"Maybe sometime we should investigate it directly," said Sakura, thinking it over. "If there's a common cause for a large number of deaths - that could be the message there."
"Hnnn," hnnned Sasuke, who nodded. "Third test. Better be worth it."
"Yeah, with all this build-up," said Naruto, who then frowned thoughtfully himself. Who'd have thought he'd be agreeing with Sasuke of all people. Well, maybe that just came with the rival and team-mate thing. The frown became a grin. At least he was being acknowledged by his team.
"I'm still not really clear on the details of the book I was reading," said Sakura. "It would be best if we didn't have to rely on those skills."
"Right," agreed Sasuke. "Just use what you're confident on. It would help to have an idea of what exactly this test was before we did it."
"How to figure that out?" asked Naruto. "I mean if we have an idea what to look for - I can send Windy or Hibana."
The three of them tried to figure on that for awhile, coming up with nothing.
"Even with the time dilation effect, there's only so much we can do in Naruto's castle," summed up Sakura.
"Should give it a codename," said Sasuke abruptly.
"Huh? Why?" asked Naruto.
"I get it, to avoid tipping off people who might be listening," said Sakura. "If we keep it an advantage only a few people know about - then it's an 'ace in the hole' we can bring out when we really need it. An enemy won't be able to plan on keeping us from being able to use it."
Sasuke inclined his head briefly towards Sakura.
"Okay," said Naruto grudgingly as it was HIS castle and having it just be 'Naruto's castle' made it pretty cool in his opinion as well as reinforced that it was HIS castle. His head jerked up abruptly.
"He's coming?" asked Sasuke, beginning to look around.
"Yeah, he just moved. FAST. He's in the trees at three o'clock watching us. No, Sakura - MY three o'clock."
"I was just throwing off his expectations," lied Sakura.
"You sure?" asked Sasuke, eyes narrowed as he deliberately did NOT look in that direction.
"Well, he IS a jonin," said Sakura. "He'd have to be able to mask his presence pretty thoroughly."
"Point," conceded Sasuke. Now he was really interested in Naruto's jutsu. That Windy being able to blend in with the air itself made a VERY handy ability. Maybe this team thing was going to work out after all.
There was a blur and Kakashi Hatake was suddenly there - a few feet away from them. "Yo."
Hmmm. Promise. They've detected my presence and are trying to find me without being obvious. Of course, they're genin so they ARE pretty obvious.
Kakashi decided to use a shunshin to appear directly next to them and again analyzed their reactions.
Nice. I startled them, but they weren't too put out about it. Now they're obviously trying to figure out what I've got up my sleeve. Look at that. Teamwork already. Just imagine what they'll be like in a year if they go back to the Academy.
"All right my little genin," said Kakashi, walking to a post and putting a clock atop it. "Here's the conditions of the test. Remember, passing the first and second test doesn't mean you can avoid passing the third one. In fact, there's a caveat."
"A wha?" asked Naruto.
"A caveat, a restriction from certain actions, often used in legal proceedings," supplied Sakura.
"Oh," replied Naruto.
The large lizard on Naruto's shoulder unfurled wings and yawned, revealing a mouth of very sharp teeth. Then it settled into place, watching the jonin with an unblinking stare.
Kakashi blinked. Had that been there all the time? What exactly IS that? Naruto has an animal companion? That's it. I'm going to find the person in the Academy who wrote up their assessments and he's getting Boot-to-da-head no jutsu!
Kakashi cranked up the Killing Intent to Active Menace, feeling a bit of pleasure at the way all three genin went to defensive stances and started looking nervous.
That handbag-candidate shifted slightly, half-furling wings, and eyes narrowing as its lips drew back.
It's roughly the size of my forearm. Why am I getting a sense of danger from IT? Kakashi looked over the body language of the creature and decided not to press further. Some creatures and individuals responded to fear by going into berserker attack mode, and the lizard thing might fall into that category. Best not to provoke it further until I know what it can do.
"What is that anyway?" asked Kakashi, pointing at the shoulder pet.
"Hibana, my dragon," said Naruto.
"Ah," said Kakashi with a nod. A dragon. Well. That makes sense. What the HELL am I thinking? Naruto has a dragon?! With 'hi' in the name - probably a fire-breathing dragon. How did the Academy fail to mention this?
Kakashi's voice and mannerisms were completely smooth and confident as he explained the test.
"So, two bells. So one of us goes back to the Academy," said Sakura, holding up two fingers. "We have to come after you, intending to kill you, with everything we have."
"Yes," said Kakashi. "Show me that you're worth my time. You'll have two hours from when I give the signal."
"Time out," said Sakura, making a 'T' shape with her hands. "We have to plan this."
"Ah, but in the field you don't always have time to plan," said Kakashi, pulling an orange book out of his pocket. "You may start."
It was hard to read expressions on someone who had 3/4 of his face hidden, but he was obviously confident in his abilities. Despite apparently reading a book, he was obviously keeping track of them.
Sasuke frowned. He was pretty confident in his own abilities, but that jonin was VERY fast when he wanted to be. He'd have to go all out to even have the faintest chance.
The bells. Something about the bells and considering all the 'secret meanings' and 'hidden assets' so far - this test wasn't about getting the bells was it?
Sasuke took two steps back, drawing a kunai in each hand, basic defensive stance. "Naruto. He's going to be too fast if he can move. Do something about that."
"Right!" said Naruto, reaching into one sleeve and pulling out a card. "Wood! Cage!"
Wood erupted from the ground, branches shooting out to form a latticework around the jonin.
"Hibana! Fly! If you get a clear shot, take it!" ordered Naruto, not moving from where he was directing the cage to form.
Hibana shot off to the right, wings pumping furiously and spat.
The Kakashi in the cage poofed into a log, and a jonin found himself dealing with a small dragon who didn't breathe fire after all. No, that was quite obviously -
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(Posted Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:03)
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