Temari hadn't been sure what to expect out of the penpal she'd been exchanging messages with. He was a ten year old kid, except he looked a bit older. Not as mature as herself of course, as she was twelve! Besides, he was from Konohagakure and everyone KNEW how soft they had it there.
Gaara was asleep. He seemed to determine to catch up on it since he was no longer in danger of having his soul eaten and waking up as a bloodthirsty ravening monster.
Kankuro was a bit put off, as the friendly boy seemed intent on putting distance between Kankuro and himself due to the amount of poisoned edges present in most of Kankuro's puppets.
"So how are you going to get together a three-man team for the chuunin exam anyway?" asked Temari.
"Actually, sensei's got that covered," said Naruto. "Two of the more experienced genin are forming a temporary team with me. Apparently they're ready, but the rest of their own teams aren't. So this way they get to test, and then they can uphold the honor of Konohagakure and stuff."
"You don't seem that enthusiastic," noted Temari as Naruto got out a seal-scroll.
"Well, yes and no," admitted Naruto. "See, I wanted to graduate with everyone else. I just kinda goofed and graduated early."
Temari wondered how one could 'goof' and graduate school early.
"So that plan's kinda blown up anyway," said Naruto. "So I'm looking at the benefits of being chunin. More C-Rank missions, maybe even some B. That'd be good. I'd be a rank above Sasuke-teme when he gets out. That'd be good. I wouldn't be able to help my friends out when it comes time for them to take the exam themselves, that's not so good."
"So who is your team?" asked Temari.
"Scouting out your competition?" asked Naruto, his grin returning.
"I'm not even testing this year," said Temari. "Just curious."
"I think I've met them before, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane," said Naruto. "I think."
"You think?" asked Temari.
"Anko-sensei got into a drinking contest at an inn near the border," said Naruto. "She wasn't making a whole lot of sense when she told me about it."
"Which reminds me," said Temari. "When do you think Baki and Jiraiya will get back?"
"A three-way drinking contest, where everyone's trying to get the other two drunk so they can get secret information out of the others?" asked Naruto. "It's only been a day. Give 'em another two before we need to go looking for them."
"Ah," said Temari.
Naruto invoked a seal, then handed her one of the two bowls of soup that appeared. "This is ramen. Nature's most perfect food. These are the Ichiraku Big Beef Bowls."
Temari took the bowl with a certain amusement. It certainly smelled good. "You've created a special sealing for this?"
"Well, yeah, it was important," said Naruto. "Ramen is Serious Business."
"Of course," said Temari, not thinking it WAS but obviously Naruto did.
"It's a shouyu variety ramen," said Naruto, explaining the intricacies of ramen to the poor benighted girl who'd lived a ramen-deprived life prior to this. "Using beef stock as the base, he adds menma (marinated bamboo shoots), negi (green onions), nori (seaweed), boiled eggs, bean sprouts, black pepper, thinly-sliced beef and his special spice mix that he won't tell me about."
"Secrets?" asked Temari, still thinking it was just a soup.
Naruto nodded before turning his full attention to making the soup disappear in a manner that had nothing at all to do with special ramen-seals.
"Begin," said Hiashi Hyuga, certain that this fight between the two daughters would go as it always did. Hinata would go on the defensive, Hanabi would go offensive. Hanabi would be blocked a few times, then eventually Hinata would miss a block and not be able to manage the speed and precision necessary. Win - Hanabi.
Hanabi sped forward, hands knife-edged as she prepared for an easy win.
Hinata deviated from the script. One of Naruto's scrolls had this. "Suiton: Suitsuya Jutsu!" (Water Release: Waterslick Jutsu)
Hanabi saw a ripple of chakra, but whatever Hinata was trying to do had left her exposed and it hadn't worked.
Hanabi noticed a moment later that she was sliding forward with her legs going every-which-away as she tried to remain upright.
Hinata's foot came up, and gave a gentle shove as Hanabi windmilled past her.
KA-WHAM!
"Sister, while the jyuuken is a supreme martial art style," said Hinata softly. "If you assume too much, you will not see what is before you."
Hiashi was torn for a moment between wanting to berate Hinata for using a minor ninjutsu technique during a jyuuken spar, and wanting to accept this as a potentially valuable lesson for the younger. "Hinata. You will refrain from tricks in the future. Hanabi, do you know why you did not detect the chakra of the summoned water?"
The younger girl rubbed her nose as she stood up. "Because I was focussed entirely on her tenketsu?"
"That and this 'water slick' technique is a very minor technique," said Hiashi, deciding this was one of those Teaching Moments. "A small amount of water, mixed with soap or some similar surfactant, isn't it?"
"Yes, father," said Hinata, bowing to her sensei.
"A prank jutsu, but one that can be used to gain a momentary advantage against a foe," said Hiashi Hyuga.
"Yes, Father, but also possibly useful for discouraging pursuit or coordinated with traps," said Hinata softly.
"I will not object to your use of it, this one time," said Hiashi. "Stick with Gentle Fist manuevers for your sparring now. Take your places and begin again."
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(Posted Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:11)
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