"Send out the Sasuke-mon," suggested Sakura.
"You just want to see it again," complained Naruto.
"Don't you think a bird of black and blue fire is going to attract attention?" asked Kakashi.
"Who is going to expect something like that?" countered Sakura. "Besides, if they DO associate that with us, then they'll be that much more surprised when they get that yellow pudgy blob-thing."
Sasuke glanced at Sakura, thinking that if the creature HAD been out - then that might have gotten Naruto another creature right then. As well as a sparking koosh-haired Sakura. Well, only a matter of time.
"While that might be true," said Kakashi. "The mission is not about showing off new techniques or running around and defeating minions so you can have new... summons."
"I don't mind," said Tazuna, surprising everyone.
"Since the mission is keeping you alive, I'm a little surprised at this," said Kakashi. "Explain?"
"Well, it's troublesome," said Tazuna. "But I've had a few days to watch you."
"Oh, is that so?" asked Kakashi.
"You're lazy and read porn," said Tazuna. He indicated Sasuke with a nod of his head. "Skilled but self-absorbed." Next he indicated Sakura. "Intelligent, except when her brain shuts down and she just stares at the black-haired boy and sighs, and she's a bit excessively violent."
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" growled Sakura, holding a fist up.
"Sakura. Keep your voice down. Sneaking, remember?" Kakashi shook his head at the antics of his team. Again
"And that boy is enthusiastic but has no talent for anything but being loud," said Tazuna, indicating Naruto.
"HEY!" protested Naruto.
"Well, he got Naruto right," allowed Sakura.
"That still doesn't explain your earlier statement," lazily pointed out Kakashi.
"His only talent is being loud and annoying," said Tazuna. "I figured he had to have something else since he's wearing orange and being an obvious target. Or at least it was. Now he can summon creatures. Of course I'd want him to have a number of those - as him being a one-trick wonder is a lot better than having no tricks at all."
"Centerfold jutsu! Ah-hahn!"
Tazuna took another swig of sake. "I've seen better."
"What?!" asked Naruto, reverting back with a puff of smoke. "But that always works!"
"Not always," said Kakashi, not even looking up from his book. Which had a much more interesting woodcut-style picture. "If you've used it against them before, it isn't as effective. If they're focussed on something else, it isn't as effective. If the situation is completely serious, they're not likely to be incapacitated by such a thing. If you tried that on Kurenai Yuhi or Anko Mitarashi, you might end up getting seriously hurt. Or fed to snakes. Or end up thinking that you're a daisy. Or ravaged by Anko. Really it would be best if you didn't rely on that technique. OR Shadow Clone for that matter."
"Why not, if one doesn't work I could do the other," pointed out Naruto.
"Because if you use it all the time, people will know what to expect and will be able to counter it," answered Sasuke from his own position.
"Anyway," said Tazuna. "If your genin have a way of getting stronger, doesn't that mean they'd be better able to protect me?"
"I thought I heard something," said a figure looming out of the mist. "Is that Tazuna the bridgebuilder?"
Tazuna scrambled back as far as the small boat would let him as a rowboat with four mercenaries came out of the mists.
"Looks like we'll be getting a reward, boys," said the one who'd spoken earlier.
Naruto held out a hand. "Dark Phoenix Hatchling! Burn!"
"Hmph," said the firebird, spitting out a jet of indigo fire that caught the enemy rowboat on fire.
"Hah," said the lead mercenary, "you think that scares us?"
Sasuke casually flipped a kunai with an explosive tag into their boat.
"Oh hell," managed all four mercenaries in something approaching harmony as the kunai landed in the fire.
"All right!" said Naruto a minute later after the pieces of boat stopped raining down. "Sasuke leveled up."
"Hnnn?" asked Sasuke, looking pleased.
"Level up?" asked Sakura.
"Dark Phoenix Hatchling is now level 4!" said Naruto happily. "He's learned Darkflame and Conflagrate!"
"Interesting," said Kakashi. "When we reach shore, summon that bull-creature for Tazuna to ride. We're going to proceed at full speed to Tazuna's house."
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(Posted Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:22)
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