It was amazing to Naruto what could be done with such things.
Fuuinjutsu Forest: Seedling by M. Uzumaki. A thick book, not the usual scroll, sitting all neglected.
It didn't give a lot of details, mostly just indicated the sort of things that were possible and some of the basics. There were apparently three more books available, but Naruto had no idea where they could be found.
"Sir! That boy was spotted sneaking in!"
"Did you catch him?" asked Hiashi Hyuga.
"Well, no. But he was identified!" declared the guard, displaying a note.
Hiashi frowned. "So. An eleven year old boy is managing to sneak in and out of the Hyuga compound, stealing books from our private library?"
"Well, it's the clan library, not the classified documents one," hedged the guard. "And the limits on chakra use mean that the Byakugan can only be used for brief periods or risk chakra exhaustion."
"So an eleven year old boy is nonetheless managing to sneak into the Hyuga clan compound, stealing documents?" asked Hiashi. "And returning them later?"
"Uhm, well, yes," admitted the now-sweating guard.
"He's training to be a stealth and acquisition specialist, you should take this as training in being able to defeat such," said Hiashi finally. "Do better."
"WHOA!" said Naruto, leaping out of the way of a trap. They're stacking them now? Avoid one and jump into another and to avoid landing in that one you have to get past a third? Good! They're taking me seriously!
"Okay, this is a little concerning," said the guard. "Identity of the thief is confirmed as that Uzumaki boy."
Hiashi looked down upon the subordinate for a moment. "And?"
"'And', sir?"
"The concern?" asked Hiashi.
"He's apparently learned the Iwa stealth techniques and combined them with the Kumo version," said the guard. "In addition he's using an advanced acquisition-specialist technique."
"Oh?" asked Hiashi. "Whose underwear did he steal?"
"That's the technique," admitted the guard. "And so far he's only stolen the outer clothes. Weapons. Also he's put in thirty-two cup ramen in the main food storage area. Though this last was only found during an inventory."
"Without anyone noticing until now?" asked Hiashi.
"Uhm, yes?"
"If this boy could do so, then we must address those issues in security," said Hiashi. "Before someone less ramen-oriented and more poison-oriented tries anything."
The blind man settled back in his chair. "So, graduation exams are that soon?"
"Yeah! I'm gonna smoke 'em!" declared Naruto.
"No you won't," said the blind man.
"No?" asked Naruto.
"No." The blind man sighed. "Gathering information is also the path of the Rogue. As much as being unseen and passing without trace. As much as acquiring resources, perhaps even more so than that. Information is often the most valuable resource after all."
"So," said Naruto, putting things together. "I should find out what the test is going to be?"
"That's part of it," said the blind stealth expert.
He couldn't pull off a simple Clone technique if his life depended on it.
Disguise, yes. Replacement, not his best skill but he could do it.
Part of the test was to do Clone, Disguise, and Replacement. He wasn't going to win this, unless of course he found a way around that. There was also a written test and a series of physical skill tests.
Naruto put the papers back after he heard a soft movement in the corridor outside. He had to wait as Mizuki went through the room, obviously looking for something but not someone. Naruto thought he was really good, but hiding in some of those desk drawers would have been a bit beyond him.
Naruto waited a good five minutes after Mizuki left, then checked records. He quickly found exceptions. If one had a jonin-level ninja take one as apprentice - the whole graduation thing could be bypassed. Problem: he didn't know any active jonin.
There were also substitutions. Clan techniques could replace the technique being demonstrated. Here was one where the Rookie of the Year from two years ago had used a Clone technique that used mud!
Unfortunately, he didn't know any such techniques.
Unfortunately, there was only one place he suspected he could find such a thing.
"Naruto? What are you doing here?" asked the Hokage.
"Look, ya got anything other than this? I found two hidden libraries so far but there ain't no clone techniques I can use!"
"Naruto? Have I ever explained 'secret' to you?"
"No, but I got it from the Hyuga library. That's where you find something hidden and then you give it to a superior. They can then use it for barter and stuff. So, you're the Hokage - I'm letting you know about that."
"-and you are the Demon Fox!" said Mizuki.
"No, that can't be!" said Naruto. "You're just coming up with this because you're working for Kumogakure aren't you?"
"Fool! I can go to Kumo, or Kusa, or anywhere! With this scroll as a bargaining chip, I can attain a more fitting rank at last!"
"Okay," said a cat-masked ANBU suddenly behind Mizuki. "That's what was needed."
"What?" asked Iruka.
"Hey, Jiji, shouldn't this count as something towards my grades?" asked Naruto.
"Oh?" asked the Hokage, fading into place. "What did you have in mind?"
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(Posted Tue, 13 May 2014 17:23)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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