Did she really want to see what a "giraffe" was? Or a "platypus" or a number of the other choices? No. And "mantis shrimp" - she didn't need to be any shorter, she was the perfect height as it was.
Some of the others that she DID recognize were just as unlikely. Squirrel? What kind of ninja would a squirrel-girl be? No way. Likewise "praying mantis" might be interesting but the thought of compound eyes and eating one's mate didn't hold any appeal for her at all. Don't even consider the "turtle" choice.
Out of the fifty or so buttons floating in mid-air, that brought her to seven or eight she'd actually consider - if it made her the sort of cool kunoichi that would attract more than a moment's notice from Sasuke.
"Uh oh. Sakura's got that 'figuring out a test' look going."
Those were: [Wolf] [Tiger] [Ratel] [Mongoose] [Unicorn] [Bunny] and [Bat]. Each had their possibilities, and she could predict what they'd be like based on her previous transformations. She'd even been "bat" and "bunny" briefly. The ears of the bat had been a trifle long, same with the "bunny". The bunny-ears had been on top of her head, while the bat-ears had been normally placed but long and tapered. Having the flight abilities of the bat could be VERY handy. Likewise, she'd felt the strength of that bunny-girl form had been a significant force.
"Any time now."
"Ne ne, passing-deity guy. Sakura-chan just gets distracted every so often, like when she's working a crossword puzzle."
So, most likely, the "ratel" was a sort of large rat. Right? Rats were fairly ninja-like. Mongoose was about speed and agility from what she remembered, though the Ninja Academy hadn't spent a lot of time on animals and their abilities. Tiger she knew. Likewise wolf. Both large predators, one a cat and the other dog-like. Unicorn, that was a kirin right? That was the most obvious choice, and therefore a trick - she shouldn't choose that one.
"Just give a choice or forego the whole thing. Time's up."
"Aw, c'mon. She can do this. Sakura-chan will come up with an awesome answer! Believe it!"
Another couple of questions and she'd know which one. Sakura nodded to herself, noting the impatient look of that eye in the cloud. "About 'wolf' -"
"Done then," said the voice.
"Huh? Wha?"
"She's coming to-"
"Urk," managed Sakura. "Wha haffem?"
"You got that 'tune everything out while working out a plan' thing going and then you chose wolf," said Naruto.
"At which point the Celestial Being slammed a bolt of light into you that left a ten foot crater," noted Kakashi.
"Ouch," said Sakura, getting to all four feet. "That's... what?"
"What what?" asked Naruto.
Sakura blinked and realized she was actually looking DOWN at Naruto. They were both standing. She was standing on four feet. "Oh hell."
"I think she noticed," said Naruto.
Kakashi sighed and pulled a signal mirror out of an unsealed pack, then held it up where she could see the reflection.
Sakura stared at the enormous wolf for a moment, then keeled over in a faint.
"Oh, she took that well."
"Okay, focus Sakura."
The wolf closed her eyes. A blur of fur began at her chest then spread. When it completely enveloped her, the form dwindled and shifted.
Finally Sakura stood there and opened her eyes, holding her hands in front of her and breathing a sigh of relief. It had worked.
Wait a minute. Why was Naruto beet red and studiously not looking at her? Why was Kakashi rolling his eyes and reading his book? Why was Sasuke shaking his head and grumbling something?
Sakura looked down.
Sakura screamed and leapt into the bushes.
Naruto had the presence of mind at least to toss her a jacket.
"WHY AM I NAKED?!"
"God of pranks and mischief," pointed out Sasuke. "Predictable."
"So, I can change from wolf to human and back, but my clothes don't," mused Sakura as she zipped up the front of Naruto's jacket. "STUPID ELDER GODS!"
No lightning bolt or other form of divine punishment struck. At least that was visible.
"You'll notice that neither Sasuke or myself tried to make any deals," noted Kakashi. At least for themselves.
"AHHHH! I've got a tail?! AND EARS?!"
"She just noticed?" asked Naruto.
"I think she was preoccupied by the 'naked' thing," said Kakashi.
Sakura came out of the bushes, looking like she normally did. Except with a bit more muscle definition, wolf ears and tail (in pink), and wearing Naruto's jacket.
"Well, we can get going now, right?" asked Tazuna.
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(Posted Sat, 14 Dec 2013 19:02)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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