"If you others would like to attend," said a woman in the same uniform, "we have arranged VIP seating."
Tenten wasn't quite sure what the woman had meant by some sort of test for Naruto.
That they'd been escorted to some sort of arena or stadium had been a little concerning.
"So, what is all this?" asked Kakashi as their new guide led them to a spectator box.
"The Princess of Najirea is in attendance and requested this sort of thing as a form of entertainment," said the guide they'd just been handed off to, a very young blonde girl with some sort of pole weapon.
"Whoa, look at the crowds," said Gai-sensei, looking out the window.
"The audience for this event seems to exceed the total population of Konoha," noted Kurenai as she looked herself.
"It's a small portion of the populace of the city actually," said the blonde girl. "I'm Fate, by the way."
Tenten couldn't help but stare for a moment, before shaking her head. If Neji ever met her, that would be amusing perhaps.
"This is just a quick duel between two mages," said Fate. "The administration bureau felt that they could combine it with a rank testing, and those always draw a few people."
A holographic display flickered into place before the window.
"N-Naruto-kun?" squeaked Hinata, though she'd half-expected it when she'd woken up on the trip over.
"Huh, so he's being tested?" asked Tenten. "Tested on what?"
"[Mage Rank Test Commencing. Subject: Naruto Uzumaki.]" said the holographic image.
Naruto made a gesture and was abruptly holding that hammer and wearing the burnt orange clothing with the darker duster-style coat.
"Mjolnir!" said Naruto.
"So, I'm being tested, eh?" asked Naruto, gripping the handle of his sledgehammer. "Don't tell me it's against-"
"[Testing Mage: Nanoha Takamichi]" said the hologram.
"She's young," said Kurenai as the girl appeared on the hologram, raising an eyebrow.
"She's... talented," said Fate. "I hope Naruto doesn't lose too badly."
"N-Naruto won't give up," said Hinata, "he doesn't always win but he always does his best!"
"Yeah, that's Naruto all right," said Fate, sounding amused. "He's fought alongside Nanoha and he's fought Nanoha. Nanoha's upgraded though. Naruto hasn't."
"So you know Naruto?" asked Kurenai.
"Yeah, you could say that," said Fate. "Still, the Orange Swarm has never beaten the White Devil. Both of them have a lot in common, but Nanoha is just better at magic."
"So, the 'White Devil' is his rival of sorts?" asked Kakashi, thinking that sounded like a rivalry.
"I suppose you could say that, sort of, maybe," said Fate, sounding unsure of that herself. Skeptical at the very least.
"Excuse me, peasants," said a young woman, as she entered the booths. "Miss Notch, attend me."
"Right away, Mistress," said an animated rag-doll. Sort of.
Fate bowed low towards the newcomer but her eyes never looked away. "Princess. These are the ninja countrymen of my colleague, Naruto. Honored guests, the Princess of Najirea, Kodako Naga."
The young girl in the tight black leather with white skull appliques posed. "Ah, good. I will be generous to you peasants and let you look upon mine magnifence without charging you for the pleasure!"
"Err, right," said Kakashi. "Thank you."
The girl unfurled a small fan to cover her face and she laughed.
Kakashi staggered back. Yes, he was a blooded ninja. An assassin. Someone who'd faced death numerous times. Yet this mere laugh had put him on edge. He glanced to the side and noticed the two genin had retreated and were looking spooked. Maito Gai, on the other hand, looked more serious than usual.
Kurenai merely nodded, noting the whip at the girl's hip, the stilleto heels, tight leather, little skulls, and was grateful Anko wasn't present. They might compare notes or something and that would be considered a Crime Against Nature waiting to happen. On the other hand, she could certainly see why Naruto had still not been told of the Princess being present. If this girl DID have some personal involvement with Naruto, she was certainly acting insane enough to make associating with her an unpleasant experience.
"Is my darling Naruto-kun ready for attaining a higher rank as a mage?" asked Kodako.
"He's not your 'darling' or anything," said Fate.
"He was a trifle reluctant when I sought to reward him for my rescue," admitted Kodako.
"You drugged him, chained him to a bed, and were about to BRAND him as your property," corrected Fate. "Not to mention whatever else you had in mind. He fled."
"Details, details," said Kodako. "Though I expect such activities are beyond your young mind to be able to understand."
"He's engaged to be married you know," put in Kurenai, deciding that bringing up ages and appropriate activities wasn't going to be productive. Though now she was quite sympathetic with Naruto's desire to remain as distant as possible from this girl.
"Once I have introduced him to the Thousand and One Pleasures and Pains," said Kodako, her hand caressing her whip. "He'll drop this other girl."
"N-no, N-Naruto-kun isn't like that," protested Hinata.
"They're starting the fight," noted Kakashi, having a bit of sympathy for Naruto suddenly.
Tenten stared as the fight commenced. Naruto Uzumaki, whom she had noted was a little taller than she'd expected, had been surprising her. Kurenai Yuhi-sensei had mentioned on the way over that Naruto had gone through something where he had aged a year and then come back within an hour or so of leaving.
That he and the little girl were flying and throwing massive jutsu at each other was certainly indication that something outside her usual references was going on. Maybe she could get some of that training?
Naruto and the girl flew at each other at high speeds, struck, bounced away, repeated that twice more, then flew up in a high speed spiral.
They came together again, Naruto's hammer clashing once more against the girl's staff, then they were arcing away while building power up around their weapons.
Her eyes flicked to the crazy noblewoman fanning herself, and the life-size maid doll attendant. Naruto was supposedly engaged to Hinata? Except Hinata didn't seem too thrilled with it. Hmmm. An idea percolated up and she considered it. Yeah, maybe she ought to help out.
"[Divine Thunder]" attacked Naruto.
"{Divine Buster]" attacked Nanoha.
The two attacks met halfway. Naruto's attack exploded, and he barely avoided the remains of the girl's attack as it continued on.
"By the way," said Tenten softly as she stepped close to the Princess. "Stay away from my fiance."
Kodako's eyes widened slightly as she glanced towards Tenten, who merely smirked and nodded, then stepped away again.
Tenten schooled her expression to a calm confident look as she turned her attention back to the battle. This VIP box wasn't big enough that the Princess could get too far away, and there was no Konohagakure/Najirea treaty as far as she knew. If the Princess called her bluff, Tenten would have to fold as she didn't actually HAVE a fiance. Heck, she didn't have a boyfriend. She was a professional kunoichi and too young for a relationship, though she thought if Neji would relax a little once in awhile he might be fairly datable.
Honestly though, it was NOT a priority. Though maybe she could get something in return for helping to distract this Princess from trying to do something unspeakable to Naruto. Hinata, as she'd learned on the trip over, had just gotten some medical jutsu. Something like that would be handy.
Kodako had thought that the story about Naruto having a fiancee was just that - a story. Perhaps she had to adjust that belief.
The girl was some sort of warrior clearly. Quite fit. Attractive in a peasant sort of way. So. Though she hadn't reacted like the little black-haired wench had, who herself was entirely too meek for someone like Naruto.
Still, this hadn't been the first time someone had referred to Naruto as having an engagement to marry. Could it be that it was simply not a trick by these Mid-Childan administrators seeking to keep their monopoly on their magical device technology?
Of course, if the peasant WAS the one engaged to Naruto, then there were ways to deal with that obstacle.
Kakashi Hatake had rapidly come to the opinion that Naruto HAD held back during the bell test. Not that Kakashi was going to complain.
Naruto had things like that "Homing Bullet" and "Wide Area Search" - which made him useful in both types of Search operations. (Search and Rescue and Search and Destroy being higher rank missions than was normal to assign starting genin.) He had a couple of precise attacks, and a couple of attacks that were much broader in their area of effect. Plus ones like that "Lightning Whip" that seemed to be able to do more than one thing. Oh, and that restraint jutsu called "Ring Bind" - that was something he'd managed to get out of, but could have been quite handy nonetheless.
Clearly, he was going to have to go through some serious training with Sasuke and Sakura or they would be left behind by Naruto's progress fairly quickly. And a team that was reliant on one member was quickly crippled when that member was sidelined or otherwise not available.
The girl facing him though. SHE was even better.
"So, this 'Nanoha' is one of Naruto's new friends?" asked Kakashi, noting that Hinata suddenly jerked her gaze away from the display to pay attention to this.
"Nanoha, myself, Hayate, and Naruto - yes we're all friends," said Fate with a nod. "Though Naruto needs to have Mjolnir upgraded if he wants to keep up with us. He doesn't have the Belkan Cartridge System yet. Right, Bardiche?"
"[Yes sir.]"
"Do they all talk and put little messages up like that?" asked Kakashi.
"The Mage Devices like Bardiche and Mjolnir, or Nanoha's Raising Heart, all do," said Fate, looking up at the much taller man and wondering what was up with that mask. "I see Hinata has a simple Device, that isn't able to speak or cast spells."
"Th-this?" asked Hinata, touching the complicated-looking bracelet.
"That's a bow-type, isn't it?" asked Fate.
"Y-yes," said Hinata, not sure HOW friendly Naruto had been with this girl. Fate was so pretty after all, and Hinata knew she wasn't. Though hadn't Naruto called her 'pretty'? "N-Naruto said that it would fire chakra arrows."
Kakashi's eye widened. A Hyuga. Armed with a bow that could fire their chakra at any target they could see. Clearly Naruto was serious about wanting his fiancee to be able to survive. "You ought to keep that secret as long as possible."
"Actually, I'd think it best to practice it as much as possible," said Fate, glancing towards the holographic display. "That's it. It's over."
Everyone's eyes went back to the display.
Naruto was breathing hard, low on chakra, and barely able to keep himself in the air. His clothing had rips and rents in it, and there were scratches on his forehead protector. Blood was dribbling down one side of his face.
Nanoha was breathing hard and one of her ribbons was missing.
Naruto whipped Mjolnir around, taking a defensive stance.
K-chunk, k-chunk, k-chunk, went Nanoha's staff.
"STARLIGHT BREAKER!" called out Nanoha.
"NARUTO!" cried out Hinata, seeing the smoking figure heading falling towards the ground.
"I have to wonder what they were thinking, having those two go at it for a test," said Fate.
"Uhm," said Tenten. "He's falling from really far up."
"Oh, don't worry," said Fate. "They'll grab him with a teleport now that he's unconscious."
"Hmm," hmmmed Kodako, looking between the short girl who was quite distraught and the much calmer fiancee.
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(Posted Mon, 10 May 2010 17:00)
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