As she directed the dragon, it made an occasional noise that to her ear sounded like a query.
"Because if you perform a spiral search pattern instead of just heading in a single direction, you're more likely to find a target that has switched direction."
So, when confronted with such, she answered as she would to one of her genin. Calmly explaining the reasoning behind the order if there was time.
"No, we might as well go back. We need to notify the Hokage and check my genin for residual effects of the attack. Also to make sure he didn't double back."
The dragon snorted.
"Yes, well, not all enemy jonin are inclined to be sensible."
The dragon made that interrogative noise again.
"No, I don't speak Dragon, but I'm usually pretty good at guessing. By the way, that attack you used against the first jonin. In the future, you might avoid completely incinerating targets as it is difficult to get information from ash floating on the wind."
The dragon snorted again.
"I understand. Which one of my genin were you protecting?"
The dragon made an odd noise that ended with an interrogative sound.
"Like I said, I'm good with puzzles."
The dragon sighed, and then grunted.
"Ah," said Kurenai. "I should have guessed. She's essentially a princess, or at least a highly placed lady of a noble house."
The dragon made an odd noise.
"Well, yes, it IS traditional for dragons to go stealing away princesses."
The dragon craned his head around to look back at where Kurenai was straddling his neck near the shoulders.
"I'm not approving, I simply stated I understood," said Kurenai. "Though if the dragon wants to save the princess, I think I've heard a few tales like that as well."
The dragon snorted again, this time sounding as if he agreed.
"What's next? An evil prince trying to steal the girl from the dragon?" asked Kurenai.
The dragon snorted and circled the clearing.
"ANBU? And the Hokage?" asked Kurenai as she got a good look. She also noted that the dragon didn't seem intimidated and the Hokage was standing in the middle of the clearing and seemed perfectly fine with the approach of ninety+ tons of dragon.
The dragon's landing was clumsy, but managed to avoid taking out more than a few trees at the far end of the clearing from the gathering.
Kurenai wasted no time in appearing at the Hokage's side, ready to tell the Hokage this wasn't an enemy. Even though she suspected he already knew that.
"Hokage-sama, this dragon -" began Kurenai.
The Hokage held up a hand and when he spoke there was a voice amplification jutsu that carried to the various ANBU, the three genin being helped to their feet, and probably the next two training areas. "Summoning contracts are normally passed from teacher to student and are jealously guarded. Some though are passed along a family line. Naruto Uzumaki has just come into part of his inheritance."
The dragon looked at the Hokage for a few moments, then nodded, took wing again and flew off.
"One of the nin escaped," said Kurenai.
"I already have teams looking," said the Hokage, making a gesture. The various ANBU moved out.
"That... wasn't a summons, was it?" asked Kurenai in a much quieter voice.
"Oh? What else could it be?" asked the Hokage.
"I don't know for certain," said Kurenai Yuhi.
"Hmm, well, let me know if you figure out that puzzle," said the obviously amused old man.
"Does the dragon pose any danger to my genin or the village?" asked Kurenai directly.
"Not deliberately, I'd say," said the Hokage, considering the jonin out of the corner of his eye.
"The dragon admitted he was there to save Hinata," stated Kurenai.
"He said that?" asked the Hokage.
"He nodded," replied Kurenai. "So, if the dragon is a summons, the dragon was directed to save Hinata by that summoner."
"Logical," admitted the Hokage.
"Someone concerned about Hinata's safety," mused Kurenai. "Well, that lets her immediately family out."
"True," agreed the Hokage. "Now, Yuhi. As much as I enjoy the paperwork that goes with the title of Hokage - I have to get back to my duties."
Kurenai watched the Hokage go, then turned to regard the boy in orange clothes who'd come out of the woods to speak with Hinata. That was Naruto Uzumaki, wasn't it? The carrier of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. Hmmm.
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(Posted Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:50)
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