubted there was much he could help Aoshi with during this exercise so he focused on the other two. Hopefully they could improve enough to not drag Aoshi down at the very least.

***

Weeks on end they kept going with this. The trio got more and more comfortable moving around each other and combining their attacks. On the nature transformation side of things, both Kazuto and Dai had made large steps forward. Their requirements for control weren't as harsh as it was for Aoshi so they could move on to the techniques as soon as they got the basic transformation done. Dai was currently trying to learn how to use Earth style: Headhunter jutsu as well as Earth style: Stone Fist jutsu and the hardening technique from his scroll. All at the same time. He clearly didn't like it but Hachiro insisted that any headway made on one of the techniques might help him when using the others. Meanwhile, Kazuto was learning the Great Fireball Jutsu. Once he got that one right he would get started on the Dragon Flame Jutsu. It was apparently one of the steps required for his inheritance.

While they were making clear progress, Aoshi sat there on the ground with his little whirl on the palm of his hand. He hadn't spent all his time just sitting there, he worked on his control, sensing, and focus in between as well. But now, after meditating for a while, he sat down again and put his palm in front of him. Perhaps he was overthinking this. He knew he had the necessary control to pull this off now, he just knew it. So he figured maybe if he wasn't looking. Maybe if he didn't focus. What if he remained completely calm but just did what came naturally to him? So he closed his eyes.

He started talking. "Spin." and so the whirl was formed. "Flip." and with a flick of his finger, the whirl flipped over to the direction he wanted. "Faster.." Every lap the wind took, it sped up. More and more and more. Aoshi sat there and just did it. He refused to start thinking or looking now. Hachiro was watching it from the outside and he saw a glowing cylinder lying in Aoshi's hand, a second later he said the final thing needed for the jutsu "Wind style: Spinning Trampette!"

Aoshi didn't just say it, he shouted. All eyes turned on him as he did what he planned. He let the wind go in one direction and used the force of the incredibly fast spinning chakra as a pushing force onto himself. The problem was that he forgot to actually consider what direction it would be pushing him right now. The air escaped and his hand was propelled right down into the ground. Cracks formed around him from the force at which his hand hit the hard ground and Aoshi could do nothing but scream out in pain.

When it hit the ground it cracked every bone in his hand and wrist. His entire body was pulled along but only his hand got entirely mangled. "Sensei!" That was all Aoshi could yell out. His body started shaking from shock and then everything went to black.