Sasuke managed three steps before the heat at Kakashi's back went from regular spring weather to where it felt as if someone had just plopped him into one of those industrial grade incinerators.
Kakashi turned, wondering if maybe Kurenai Yuhi had been right and using the Hell Viewing genjutsu had not been a terribly good idea.
On seeing the "dead last" genin, he experienced that "this mission has just gone South in a big way" feeling that he rarely experienced but was still familiar with.
Naruto was standing over ground that was glowing red and sagging, in a pillar of flame, and it looked as if his outer clothes were burning away as Kakashi watched.
Then he looked up and saw the bird of flame expanding out from the pillar.
At which point something happened and he was looking at a ceiling?!
"Nurse, he's awake!" said a familiar voice.
"Kurenai?" asked Kakashi, realizing his voice had come out as a feeble croak.
"You used the Bell Test, right?" asked Kurenai.
Kakashi nodded, wondering what was going on.
Kurenai held up a little string with a bell on it. "Naruto grabbed this when you reclaimed your book."
"Oh," said Kakashi, remembering now the little jingly silver thing that Naruto had put into a pouch just as the genjutsu had started.
"He gave it to Sasuke," said Kurenai, who rummaged in a pouch and held up a lump of metal. "This is the other one. Well, what's left of it."
"Oh," said Kakashi, trying to move and realizing only then that nearly every inch of his body was covered in bandages.
"I warned you about the genjutsu," said Kurenai. "Naruto is going to need training just to get those fire abilities under control. Also his emotional equilibrium."
The nurse came into the room and adjusted a couple of the intravenous feed drip rates. "Five minutes tops. He needs to rest. There's a water bottle with a straw. Sips only."
"Err," said Kakashi.
"Your hair and eyebrows will grow back," said Kurenai, feeling a little guilty pleasure in the panicked look in Kakashi's single visible eye.
Kakashi glanced to the side, trying to convey something.
"Sakura and Sasuke should be released in a couple of days," continued Kurenai.
Kakashi winced.
"Sakura was still unconscious from apparently a genjutsu you used on her as well," said Kurenai. "Sasuke got off with less injuries, but both of them got a bit knocked around from the blast wave."
Kakashi blinked and tried to mouth the word 'blast wave' despite having his mouth covered by bandages.
"That particular training ground though has a five hundred meter crater in it now," said Kurenai. "Did you know that if you apply enough heat to ground, you can melt it into rock? I think they ought to make a pond out of it. Maybe a few koi or something."
Kakashi blinked as he pictured that. Since Naruto had been leaning against one of those three posts, that would mean that they and the lunches were toast.
"On the other hand, technically your genin passed," said Kurenai. "Naruto gave the bells to Sasuke and Sakura, putting the team first. Sakura and Sasuke are a little different, in that they aren't feeling so much team spirit. Right now I don't think they're feeling much more than heavily medicated. So, right now, your team will be temporarily assigned to other teams until you're able to take over again. When the other two are released, they'll be seeing Maito Gai for taijutsu training in the morning. Asuma will handle their mid-day training in chakra control and basic ninjutsu. I'll take them for late afternoon, and I will CAREFULLY teach them something about genjutsu."
Kakashi grunted something.
"Oh, your book was destroyed, also most of your clothes," said Kurenai as she prepared to leave. "Equipment. Hair. Oh, and Naruto snapped out of it on his own before you were completely incinerated. Apparently he realized that Hinata had NOT been killed before he could bring the person responsible to justice."
Kakashi grunted again.
"You were unconscious for three days, if you're wondering how this all got arranged," said Kurenai. "I've been working on Naruto's control and teaching him genjutsu basic defenses, my team could use the work in that regard as well. I'll see you later, Kakashi. Oh, and when you're healed up, the Hokage wants to discuss your judgement in this little test."
Kakashi groaned again.
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:38)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.