8 Naruto's Training

[A/N: Apologies if the timeline looks a bit convoluted compared to the canon story. I'm going on pure memory when it comes to the Akatsuki Arc. And considering that I'm trying to speedrun it to the War, I might mess up on some events. 

I don't remember if Naruto's training with Yamato and the Wind Style was before or after Hidan and Kakuzu captured the Two Tails, I don't. That said, this chapter is obviously before Asuma's death since he appears.]

(Midora's POV)

"He's a bit slow, but he'll get there." I told Asuma

"Hehe." He chuckled, "Well, it's a good thing you got me here. I can give him a pointer." 

I nodded, "Yea, I'm not too great at teaching. Learning, yes. Teaching? Never my strong suit." I said as I crossed my arms

Asuma and I were in front of Naruto who had his clones next to him, trying to help him perfect the nature release Rasengan. He was trying to apply his wind style on it, who am I kidding? Perfect it? He hasn't even achieved it yet. 

He had his hands extended and was constantly adding chakra to it, attempting to get it. I saw the pure concentration on his and his clones' faces while he tried, his face filled with sweat. 

He then stopped and collapsed to his knees, "Agghhh!!!" He shouted, "This is impossible!!!" 

I smiled, "Impossible? Nah. Hard, definitely." I said as I walked over, "Asuma-san here tells me your Nature Affinity is Wind." 

"Yea." Naruto said

"So, why am I not seeing wind in your Rasengan?" I asked

"The Rasengan is a difficult jutsu to even do!" Naruto exclaimed, "Pervy Sage said the Fourth Hokage spent years creating and perfecting it!" 

I nodded, "That is true." I said, "But it shouldn't be that hard, considering you spam the shit out of it every chance you get." 

He scowled, "Eh?!" He said, "Midora, you were there during my training with Pervy Sage, it was hard to master!" 

"One week." I said, "I only spent one week with you. And I was there to keep an eye on you and your Jinchuriki chakra. I heard from Yamato that you went berserk against Orochimaru, can't have an incident like that. No no no."

"That is true, Naruto." Asuma said, "We need you to control yourself at the same time as getting stronger. Perfecting a new jutsu like this one might do the trick." 

"But the Rasengan...." He said

"Not that hard." I said

He scowled again, "Oh, I wanna see you try it!!" He snapped

"Yea." I said, "You require a clone to help you use it, that's cute." 

I opened my palm and extended my arm outwards, channeling chakra and activating the jutsu. 

"Rasengan!" 

Suddenly, a Rasengan appeared on my palm as it spiraled around in the air just two inches from it. 

Naruto widened his eyes in shock, "W-What?!?" He exclaimed

Asuma chuckled, "You thought you were the only one who knew the Rasengan, besides Lord Jiraiya?" He said, "The Great Sannin decided to test Midora's metal back when he was your age the first time he tested you." 

I nodded, "Yea." I said, "Although, I learned it right away. Wasn't that interested in perfecting it the way he and you have." 

Naruto smiled, "That's awesome, Midora-nii!!" He said with joy in his eyes, "You can help me master this jutsu then!" 

I sighed, "I suck at teaching...and you kinda suck at learning...." I said, "Normally I would have a 'watch and learn' scenario but....." 

I had the Rasengan disappear as I patted my hands. 

"So..." Naruto said, "You can't help me?" 

"I didn't say that..." I said, "You have to apply nature chakra as you mold it within your Rasengan, keep that application until it fuses, I think....Or something like that....." 

"No, you got it right." Asuma said, "My Nature Affinity is similar to Naruto so I can give him a pointer on how to adjust to that. Inexperienced shinobi cannot get used to their Nature types, that's why they use basic jutsu. Advance elemental Jutsu requires you to be adept at your Nature Affinity and it'll allow you to divert to other Natures. Using Nature Release will open doors to strong jutsu, either offensive or defensive." 

Naruto tilted his head, "How so?" 

"You see, those who can use two or more Nature Releases can combine them to create different Nature Releases...." i spoke up, "It's hard to explain, for me at least....but here, let me show you." 

I turned around to face the empty field and extended my arms. 

"Think my right hand as Water Release and my left as Earth Release. I'm currently using those two Nature chakras in each hand respectively." I said

"Whoa, you can do that?" Naruto asked

I nodded, "Now watch." I said as clapped my hands together in the Snake seal, "Combining both and activating my Jutsu...." 

"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!!" 

In an instant, the empty field was filled with massive wooden trees and roots that had several massive flowers on it. 

"whooaaaaa!!!" Naruto exclaimed, "That's Captain Yamato's jutsu!!" 

"Yamato wields the Wood Style Kekkei Genkai, but his is weak and incomplete." I said looking at him, "Not calling him weak specifically, but his Wood Style is weaker compared to mine. Mine is the True Senju Clan's Kekkei Genkai, the power that the First Hokage himself wielded." 

"As always, impressive," Asuma said

I looked at Naruto, "That was a natural transformation. That's what you need to do, use the Nature transformation on your Rasengan." I said, "Asuma, take it from here. I'll see if he can handle it." 

He nodded, "Right. Naruto, come here. I'll show you a way to channel the Wind Nature." He said

"Alright!" Naruto said, "Yea!" 

*************************************************

"Smart." I said as I sat on the floor, "Using an army of Shadow Clones to attempt it....." 

I watched as countless of Naruto clones were attempting the same thing; trying to apply his Wind Nature on the Rasengan. Such a thing is only possible if someone has an insane amount of chakra reserves, something he would have as a Jinchuriki. 

I then felt an odd disturbance....

"whoa!" I heard a clone shout, "Take it easy!!" 

I stood up and walked over to where I felt an odd shift, seeing a Naruto clone on the ground with his eyes blood red and pupil slitted. 

"Oh brother...." I said, "Here we go..." 

The clone was shrouded in Biju chakra as he looked at me. 

"GRRRRRR!!!" He growled

I clapped my hands in the snake seal, "Nope." I said

In an instant, he was constricted in several massive wooden vines and roots, keeping him in place. I watched as the chakra was slowly drained out of him and he was reduced unconscious. 

The clone then disappeared. 

"Mmm...." I said as I looked at the rest, "What are you looking at? Carry on!" 

"We ain't got all day!"