"Don't need your help," grunted Sasuke.
"You haven't tried Hinata's cooking," said Naruto.
Sasuke paused, considering that.
"Start!" declared Kakashi, leaping back as he felt a battle intent rage out at him.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" declared Sakura, leaping up into a spin kick.
Kakashi blocked, his hand grabbing her ankle and then spinning in a quick circle in such a way that her momentum actually increased and was directed in a new path.
SPLASH!
"Any good?" asked Sasuke.
"I tried one on the way here," said Naruto. "It looks a little odd, but it tastes GREAT!"
"You weren't supposed to eat breakfast, remember?" said a bored-sounding Kakashi as Sakura splashed around in the pond.
"Don't worry, I think there's enough we can spare you some," said Naruto.
"That wasn't the point," said Kakashi.
"Aw come on, just try one," said Naruto, going to the pack and pulling out a rice ball. He idly tossed it to Kakashi. "Here. Try this and see."
Kakashi's hand was up and ready to intercept the lightly tossed projectile when he was aware that the Sasuke Express had just gone into blurred motion.
"Whoa," said Naruto as Sasuke blurred into a set of attacks that forced Kakashi back several steps. "Shadow Clone jutsu!"
"Don't interfere!" said Sasuke as he twisted and spun and attempted to hit his sensei.
"Are you sure about that?" asked Naruto. "Cause I really really want to show off what I can do."
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" yelled Sakura, jumping up and trying to grab Kakashi. She latched on with one arm and both legs, pulled her kunai and started stabbing. "TAKE THIS! AND THIS! AND THIS! LUNCH WITH SASUKE WILL BE MINE!"
"Uhm, Sakura," said Naruto.
"I can't believe how much this day sucks," said Sasuke after Sakura stopped stabbing him.
"WHAT?!" shrieked Sakura, leaping away. She looked from Sasuke to the dripping kunai in her hand and then back again. "WHAT?! HOW?!"
"It's a basic substitution jutsu," said Sasuke, spitting some blood off to the side.
"Yeah, Sakura, it's a basic substitution jutsu," said Naruto, not knowing what that meant but not going to admit that.
"A... substitution?" asked Sakura, tossing the kunai away as if IT were responsible.
"Basic technique," said Sasuke, rooting around for some bandages. "The ninja switches places with something else in order to make their escape."
"Right, uhm, it's not my fault!" said Sakura, mortified at the thought of having stabbed Sasuke. At least a couple of times. Maybe... three times?
"He's probably in the branches of a tree, watching us," said Sasuke.
"Shadow Clone!" said Naruto, making lots of himself. "Okay guys. Find the hidden sensei! Move out!"
"YEAH! I'LL GET HIM!" said the various Naruto as they scattered.
"Naruto," said Sasuke thoughtfully as he shrugged out of his upper clothing. "She got me in the back a couple of times where I can't reach."
"Right," said Naruto, stepping close and working quickly with the medical supplies.
Sakura began getting closer, only to be frozen by a glare from Sasuke. At which point a few murmurred words passed between Sasuke and Naruto. She just KNEW they were talking about her.
"Right," muttered Sasuke just slightly louder.
"Eh?" asked Sakura, edging just a little closer.
"I'm on it already," said Naruto with a grin.
"Uhm, what?" asked Sakura.
"What what?" asked Sasuke. "I was just suggesting we split up. That way we've got a better chance of finding him than just using Naruto's clones alone."
"That's a good idea," said Sakura, desperate to get back into Sasuke's good graces. "We should remain within direct line-of-sight with each other though so we don't get picked off."
"I really have my doubts about this group," said Kakashi as he watched Sasuke stagger off.
That Sasuke was NOT that badly hurt was obvious to his experienced eye. In many ways this group was seriously deficient in all sorts of ways. On the other hand, they had NOT gone off to score the bells on their own. They were capable of cooperating, it was just that each wanted to prove themselves and had definite goals of their own.
Sakura wanted to catch the bells on her own and then share lunch with Sasuke.
Sasuke wanted to catch the bells himself, but now WAS injured and while prideful wasn't too proud to use one of the others to gain an advantage in the mission.
Naruto was all over the place. Literally. He'd seen one of the Clones turn into a squirrel and go flitting along a tree. If they were all doing that, they'd find him pretty soon. Unexpectedly clever.
Naruto was mainly wanting to prove to both Sakura and Sasuke that he WAS some sort of genius ninja. He had a long way to go though.
A rustling noise and a startled looking squirrel stared at him briefly.
"Hi!" said Kakashi before the squirrel poofed into smoke.
"THERE!" said Naruto, pointing.
Kakashi blinked as Naruto was NOT pointing at him. The exact opposite direction in fact.
"I'll get him and make it up to you, Sasuke!" declared Sakura as she charged off in the indicated direction.
That was weird. Waitaminute. Where was Sasuke?
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(Posted Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:12)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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