Kurenai had a plan, and a good plan it was. Team Eight was hers from dawn to dusk and then some, and while she blocked out a goodly amount of free time each day (they were still children, after all) she made very sure that Team Eight was never idle.
Good plans have a way of falling apart around people called Uzumaki.
"Today's mission is painting fences."
Naruto and Kiba stared at Kurenai blankly.
"This is a test of your ability to physically search an area thoroughly and rapidly."
"Ahhh!" Naruto said, nodding. "I thought it was something like that. I'll have this done by lunch, dattebayo!"
"Since Naruto finished the fences by lunch, we'll spend the afternoon on genjutsu. …what do you mean none of you know any genjutsu!? No the henge doesn't count, Naruto!"
Kurenai looked somewhat uncomfortable. "Today you're cleaning out the hot springs on the west side of the village."
"How is that ninjaly?"
"Well, we have more kunoichi than the other teams, so the manager requested us specifically so Hinata and Naruko could clean out the women's side."
"That doesn't make it ninjaly!"
"Well that took longer than expected. Naruko, how's your arm?"
"Better, but if that kid tries to bathe with me again ojiisan will need the ANBU to find all the pieces."
"Uh, right. Today we start tree climbing exercises."
"What's the mission today?"
"Catching Tora."
"Wait, what?"
Kurenai looked over her report and sighed. "Naruto, do you realize that I have never written the phrase 'shaved naked and painted bright pink' before?"
"Twice was two times too many, dattebayo. Next time she'll be easier to find."
"As soon as I file this, we'll get back to tree climbing. And this time, no flying!"
"…weeding a garden?"
"A test of your ability to recognize friend from foe rapidly and act accordingly."
"Do you have a list of excuses written down somewhere?"
"Page seven of the jonin-sensei handbook. Cheer up, at least it's easy."
Kurenai winced as they left the hospital. "Wow."
Hinata shivered.
Naruko shook her head. "At least he'll be back on his feet by tomorrow."
Kiba looked back over his shoulder. "I've never seen exploding poison oak before."
"Well it would have been catching Tora, but for some reason we've been requested not to handle that particular mission."
"At least the team on it will have an easier time."
"Don't be too sure. The hag client put her in a sweater to hide the pink. In any case, today you're walking dogs."
"Well the dog walking mission is a bust thanks to Naruto."
"It wasn't my fault, dattebayo!"
"But we're getting paid for catching Tora, so whatever. Kiba, Hinata, tree climbing. Naruto, Naruko, spar."
"Your last mission this week is finding a lost grandson."
"Eh?"
"Konohamaru has been missing for four days, and the Hokage is getting worried he has done something stupid."
"Oh. When was he last seen?"
"When Naruko punched him out of the hotsprings."
"Ehheh. Whoopsie?"
Naruto and Naruko dragged themselves home, beaten, bruised, leaning heavily on hefty sticks for crutches. "How does an academy student get that much gunpowder?"
"How does a kid think that would win a girl's heart?"
"Well, the 'Konohamaru loves Naruko' fireworks were impressive?"
"I won't be able to show my face in public for days!"
That afternoon, Kurenai gave them a break from training. The Uzumaki took turns cleaning themselves up in Naruto's tiny apartment and then took their salary to go find a better place. Although Naruto first had to convince Naruko that wearing an absurd disguise was not necessary.
Kiba and Akamaru went home and spent their free time fearing for their lives in the presence of scary Inuzuka women.
As for Hinata…
"Today we are going to test your juuken," Hiashi said sternly. "We will start with your forms. Begin."
Hinata was wearing a plain white gi in the training hall of the Hyuuga compound. Renard sat with her usual clothes, in sight but out of reach. This was a test of her pure juuken skills, the thing valued most by the Hyuuga…and Hinata's weakest talents. She moved through stiff postures that were horrible mockeries of the flowing forms juuken was supposed to be and hoped it would be over quickly.
Hiashi watched in stony silence. Hinata was hesitant, scared, and that was costing her. He saw hesitation ruin the standard forms, but he also saw that the principles were strong beneath the clumsy execution. That only made sense if Hinata practiced diligently, even constantly, for the full year she was gone. Without teachers to take her forward in the art, she had honed what she knew. But still she let that damned timidness get in her way! "You have practiced," he noted.
Hinata faltered. "As much as I could, father," she said. "Without instruction I could do little else."
"Mmm. Your execution remains sloppy. Perhaps a proper spar will induce you to perform better." He waved Hanabi forward.
Hinata took in the sight of her younger sister. Their relative ages were further apart now, and Hinata had advantage in reach and muscle mass. But Hanabi defeated her in the past, and with every defeat Hanabi got a little bit more training instead of Hinata. The girl was a prodigy, not quite on Neji's level, but with talent and confidence that Hinata lacked. Mere physical advantage was no match for technique and courage.
Hanabi regarded her older sister. Her being older was surprising. But she was still just her weak sister.
Hiashi took in the sight of his two daughters. "Begin!"
As expected, the more aggressive Hanabi made the first move. It was a cautious, probing attack, a series of quick palm strikes at different angles.
Hinata dodged one and barely blocked the next, the third actually clipping her leg. She made to return with a more powerful palm strike of her own, but Hanabi danced back easily.
The match continued for two more exchanges of blows. Hiashi was frustrated; Hinata was clearly more capable than she had been but it was merely because she had grown and could take more punishment.
"Hey, Hinata! Wanna come apartment hunting?"
Hiashi spun as if struck. Somehow the Uzumaki twins had snuck into the compound. The loud blonde boy had his head stuck through a window and was grinning at Hinata. He dimly noticed his "sister" arguing with a branch member about if they should be there or not.
Hinata blushed. "Naruto-kun!" she squeaked.
Hanabi scowled. She hated it when Hinata got like this. Distracted and unfocused and pining after the village pariah. She jumped forward, intent on burying a right palm strike into Hinata's belly.
Hinata's body undulated slightly, her arms rotated at the shoulder, and in a flowing motion her right arm caught Hanabi's thrust on the forearm, pulling her to Hinata's right. Hanabi stumbled slightly and turned, having overextended herself and unable to pull back. Hinata's left arm followed her right and delivered a palm strike to the very center of Hanabi's back. The smaller girl went down, hard.
Hiashi whirled around again, grateful for the byakugan. If he hadn't seen that, he never would have believed it. It wasn't a proper juuken strike, but it had been extremely effective at the long range were the juuken's usual array of strikes were weak. "Hinata, what was that?"
Hinata blinked and looked from Naruto to her father. "What was what?" She looked to Hanabi. "…eep."
"Hinata's awesome like that," Naruto said sagely.
Hiashi frowned at the interloper but kept his focus on Hinata. "Hinata? Explain."
"It…it is a style I learned on Mid-Childa. It seemed similar to the juuken's basic forms, and since I couldn't study the juuken itself…"
"You adapted it to this new style," Hiashi concluded.
"Yes father. I am sorry for my failure."
Hiashi waved off the comment. "It is no failure for a ninja to blend in among unfamiliar lands. Or to seize any advantage she can." His mind was whirling. Hinata's uncertainty had vanished the instant she laid eyes on Naruto. Perhaps the unworthy suitor was the key to unlocking Hinata's potential…and keeping the caged bird seal off her brow. "However, this style has no place under this roof. Now that you have returned, we will have to accelerate your juuken training." He turned and left the room. "We are finished today, Hinata."
Hinata stared after her father, feeling a pang as he dismissed her skills and herself…but confused by the lack of reprimand.
"So does that mean you're free to come with us?" Naruto asked.
Hinata turned back to Naruto, and noticed Naruko bending a branch member into a pretzel in the background. She winced. "Um, yes. And can you get Naruko-chan to stop that?"
"Huh?" Naruto asked intelligently. He looked back…"eep."
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Sat, 20 Aug 2011 01:09)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.