Precognition - knowledge of an event before it occurs.
Standard Book of Spells & Superpowers
Asgard Press
"Naruto? You managed to get over 80% on your last three tests. Are you cheating?" asked Iruka Umino.
"Uhm," hedged Naruto.
"I've tried to figure out HOW you're cheating, and couldn't," noted Iruka Umino. "Every method I'm familiar with - I looked for. And no - you're not in trouble. We're ninja. If you're cheating in a way that can't be detected that's actually worth extra points on some tests."
"Oh," said Naruto, relaxing a bit. "Sort of. It isn't intentional though. I just get images of stuff before it happens."
"Such as?" asked Iruka, a bit skeptical.
"In two minutes, Ino and Sakura are going to get in a fight because they both like Sasuke," said Naruto.
"That certainly is predictable," said Iruka.
"I can't control it that much, just if something important is happening and it involves me - I'll see bits and flashes of it," said Naruto. "Like tomorrow's surprise quiz."
Iruka paused. As tomorrow's surprise quiz WAS supposed to be a surprise. "On what subject?"
"Math," said Naruto, making a face.
"I see," said Iruka, realizing that whatever Naruto's manner of cheating was - it WAS fairly effective. "So if you know what the test is going to be about - you can study that ahead of time?"
"Yeah," said Naruto, not mentioning that he usually saw the exact questions. Except the edges of vision tended to be a bit blurry when he was seeing those scenes and therefore he didn't see ALL the test that clearly.
"Ah," said Iruka, deciding to keep an eye out to find out what Naruto's actual method of cheating was.
"Hmmm. Precognition seems to work pretty well. The uncontrolled glimpses of the most likely future at any given moment doesn't seem to overpower him. Certainly gets him to study a bit more.
"Oh dear. This was unexpected."
Iruka Umino saw Naruto abruptly startle and noticed that the student's eyes had briefly glowed. Naruto's expression though - that was something he'd never seen before on the prankster.
This was something beyond fear, terror.
"Oh kami. He's coming."
"What are you talking about, moron?" asked Tobio dismissively.
"He's coming," said Naruto, beginning to shake and turning pale very quickly.
"Don't interrupt Iruka-sensei," chided Sakura, sneering at the boy.
"Byakugan," said someone in the back of the class after going through handseals. Pale eyes widened.
"He's here," said Naruto.
"Stu-" began Sakura.
The ceiling burst open, and a masked figure dropped down.
"Everyone get-" began Iruka, launching himself and drawing kunai before the figure had dropped more than a foot from the hole he'd made.
The kunai passed through the masked figure as if he were a ghost. He seemed solid enough to Iruka though when a kunai slammed into his ribcage with enough force that his own forward momentum was abruptly cancelled.
The masked figure threw a few explosive tags, grabbed the little kid he was after, and then was gone again.
"So in this particular timeline Obito is keeping track of Naruto at least initially - and might dismiss him as being an idiot who can be collected at any time. Except that here his spy was able to relay that Naruto was suddenly competent and claiming to see the future.
"Rather than take the chance that the ability was fake, he goes in and grabs Naruto as soon as he gets word of it. Cripples the boy and keeps him in a cell until the Kyubi can be removed."
"Well, that didn't work. Hmmm. Maybe if I-"
"Hey, Iruka-sensei. Yes, I'm kinda cheating. I know what the questions are going to be. Well, most of them."
Iruka closed his mouth. Blinked. Opened his mouth again.
"I get glimpses of things that haven't happened yet. Also some other things. Sometimes the past, particularly if something I'm handling has some history with it."
Iruka closed his mouth. Blinked again. Considered. "Well-"
"Because if I talk about it too much, something BAD is going to happen."
"Ah," began Iruka.
"Because I foresaw this whole conversation about an hour ago."
"Did you foresee me telling you that answering questions before I ask them is somewhat rude?"
Naruto considered that. "No. I think that was one of those things that alter because I'm doing something based on what I foresaw. Things start shifting and it's hard to see that then."
"And?"
"Sorry, Iruka-sensei."
Iruka nodded. "I noticed you haven't been pestering Sakura for a date."
"I saw. She don't even like me a little bit. Maybe later, but nothing I can do now will make a difference. Uhm."
"Let me guess, you saw me talking to the Hokage about this?"
"Yeah. But if you don't get the guy with the swirl-mask out of the office he's going to tell his secret boss and I get kidnapped."
Iruka walked into the office of the Hokage, bowing a quick salute, and then placing a sketch on the desk. "Hokage-sama. Do you have an ANBU with this mark on their mask?"
"Yes, I believe that is Goat," noted the Hokage, not mentioning that the ANBU was currently hiding in the office.
"He's a spy," said Iruka.
"That's a serious charge to level," noted the Hokage. "Any proof?"
"Yes," said Iruka, reaching into a pocket before a ninjato sliced through his neck and an ANBU was visible for one quarter second before leaping towards the window.
The Hokage moved before his other ANBU could. The Goat ANBU was pinned to the floor with a foot on his neck and a Killing Intent that was appropriately Kage-level bearing down on him.
At which point the still airborne Iruka's head burst into smoke at the same time his body did.
The Hokage grinned, some degree of amusement penetrating his rage. "Congratulations, you just blew your cover to silence a kage bunshin. Cat? Dog? Would you please secure this person and let Ibiki get me some answers? Dormouse? The original?"
There was a moment of silence before an ANBU answered. "Iruka Umino is in the hallway outside of the secretary's office."
"Ah, good," said the Hokage as the one ANBU was made unconscious, disarmed, and then tied up by two others. Then they left in all due haste. "Nice to know some chunin are keeping their skills up. Get him in here - he has some explaining to do."
"So, glimpses of the future that involve things you're concentrating on," said the Hokage after a few tests had been made. "If you're handling something, you can see glimpses of the past. If something is going on that directly involves or targets you or someone you're friendly towards - you get 'feelings' about that and sometimes images?"
"Yes ji- Hokage-sama," said Naruto.
"I see, and you knew about Goat because he was spying on me - someone you consider a friend," said the Hokage, nodding. "And you consider Iruka Umino here someone precious as well - so you knew that he'd die if he didn't take precautions."
"Yeah," agreed Naruto. "Oooh! Ramen?"
"Yes," said the Hokage. "I think I'll pay for a couple of bowls for this. Oh, and Naruto. If you get any feelings off of someone - be sure to tell Iruka here about it."
"Mizuki."
"Mizuki?" asked Iruka.
The Hokage considered that for a moment. "Dormouse? I want someone trustworthy to keep an eye on Mizuki. Iruka Umino, how did you come to know Kage Bunshin anyway? I don't believe that was on your file."
"Naruto showed me," said Iruka. "Had to take a soldier pill to handle the chakra cost and I'm going to be feeling that later."
"Naruto showed you? And how did you know how to do the Shadow Clone technique, a jutsu that is known to kill many who do not have the chakra capacity to manage it?" asked the Hokage.
"You're going to show me the technique because I can't manage a regular clone," said Naruto. "But I can manage that technique no problem, dattebayo."
"Ah, well, if you foresaw it, I suppose it would be best if I did so," said the Hokage. "Tricky - this seeing-the-future sort of thing. Oh, and Iruka? S-Class Secret. You too, Naruto. That sort of technique could cause more problems than it would solve."
"I would suggest keeping the future visions secret, just let out that Naruto has a sensor ability that came up recently," said Iruka. "That way, any slip-ups or acting to avoid a danger could be explained by that."
"Good thinking," admitted the Hokage. "Are you able to see the future yourself now?"
"Hokage-sama, I'm a teacher who works with young shinobi-to-be. No special ability is required to see problems coming up," said Iruka. "Just experience."
"What's a 'sensor' anyway?" asked Sakura, looking across the training yard to where Naruto was sitting on a swing looking alone.
Ino flipped her hair back. "You don't know that? Chakra sensors are a very valued sort of ninja. Their range and sensitivity varies but all of them can tell when chakra is in use nearby. Many of them can tell how much chakra someone has too, unless they're suppressing it. A good chakra sensor can give your ninja team a few seconds warning before an attack comes in."
"Just a few seconds? That isn't much," complained Sakura.
"Troublesome," grumbled Shikamaru from not far away. He actually made the effort to lift his head up and stare at Sakura. "You're kidding right? A few seconds of warning before your team gets ambushed? That could be enough to save lives."
"Oh, I suppose," admitted Sakura, thinking about it. She brightened. "I bet Sasuke's a sensor!"
"No," said Shikamaru, dropping his head back down.
"He's right," said Ino, not wanting to agree but wanting to show off her own knowledge. "The Uchiha have the Sharingan, which is the most powerful dojutsu ever! But it isn't a sensor ability like that. The Hyuga have the Byakugan, and that's a sensor ability - because it operates in line of sight but they can see a lot more. It's just not as awesome in combat as Sasuke can be, especially when he gets his Sharingan going!"
"I will be ill," grumbled Shikamaru, but he kept it to a bare whisper because if either of these two girls heard him - it would get even more troublesome.
"Okay, Team 7. Now, it's traditional to put the 'dead last' graduate together with the rookie of the year and the kunoichi of the year. Don't complain to me about it - it usually ends up with the 'dead last' managing to rise to the challenge and eventually excel. So. Rookie of the year - Sasuke Uchiha. Top Kunoichi - Sakura Haruno. By only a point though. Tobio, you were dead last by three points - beating out Shikamaru for that particular honor."
"Do you have any idea how troublesome my mother would be if I was 'dead last'?" asked Shikamaru.
"Team 7 - your sensei will be Kakashi Hatake. Moving on. Team 8. Hinata Hyuga. Shino Aburame. Kiba Inuzuka. Your sensei will be Kurenai Yuhi."
"Is she hot?" asked Kiba. A book impacted his head a moment later.
Ino sat back down. It wasn't like she'd need that book after today anyway.
"Team 9 is still active, so Team 10. Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi. Sensei will be Asuma Sarutobi."
"How predictable," complained Shikamaru.
"Team 11. Naruto Uzumaki. Ayame. Watari. Your sensei is Geddoe."
"Great. I'm on 'Team Silent'," said Naruto after about fifteen minutes.
"Ninja," said Ayame.
"I ought to get a mask too, then we can be 'Team Mask'," said Naruto, half-seriously.
Ayame sighed. "I don't get it."
"Get what?" asked Naruto. "The team structure?"
"No, the team... Okay. Yes. I'm a Silent Killing specialist. So is Watari. You are many things, but you are not silent."
Watari nodded, apparently agreeing with that statement.
"Then there's Geddoe. Ninjutsu specialist, lightning techniques." Ayame frowned underneath her mask.
"Soldier. Old one. Fought in the last war, lost an eye - mission details classified," Watari broke his silence.
"He's coming," said Naruto.
Watari and Ayame glanced at each other before considering the window.
The door opened.
"Follow me," said Geddoe after looking them over for a minute. "Let's get this over with."
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(Posted Sat, 01 Feb 2014 16:27)
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